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. 

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. 

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).

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. 

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.