SPORTSCOPE : L.A. Lifeguards Win National Title

Lifeguards from the Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department won their fourth consecutive U.S. Lifesaving Assn. championship over the weekend.

L.A. County topped a field of 50 teams from the coastal and Great Lakes areas in competition at Pompano Beach, Fla. The county team, with 440 1/2 points, easily beat the runner-up California State Lifeguard Assn. team, which scored 255.

Teams could enter competitors in up to 12 events, but only the top eight results for each team were counted. Each event was divided into open, women’s, seniors (29-38 years old), masters (39-48) and veterans (49 and over) categories.

Craig Hummer of Venice led the L.A. County team with victories in the open International Ironman, 1,000-meter swim, run-swim-run and rescue board race. Playa del Rey’s Diane Graner, Manhattan Beach’s Bill Bischoff and El Segundo’s Phil Topar each won three events.