Junior Lifeguards win first place in regional competition

Sue Doyle

A team of 11-year-olds from the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards

captured first place during a swim relay race Thursday at a regional

competition in San Diego.

One at a time, the six children on the team swam 50 yards into the

ocean toward a buoy and paddled back to shore to touch the next

participant raring to go.

The team included: Max Joseph, Leaha Robertson, Julie Lane, Camille

Hewko, J.J. Frei and Nick Jones.

Nick captured another blue ribbon, finishing first in the one-mile

beach run.

The youngsters were the first local group to win the state regional

competition, said Lt. John Blauer of the Newport Beach Fire and Marine

Department.