Safety challenge will swim through Newport

The Southern California Beach Safety Challenge, aimed at promoting

water safety awareness, will visit Newport Beach on Monday.

The Challenge, organized by the California State Lifeguard Assn.,

coincides with National Beach Safety Week. The event that began in

Imperial Beach, south of San Diego, on Monday will finish at Huntington

State Beach this Monday.

The event is a grueling one in which lifeguards and water safety

professionals run, swim and paddle from the Mexican border to Huntington

State Beach. Competitors will pass through Newport Beach on Monday.

A 7 a.m. start from Reef Point in Crystal Cove State Park kicks off a

five-mile run to the Corona del Mar harbor jetty. An escorted swim across

the harbor mouth is next, followed by a run to the Balboa Pier. After

that, competitors will swim around the Balboa Pier and run to Newport

Pier.

The event will finish when each participating agency will have at

least one representative run the final four miles to Newland Street at

Huntington State Beach. Information: coordinator John Anderson, (562)

260-1124.