Spivey, Murphy lead Los Angeles Lifeguards to Nationals title
Los Angeles County Lifeguards celebrate their Nationals championship at American Junkie in Hermosa Beach. Photo
Los Angeles County Lifeguard Taylor Spivey, of Manhattan Beach, won the Open Women’s individual title last month at the U.S. Lifesaving Association National Lifeguard Championships in Cape May, New Jersey. Teammate Brian Murphy, of Redondo Beach, placed second in the Open Men’s division.
Spivey and Murphy competed on the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association’s (LACOLA) Surf Racing Team, which narrowly claimed the team title for the 26th consecutive year with 630 points. Host team Monmouth County Lifeguards was second with 615.5 points.
LACOLA has won the championships 39 times since 1970, the year of the first championships.
More than 500 professional lifeguards from around the country competed in individual and team events, which included swimming, running, paddling, surf ski paddling and rowing.
The Los Angeles County Lifeguard team at Cape May, New Jersey during last month’s Nationals championship.
In addition to Spivey and Murphy, four other team members finished in the top 10 of the open divisions.
Lifeguards Tandis Morgan, Renee Locarnini, and Coral Kemp finished fourth, eighth and ninth, respectively.
Lifeguard Tyler Morgan placed sixth in the Open Men’s division.
“To beat Monmouth on their home turf with only 37 competitors is nothing short of amazing. Words can’t express how proud we all are of the 2012 Nationals Champion Team,” Lifeguard Chief Mike Frazer said during a fundraiser last Friday at American Junkie in Hermosa Beach.
For more information about National Championships, visit USLANationals.org. ER