Junior Lifeguard program all about having a good time

Having fun is the main goal of the Junior Lifeguard program, and it showed on Monday.

Defending state champion Emma Makepa, one of two Kaua’i state defending champions in the program, topped a field of about 50 competitors in the 14-Below girls Flag Competition.

Makepa also placed 6th in the 1000-meter run.

Fletcher Parker of Kalaheo is the other defending state champion, and he topped the 14-Below Boys division’s Run, Swim, Run (100 meters) event.

Parker also placed 3rd in the 200-meter swim event.

Kaua’i Junior Lifeguard participants have a chance to join Makepa and Parker on a trip to the state competition on O’ahu later this year and will compete in an island-wide event at Kalapaki Beach on Saturday, July 27, following the final leg of Junior Lifeguard training.

The program, which is open to boys and girls 13 to 18 years of age, started last week at Salt Pond, and continues this week at Poipu.

Classes are scheduled for Kalapaki (July 1-5), Anahola (July 8-12), and Hanalei (July 22-26).

Other Kaua’i Junior Lifeguards placing in the 2001 event include Danelle Yost, 3rd in the girls 14-Below 200 meter swim; Savase Brede, 6th in the Boys 14-Below 1000 meter swim; Amanda Sheppers, 3rd in the Run, Swim, Run.

Moitea Brede came in 4th in the Flags competition as well as 6th in the 1000 meter run; Hunter Vetter took 6th in the Boys 15-over 1000 meter run; Zane Filtzer, 11th place Boys 15-over 1000 meter run, and Kaimi Kaneholani, 14th place Boys 15-over 1000 meter run.

Other Kaua’i participants in the 2001 included Megan Vento and Leigh Speyor of Poipu.

Team Kaua’i placed 5th in the overall team standings out of a 10-team field in the state. O’ahu’s Northshore took the overall title.

For more information and registering for the Junior Lifeguard program, contact Randy Ortiz at 635-5962, or Roy Yamagata at 635-7381.