Pre-meet excitement turned quickly to adrenaline when the plane carrying the Cordova swimmers ran off the runway at Unalaska's airport on Thursday, Oct. 17.
Though they suffered no critical physical injuries, concern for the swimmers' mental health took priority.
They stayed the night Alexandria House, and Unalaska's swim team and other community members provided clothes and comfort. The Cordova team flew home the next day on a chartered flight to be with their families.