Ithaca High senior posts record swimming from N.J. to Manhattan

Emma Otto-Moudry, a 17-year-old open water swimmer from Ithaca, shattered the 17.5-mile Ederle Swim course record from Sandy Hook, N.J., to Manhattan Island on Tuesday, recording a time of 4 hours, 38.38 minutes.The previous record of 5:24.52 set in 2011 was held by Evan Morrison of Goleta, Calif.Otto-Moudry began her record swim at 3:40 p.m. and averaged a speed of 15:52 per mile.

The record attempt was organized by NYC Swim after it detected a favorable tide that could help the rising senior at Ithaca High take a shot at the record. It was Otto-Moudry's first competition since a top-five finish at the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim on June 23, an annual 28.5 mile, counter-clockwise circumnavigation of Manhattan.

At last year's Ederle Swim, Otto-Moudry finished second to Morrison in a women's course record time of 5:36.04.According to nycswim.org, competitions involving swimming between Manhattan and Sandy Hook date back almost 100 years. NYC Swim held its first Ederle Swim in 2006. The record from Manhattan to Sandy Hook is held by Lance Ogren in 5:10.00.