The 32nd Annual All-Women Lifeguard Tournament drew a field of 222 participants to Sandy Hook on Wednesday. Watch video
SANDY HOOK - More than 200 female lifeguards took to the sand and surf near at Sandy Hook on Wednesday to compete in the nation's oldest and largest all-female lifeguard tournament.
The 32nd Annual All-Women Lifeguard Tournament drew a field of 222 participants from nearly two-dozen beach patrols spread throughout New Jersey, New York and Delaware.
Carl Martinez, the water safety coordinator for Gateway National Park and the long-time organizer of the tournament, said what make's the All-Women Lifeguard Tournament unique is not the mechanics of the events, but rather the purpose of the tournament.
"Our tournament is designed as a workforce diversity initiative, that is perhaps a little innovative in its own way and perhaps unique throughout the world," Martinez said. "Our goal is to have as many women as possible participate, so that they - through the media coverage of the event - can hopefully encourage our women or young girls to pursue that line of work. "
During the event, the lifeguards not only competed in their scheduled events but also sprang into action when there were at least three medical emergencies on the beach during the event that required medical intervention.
In one instance, a man collapsed near the tent of one of beach patrol teams. The guards immediate rushed to the man's aid, worked to try to cool him down and get him stable, helped to load him onto a backboard and then into the back of the vehicle that drove him off the beach.
"We're dealing with dedicated lifeguards and lifeguards are in the business of trying, whenever possible, to prevent injury and possibly even death," Martinez said. "What you saw today was people springing into action, not being confused or unsure about what they're doing, but instead benefitting from the training they received on the job and being willing to implement that training. It was nice to see. What you're seeing here, almost without exception, are examples of wholesomeness and American womanhood at about its finest"
And while the event was extremely competitive, it was more of a shining example of good sportsmanship than gamesmanship, as the competitors regularly congratulated, conversed with each other and laughed with the opponents throughout the day.
"The element of (ruthless) competition common in other sporting events is absent in this one," Martinez said. "They're still looking to be Number 1, but apparently they're not willing to smack each other with an oar to be Number 1."
Long Branch edged Sea Girt by just three points - 109 to 106 - to capture the Division II team title, while the Hampton Lifeguard Association took third with 71 points.
Lavallete accumulated 130 points to beat second-place Asbury Park (85 points) and Wildwood (82 points) to claim the Division I team title.
Sea Girt's Sarah Brennan earned "Top Performer" honors in Division II by winning the Iron Woman and Run-Swim-Run races, as well as taking third in the Distance Run race and fourth place as part of Sea Girt's run relay team.
Meanwhile, Lavallette's Julia Bland won "Top Performer" in Division I by winning the Iron Woman, Run-Paddle-Run and Run-Swim-Run, as well as being part of Lavallette's first-place Run Relay team.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.