Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 28, 2013 Villadom Sports Rescue Race winners receive keys to Long Branch Jennifer Rau, Alexandre O’Connor, Hayley Masi, and Hannah Elliott each received a key to the City of Long Branch for their recent first place finish in the United States Lifesaving Association’s National Championship’s Women’s Rescue Race. The rescue race is a four-person event in which one lifeguard swims out to a flag, another lifeguard swims out to rescue her, and two lifeguards then carry the “victim” up the beach over the finish line. All four women, who are lifeguards at Long Branch, represented Monmouth County in the three-day competition, which was held this month in Manhattan Beach, California. During the competition, Rau and O’Connor finished second in the Women’s Surfboat event, which requires rowers to complete a two lap race around set buoys in the ocean. Competitors from Boca Raton, Florida edged the Monmouth County team to take first place. Rau is a graduate of Midland Park High School and of University of Scranton. She has been a lifeguard for eight years and participated in the USLA Nationals in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Competitors in the USLA Nationals traveled to California from several states, including New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Texas - and from Canada. The com- petition features multiple events for men and women, including rowing, swimming, relays, and an Ironman event. Above: Jennifer Rau, Alexandre O’Connor, Hannah Elliott, and Hayley Masi hold their keys to the City of Long Branch. Left: O’Connor and Rau competing in the Women’s Surboat event. Great season The Midland Park Panther 10U travel baseball team recently completed a win- ning season. The Panthers were the New Jersey Subur- ban Baseball League spring champions and took second place in the summer season. They also won the Bergen County Memorial Day Clas- sic Tournament and the Branchburg Baseball Tour- nament.