Ocean City Beach Patrol Takes Top Honors at Women’s Lifeguard Races
In a thrilling display of athleticism and teamwork, the Ocean City Beach Patrol emerged as champions at last night’s Women’s Invitational Lifeguard Races held on 58th Street beach in Ocean City. The competition featured five events: Sprint Doubles, Swim Relay, Paddle Relay, Run/Swim Relay, and Surf Dash Relay.
In the opening Sprint Doubles event, Upper Township’s Lorna Connel and Kailey Grimley took first place with a time of 4:54.52 seconds, earning 5 points for their patrol. Sea Isle City (Maura Quinn, Molly Quinn) followed in second, and Ventnor Beach Patrol (Sam Keough, Charlotte Thomas) secured third.
The Swim Relay saw Longport Beach Patrol’s Jordyn Ricciotti and Alivia Wainwright clinch first place with a time of 8:12.38 seconds, adding 5 points to their team’s score. Sea Girt (Maddie Brennan, Emily Sudol) and Ocean City Beach Patrol (Summer DeWitt, Rhylee Cornell) placed second and third, respectively.
Ocean City Beach Patrol dominated the Paddle Relay , with Mia Gallagher and Brynn Gallagher securing a first-place finish in 5:45.34 seconds, earning 5 points for their patrol. Sea Girt (Sydney VandeBoe, Ivy Slavinski) came in second, and Diamond Beach Patrol (Kelsey Cummings, Kennedy Campbell) finished third.
The Run/Swim Relay was won by Sea Girt’s Ivy Slavinski or Emily Sudol and Emily Sudol or Maddie Brennan, who completed the event in 6:11.01 seconds. Ocean City Beach Patrol (Chloe Care, Abby Hays) secured second place, followed by Sea Isle City (Molly O’Neill, Mary Kate Leonard) in third.
In the final event, the Surf Dash Relay , Ocean City Beach Patrol’s team of Claudia Booth, Haley Clayton, Grace Cullen, and Peyton Rautzhen claimed victory with a time of 3:29.52 seconds, adding another 5 points to their overall score. WILDWOOD CREST and NORTH WILDWOOD BEACH PATROL placed second and third, respectively.
The final team standings showed Ocean City Beach Patrol with 17 points. Sea Grit place second with 14. Sea Isle City finished in third with 8 points, followed by Upper Township with 7 points.