Fort Lauderdale Wins USLA Nationals

Matt Little, Public Information Specialist
City of Fort Lauderdale Public Information Office
(954) 828-4732 / mlittle@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue placed first in the United States Lifeguard Association (USLA) National Lifeguard Championships held last weekend at Fort Lauderdale Beach. The USLA Championships, the nation’s premiere event for lifeguards, drew 582 adult and 461 youth participants. Fort Lauderdale won as a team and had many outstanding individual performances.

The point rankings in the overall competition among agencies with 100 employees or less, were as follows:

Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue also won first place in the following categories:

- Open Men’s Surf Boat Race – Andy Engle and Mitch McCrady
- Open Women’s Raplin Relay – Naudine Coulson, Katherine Noland, Jennifer Noonan and Christine McCrady
- Open American IronWoman – Katherine Noland
- Open Women’s 4x100 Run Relay – Molly Militello, Naudine Coulson, Katherine Noland and Christine McCrady
- Open Women’s Board Rescue Race – Jennifer Noonan
- 30-34 Men’s Surf Ski Race – Victor Fox
- 30-34 Men’s 2K Beach Run – Sean Mick
- 35-39 Men’s American Ski Ironman – Mitch McCrady
- 35-39 Men’s Surf Boat Race – Chris Hoch and Mitch McCrady
- 55-59 Men’s Run-Swim-Run – Richie Rivera
- 30-34 Women’s Surf Race – Bethanne Plasman
- 30-34 IronWoman – Bethanne Plasman
- 30-34 Women’s Surf Boat Race – Jennifer Noonan
- 30-34 Women’s 2K Beach Run – Flora Morales
- 35-39 Women’s Boat Race – Christine McCrady
- 35-39 Women’s Beach Flags – Christine McCrady
- 45-49 Women’s Surf Boat Race – Tracie Moll and Robin Lehman

“Championships provide important motivation for lifeguards to maintain top physical conditioning and expert techniques, thereby ensuring a high level of protection for the public,” said Lt. James McCrady of Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue.  “This event showcases the nation’s top lifeguards and we are very proud of Fort Lauderdale’s top rankings.”

The City of Fort Lauderdale has a rich history of continuous ocean lifesaving services, dating back to 1926.  Through the years, as medical technology has advanced, so has the City’s commitment to ocean safety.  Now under the command of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, Ocean Rescue lifeguards have access to advanced training and state-of-the-art technology.  

As one of the most famous beaches in the world, and one of the most visited with 5.4 million visitors each year, Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue remains vigilant to the mission of public safety.