Kellie Nightlinger
Kellie Nightlinger is an American open water swimmer from Rexton in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who crossed the Straits of Mackinac 5 times between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas including once in 2007 as part of the 50th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk from St. Ignace to Mackinaw City. The 2007 charity swim was a 4-mile open water swim by a group of 50 open water swimmers called Team Dire Straits. She also completed a solo crossing of the Straits of Mackinac in 2006 as a charity swim to raise money for Angels Among Us Youth Camp.
Straits of Mackinac
The Straits of Mackinac is the narrow waterway separating the U.S. State of Michigan's Lower Peninsula from its Upper Peninsula. It connects two of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The Straits of Mackinac is a major shipping lane providing passage for raw materials and finished goods and site of the Mighty Mac Swim.
Open Water Swimming
On 3 September 2007, Jim Dreyer, Nightlinger and 50 swimmers of Team Dire Straits crossed the Straits of Mackinac in a charity swim to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mackinac Bridge,swimming between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. The Mighty Mac 50th Anniversary Swim was part of the 50th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk. Governor Jennifer Granholm initiated the annual bridge run and came up with the idea of having 50 swimmers cross the Straits for the 50th Anniversary of the bridge.
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