L.A. County Lifeguards Take 40th Championship Title in USLA Event

A Los Angeles County lifeguard team has once again won the overall team title, for the 40th time, in the 44-year history of the United States Lifesaving Association National Lifeguard Championships.

Led by overall Open points winner Brian Murphy of Redondo Beach and former 2000 Olympic silver medal swimmer Chad Carvin, the L.A. County team captured the overall team title for the 27th consecutive year, finishing with 1,644 points. The California State Lifeguard Association took second place with 764.625 points; Monmouth County, N.J. took third with 659.875 points and Sussex County, Del., took fourth with 400.75 points.

In the Women’s Open Individual points competition, L.A. County Lifeguard Coral Kemp won the title and placed second in the American Ironwoman, beating out teammate Alison Riddle of Hermosa Beach 83.375 to 76.25, respectively, for the overall title.

L.A. County lifeguard Diane Gallas Ganer, a Manhattan Beach guard, earned valuable points for her team throughout the four-day competition. She finished in third place in the Run Swim Run on Saturday.

Murphy defended the title he won last year in the Ski Surf competition.

To see age group champions from Saturday’s events, click here.