Solberg leads LA County lifeguards in reclaiming USLA National championship

Winning the Rescue Race competition were LA County team members (from left) Renae Jackson, Jenna Solberg, Kelsey Cummings and Coral Kemp. Photo by Joel Gitelson

Members of the LA County Surf Life Saving Association got their revenge last weekend, retaking the Jersey Mike’s United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Lifeguard Championships, for its 29th title in the last 31 years.

With a depleted lineup last year, the LA County team fell to Monmouth County of New Jersey, who finished as runner-up this year ahead of third-place finishers and host Virginia Beach.

LA County won the Howard Lee Trophy for overall points with 1,244.252 and the Greg Farry Trophy (overall points for Men and Women Open competition) with 785.252.

LA County’s Jenna Solberg captured her third straight Women’s overall point title with 94 points beating out teammate and runner-up Kelsey Cummings for the third straight year. Cummings finished with 89.5 points.

“Winning overall points has gotten so much harder every year,” Solberg explained. “The competition is getting so much better which means the sport is really growing and taking steps in the right direction. Kelsey and I continue to push each other to our best, and to beat her by only a couple points was such a hard feat. We train together, so I knew it would take every last effort on my end to win overall this year.

“My toughest event had to be the American Ironwoman. It was my 8th final in a row on Saturday evening, and to end it with a three piece race of “swim, board, dory boat” was really hard.”

Timothy Burdiak and Renae Jackson won the SurfSki mens and womens championships, respectively.

Solberg placed 2nd in the Ironwoman and 3rd in the American Ironwoman events and was a member of the winning Rescue Race team along with Coral Kemp, Cummings and Renae Jackson.

The Rescue Race includes a “victim,” one rescue tube swimmer and two rescuers. The victim swims approximately 120 meters to a buoy, signals and waits to be rescued by the tube swimmer. Returning to shore, the remaining two members enter the water to assist.

Cummings also won the Ironguard and Surf Race competition and placed 2nd in the SurfSki and 3rd in the Ironwoman. Coral Kemp was runner-up in the Women’s Board Race

In Men’s competition, Newport Beach Ocean Lifeguard Association athletes Hayden Hemmens won the title with 92.25 points, well ahead of Hampton’s Ryan Paroz (51) and LA County’s Jake Miller (49.125).

LA County’s team of Azad Al-Barazi, Kevin Fink, Hunter Hay and Timothy Burdiak won the Men’s Rescue Race.

Brian Murphy finished 2nd in the Ironman and Board Race competition.

LA County men also had 2nd-place finishes by Jeff Hart (American Ironman) and Kevin Fink (Surf Race) while Shane Gallas placed 3rd in the Board Race.

Close to 900 junior and professional lifeguards competed at the event. The final day of competition was cut short, however, due to inclement weather with the Board Rescue, Landline Rescue, Open Run-Swim-Run and Taplin Relay events being cancelled.

“I was pretty bummed that Sunday’s events got cancelled,” Solberg said. “My favorite race of the board rescue couldn’t run, and the taplin relay was cancelled as well. These two races are the pinnacle of Nationals because they encompass not only true ‘rescue’ training, but also the most team comradery. It will truly make these races even more exciting next year.”

In women’s age group competition, Ann Finley won seven events in the 55-59 division followed by Tandis Morgan (35-39) and Chris Linkletter (50-54) who each won five, Deirdre Fisher (50-54) with three and Coral Kemp (30-34) with two.

Men capturing age group title included Joel Gitelson (70+) with eight, Eldon Onsgard (65-69) with seven, Jeff Lombardo (35-39) and Ed Heinrich (70+) with three, Jeff Hart (30-34), Wadley Wadley (35-39) and Dave Cartlidge (40-44) with two and Patrick Jacobson (30-34), Max Jaben (30-34), Brian Murphy (35-39), Tyler Morgan (40-44), Mel Solberg (50-54) and Jay Butki (55-59) with one each.

Competition at the four-day USLA Nationals began Wednesday, Aug. 8 with the Junior Guards showing their skills.

In the Boys B Group (12-13), Joseph Rhee won the Surf-Swim Race, Board Race and Run-Swim-Run events.

Parris Mosteller captured the Boys Under-19 Ironguard championship and Katelyn Nimsky won the Girls Under-19 title in the Ironperson category.

For complete results, visit usla.org/nationals.

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