NAGS HEAD, NC – Lifeguards from Charleston County beaches placed third overall recently in the “A” division of the South Atlantic Lifeguard Championships, held July 10-11 in Nags Head, NC. The competition brought lifeguards throughout the South Atlantic region, from Virginia Beach southward to Northern Florida, together to compete in a variety of lifesaving events on the beach.
A team composed of eighteen ocean rescue lifeguards from the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) placed third overall in their division, “A.” The A division of the South Atlantic Lifeguard Association (SALA) encompasses the larger beach areas in the South Atlantic region. This was the highest rank the agency has ever placed in the competition. A number of Charleston County team members also won individual awards.
Charleston County also earned the distinction of having two SALA individual champions in the competition’s Open division. CCPRC’s ocean lifeguard Hannah Craig won first place in the female Open Surf-Swim Race, as well as the female Open Run-Swim-Run Race. CCPRC’s Brennan Gedney won first place in the male Surf-Swim Race. Gedney and CCPRC’s Anthony Tipton competed as a team in the men’s Open Board Rescue Race, winning second place in that event.
Several members from CCPRC’s team also ranked in the top three of their age groups for various events. In his age group, Stephen Fernandez placed first in the men’s Run-Swim-Run, first in the men’s Surf Race, third in the men’s 2K Beach Run, and third in the International Ironman event. Brian Mack placed third in the men’s Surf Race, Board Race, Run-Swim-Run, the International Ironman and Surfski Race within his age group.
Teams earned points for each winner they had in the top 10 in the open division and the top three in each age group.
SALA works to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, and promotion of lifeguard readiness. The SALA is the South Atlantic region component of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA). The region includes North Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia (Virginia Beach only). For more information on the SALA Competition and for a full list of winners, visit www.salausla.org.
For more information on CCPRC's lifeguard staff and safety program, click on the link below.
