DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 7, 2015) — The Nautica United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Lifeguard Championships continued in Daytona Beach Friday, Aug. 7. The USLA crowned more age-group champions in the Board Race, Ironman/Ironwoman and Surf Race events. Open champions in Beach Flags, Board Race, American Ironman/Ironwoman, Rescue Race, Surf Boat and Surf Race were also crowned Friday.
Professional lifeguards from 55 USLA chapters around the country are competing for individual and team honors in water and beach course events that challenge their lifesaving skills. After day two of competition, LA County Surf Life Saving Association leads all competitors with 555.00 team points. Monmouth County (N.J.) currently ranks second with 524.375 points and Volusia Surf Lifesaving (Fla.) Association follows in third with 156.50. Destin (Fla.) leads the B Division (chapters with 100 lifeguards or less) with 221.50 points.
Open (1st through 3rd) and age-group champions for each of Friday’s Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships events follow:
BEACH FLAGS: From a prone starting position on the beach, competitors rise, turn and race to obtain a baton (beach flag) buried upright in the sand approximately 20 meters away. Since there are always fewer batons than competitors, those who fail to obtain a baton are eliminated.
Men’s Open
- Darius DeBarros – Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, Fla.
- Charlie Appel – Smith Point, N.Y.
- Blayne Jackolski – Smith Point, N.Y.
Women’s Open
- Amanda Calabrese – Hampton Lifeguard Association, N.Y.
- Sandi Woodhead – Smith Point, N.Y.
- Brianne Jackolski – Smith Point, N.Y.
BOARD RACE: Competitors stand on or behind the start line on the beach with their boards 1.5 meters apart. At the start signal, competitors enter the water, launch their boards and paddle the course marked by buoys, return to the beach and run to cross the finish line. Competitors are not permitted to hold or otherwise interfere with other competitors’ boards or deliberately impede their progress.
Men’s Open
- Brian Murphy – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
- Nick Malcolm – Surfers Paradise SLSC, Australia
- Jacob Marks – Destin, Fla.
Women’s Open
- Carter Graves – Coronado Beach Lifeguards, Calif.
- Madeline McCullagh – Destin, Fla.
- Jessica Collins – Destin, Fla.
Men’s 30-34
- Patrick Jacobson – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 30-34
- Mallory Kennedy – Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, Fla.
Men’s 35-39
- Steven O’Boyle – Monmouth County, N.J.
Women’s 35-39
- Aline Paterson – Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Men’s 40-44
- Javier Mayor – Miami Beach, Fla.
Women’s 40-44
- Jennifer Noonan – Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, Fla.
Men’s 45-49
- Cris Dobrosielski – San Diego Surf Lifesaving Association, Calif.
Women’s 45-49
- Michelle Davidson – Monmouth County, N.J.
Men’s 50-54
- Patrick Hemmens – California State Lifeguard Association, Calif.
Women’s 50-54
- Deirdre Fisher – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 55-59
- Mitch Kahn – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 55-59
- Shari Latta – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 60-64
- Murray Baker – Vero Beach, Fla.
Women’s 60-64
- Leigh Emerson-Smith – Miami Beach, Fla.
Men’s 65-69
- William Dorney – South Jersey, N.J.
Men’s 70+
- John Sink – Monmouth County, N.J.
IRONMAN/IRONWOMAN: Competitors cover a 1,400 meter (approx.) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg, a ski leg and a beach sprint finish.
Men’s 30-34
- Patrick Jacobson – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 30-34
- Tandis Morgan – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 35-39
- Jeff Lombardo – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 35-39
- Emily Hagen – California State Lifeguard Association, Calif.
Men’s 40-44
- Javier Mayor – Miami Beach, Fla.
Women’s 40-44
- Cindy Fajardo – Sussex County, Del.
Men’s 45-49
- Rob Pelkey – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 45-49
- Michelle Davidson – Monmouth County, N.J.
Men’s 50-54
- Charlie Lydecker – Smith Point, N.Y.
Women’s 50-54
- Ann Finley – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 55-59
- Mitch Kahn – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 55-59
- Shari Latta – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 60-64
- Dale Adama – California State Lifeguard Association, Calif.
Women’s 60-64
- Susan Wallis – Jax Beach, Fla.
Men’s 65-69
- William Dorney – South Jersey, N.J.
RESCUE RACE: Four competitors from each team participate in the event: a “victim,” one rescue tube swimmer and two rescuers. The victim swims approximately 120 meters to a designated buoy, signals and waits to be rescued by the rescue tube swimmer. As they return to shore, the remaining two rescuers enter the water to assist. The event finishes when the first competitor in a team crosses the finish line while in contact with the victim.
Open Men
- PJ Gillespie, James Canner, Time Casabino & Phil Casabino – Long Beach, N.Y.
- Oliver Puddick, Richard Russell, Luke Turner & Matthew Wise – Destin, Fla.
- Nicholas Sullivan, Michael Murphy, Jeff Lombardo & Kevin Fink – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Open Women
- Ann Fici, Nicole LoMeli, Jacqueline Dominger & Brianne Jackolski – Smith Point, N.Y.
- Isabelle Pabon, Kristen DiTommaso, Annie Fittin & Cassidy Stimpson – Monmouth County, N.J.
- Lauren Badenhoop, Lindsey Gerkens Lynskey, Thalia Harrison & Catherine Gargula – Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
SURF BOAT RACE: Two person surf boat teams row around the three outside buoy courses returning to shore where one member disembarks from the boat and runs up to touch the line. Once across the touchline, the member can return to their surf boat for a second lap, repeating the touch line run. At the finish of the third lap, one member must leave the boat and run up and across the finish line. Three lap races are approximately 2,000 meters with each lap approximately 665 meters.
Open Men
- Boki Corsovic & Jose Bolivar – Hollywood Beach, Calif.
- Matt Nunnally & Stephen Grober – Monmouth County, N.J.
- Dan George & William George – Monmouth County, N.J.
Open Women
- Shelley Griffith & Sherry Griffith – Boca Raton, Fla.
- Jennifer Rau & Alexandra O’Connor – Monmouth County, N.J. & Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, Fla.
- Jennifer Noonan & Tiffany LaCasse-Johnson – Ft. Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, Fla.& Palm Beach County, Fla.
SURF RACE: With a running start into the surf from the start line on the beach, competitors swim around the 400 meter course designated by buoys, around the left end buoy of the flag line to the two black and white buoys returning to shore passing the right end of the flag buoy line to finish between the finish flags on the beach.
Men’s Open
- Kevin Fink – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
- Pat Kilgallen – Riis Park, N.Y.
- Thomas O’Neill – Riis Park, N.Y.
Women’s Open
- Hannah Elliott – Monmouth County, N.J.
- Jessica Collins – Destin, Fla.
- Carter Graves – Coronado Beach Lifeguards, Calif.
Men’s 30-34
- Patrick Jacobson – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 30-34
- Mallory Kennedy – Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, Fla.
Men’s 35-39
- Jeff Lombardo – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Women’s 35-39
- Carrie Purdy – Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, Calif.
Men’s 40-44
- Mike Barrows – Monmouth County, N.J.
Women’s 40-44
- Cindy Fajardo – Sussex County, Del.
Men’s 45-49
- Randy Eickhoff – California State Lifeguard Association, Calif.
Women’s 45-49
- Chris Linkletter – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 50-54
- Charlie Lydecker – Smith Point, N.Y.
Women’s 50-54
- Deirdre Fisher – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 55-59
- Mitch Kahn – LA County Surf Lifesaving Association, Calif.
Women’s 55-59
- Janet Carbin – Monmouth County, N.J.
Men’s 60-64
- Dale Adama – California State Lifeguard Association, Calif.
Women’s 60-64
- Leigh Emerson-Smith – Miami Beach, Fla.
Men’s 65-69
- William Dorney – South Jersey, N.J.
Men’s 70+
- John Sink – Monmouth County, N.J.
AMERICAN IRONMAN: Competitors cover a 1400 meter (approx.) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg, a solo surf boat leg, and a beach sprint finish. The sequence of legs shall be determined by draw at the commencement of each competition, at least one hour prior to the race. SWIM clockwise around the two center swim flag buoys (red to green/yellow). BOARD paddle clockwise around all the swim flag buoys and the black/white buoys. ROW a surf boat clockwise around the three buoy apex course. Competitors must pass to the outside of all buoys.
Open Men
- James Bray – California State Lifeguard Association, Calif.
- Nate Humberson – Monmouth County, N.J.
- Jeff Hart – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 30-34
- Alexander Miller – Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, Fla.
Men’s 35-39
- Jeff Lombardo – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 40-44
- Michael Huck – Dania Beach, Fla.
Men’s 45-49
- Rob Pelkey – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 50-54
- Mel Solberg – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 55-59
- Mitch Kahn – LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
Men’s 60-64
- Mark Myhre – Town of Palm Beach, Fla.
Men’s 65-69
- Bert Soden – Miami Beach, Fla.
AMERICAN IRONWOMAN: Competitors cover a 950 meter (approx.) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg, and a beach sprint finish. SWIM clockwise around the two center swim flag buoys (red to green/yellow). Competitors will BOARD paddle clockwise around the swim flag buoys and the black/white buoys. The start will be at the left end of the coarse facing down the beach. The competitors will RUN down the beach 100 meters to a flag in the middle of the course. After rounding the center flag, the competitors enter the water for the swim.
Open Women
- Carter Graves – Coronado Beach Lifeguards, Calif.
- Kelsey Cummings – Long Beach Lifeguard Association, Calif.
- Eva Porter – Monmouth County, N.J.
Hosted by the Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association in conjunction with the Volusia County’s Beach Safety Division, the USLA National Lifeguard Championships continue Saturday at 8 a.m. ET on Daytona Beach in front of the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort/Ocean Walk Village (100 N. Atlantic Ave.).
At the close of competition, the 2015 champions will crowned. Open finals scheduled for Saturday, include: Run Relay, 2K Beach Run, Landline, Ironwoman/Ironman, Run Swim Run, Surf Ski and Taplin Relay.
Admission to the Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships in Daytona Beach is free of charge.
For more information on the Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships and full results from today’s National Lifeguard Championships, visit www.nationalresults.usla.org. The event is livestreamed on www.usla.org.
Swimming news courtesy of USLA.
