Levinson using lifeguarding to train for track and field

Staff Writer

By tim morris


JEFF HUNTLEY Freehold’s Shawn Levinson uses his job as a lifeguard in Manasquan to help him prepare for his upcoming collegiate track and field career. JEFF HUNTLEY Freehold’s Shawn Levinson uses his job as a lifeguard in Manasquan to help him prepare for his upcoming collegiate track and field career.

The beach isn’t all surf, sand and sun for Shawn Levinson. As a lifeguard at Manasquan Beach, Levinson is for people’s safety and ultimately their lives. Levinson was a lifeguard at the Candlewood Swim Club in Howell for four years before turning to the beach this summer.

"There are a lot more responsibilities," the Freehold Township High School graduate explained. "The beach is a lot more dangerous especially when you have a strong riptide and strong surf. You have to make a lot of rescues on days like that.

"You have to keep your eye out for every little thing," he added. "I’ve been learning from the experienced guards what to look out for. You have to rely on your instincts."

Even with the responsibilities that go with lifeguarding at the beach, Levinson is enjoying his work.

"I love it; it’s the best job I’ve ever had," he said. "I get to work out all day."

The beach is offering something else for Levinson this summer, a new way to train for track and field. Levinson is a sprinter/hurdler on The College of New Jersey’s men’s track and field team. Last year, he qualified for the national championships in the 110-meter high hurdles. He’s looking for his summer job and increased weight training to help him reach his goal for the 2001 season, earning All-American honors.

Besides the lifeguard training itself, Levinson arrives to work early so he can do some running on the beach and extra swimming. In addition, he has been competing in lifeguard competitions up and down the Jersey Shore with his Manasquan Beach teammates. His spring skills from track have fit in perfectly with the running events in the competitions. This week, Levinson will be out at San Diego, Calif., for the national lifeguarding championships being held at the Pacific Beach. He will be representing Monmouth County in two events, the beach flag relay and the torp relay. The flag relay is a 40-yard dash while the torp relay is a bit more demanding. It’s a 100-yard sprint in the sand.

"It’s pretty tough running in the sand, especially soft sand," Levinson pointed out. "You can really feel it in your calves.

"Keeping your balance while you’re sprinting is very important," he added.

The Monmouth County team qualified for the national championships at the Regional held at Rehobeth Beach, Del., where they finished third.

"This is all new for me and it’s very interesting," Levinson said of this week’s national championships.

Levinson is counting on reaping the rewards of all of this beach running and swimming next year when the track season rolls around. Reaching the nationals has whetted his appetite for more.

"My goal is to be an All-American," said Levinson. "To do that I have to finish in the top eight."

Last year, despite having his outdoor season get off to a late start because of a quad injury, Levinson finished 11th in the 110-meter high hurdles at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

In addition to his hurdling prowess he was a member of 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams that set school records. Indoors, he ran the 55-meter high hurdles.

The NCAA experience taught Levinson, who will be a junior at CNJ, what it takes to compete against national-caliber athletes.