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All photographs taken by Michelle Giorla
On July 1st at 6:30pm, fifteen lifeguards, each representing a different beach in South Jersey, competed in a SuperAthalon memorial for Cape May’s former Beach Patrol Chief of thirty-eight years, Harry “Buzz” Mogck.
According to Cape May Beach Patrol, “The idea of a SuperAthalon lifeguard competition was born when Buzz Mogck assumed the leadership of the Cape May Beach Patrol in 1981. Captain Mogck sought to stage a ‘unique’ competition involving South Jersey beach patrols. Knowing that lifeguards need on-the-job skills of running, rowing and swimming, Captain Mogck decided to stage an ‘Iron-Man’ competition highlighting those skills.” The first SuperAthalon race took place in 1982.
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Starting from 2nd Avenue, the contestants ran 2.3 miles along Beach Avenue until they reached the other end at Poverty Beach. The second stage of the SuperAthalon consisted of a 1.5 mile row from Poverty Beach to Congress Beach, running across the Cannone jetty, entering section two (Cannone, Mogck, and Colton Court Beaches). The race finished with an approximate quarter-mile swim around the orange buoy and ending at Mogck Street Beach.
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Of the fifteen competitors in the SuperAthalon, only one contestant was a woman. Jenna Parker, a forty year-old former USA National Team Triathlete, represented Harvey Cedars. She beat out the majority of the competition, ranking in fifth place. Jenna is a five-time winner of the Cape May Point Women’s Lifeguard Challenge (2021, 2019, 2017, 2016, & 2014).
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The top three winners were awarded trophies. Brandon Hontz from Avalon came in third with a time of 52.25, Rob Moran of Cape May came in second with a time of 52.16, and Patrick Clemons of Wildwood came in first place with a time of 52.09.
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As a result of this race, a new rule has been put in place for future SuperAthalons called the “Wildwood Rule” to restrict alternative routes and prevent future advantages.