Swim 3.5 miles in a pool and you've done roughly 250 laps; a long, exhausting, but predictable slog. Swim 3.5 miles in the open Atlantic, fighting currents, swells, and salt with only a buoy and a paddleboarder for company, and you've done what 28 members of the Volunteer Life Saving Corps did Saturday: completed the 93rd running of the Meninak Ocean Marathon, one of the oldest continuous open-water swimming traditions in the country.
The race, one of the longest-standing open-water swimming traditions in the United States, has its roots in a 1934 partnership between the Meninak Club of Jacksonville and the volunteer lifeguards. Meninak Club past president Alfred Miller, Sr. and Dr. George Frederick Oetjen founded the event to honor the community service of the Volunteer Life Saving Corps (VLSC), the organization responsible for keeping area beaches safe.
The VLSC's roots predate the swim itself by more than two decades. Founded in 1912 by Clarence H. McDonald and Dr. Lyman G. Haskell after a Pablo Beach drowning exposed the lack of lifeguards on the shore, the group was chartered by the American National Red Cross in 1914 as the first unit of its kind in the country. In 2015 the VLSC became its own nonprofit entity after the American Red Cross stopped providing lifeguard services. The organization kept its name and continues today as the Volunteer Life Saving Corps, independent of the Red Cross. Its members, called "surfmen" regardless of sex, complete a 12-week training program before earning the title, and the Corps' historic lifeguard station on Ocean Front North has stood on the National Register of Historic Places since 2014.
Race Day
Swimmers gathered at the lifeguard station at 6:30 a.m. for morning photos with the Meninak Club before being shuttled south to the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club for the start. About 10 swimmers took a brief one- to two-minute warm-up in the water, and the group gathered on the sand for a prayer before the race.
The race started at 7:40 a.m., with swimmers heading 75 yards offshore and around a lifeguard on a paddleboard before turning north toward the Jacksonville Beach Lifeguard Station.
One unusual moment marked this year's race: a swimmer's buoy came loose mid-swim after the strap on a brand-new buoy wasn't tied tightly enough. Another lifeguard spotted the wayward buoy floating in the water, tied it to his own, and towed both for the final 1.5 miles of the course. Several longtime lifeguards said they'd never seen anything like it in their careers.
Unlike a pool, the open ocean offers no walls to push off and no lane lines to follow. Swimmers contend with currents, chop, and cold water for the entire distance, sighting landmarks periodically to stay on course, all without a single break in the stroke. It's a demanding effort even for elite swimmers in their prime, which makes the age range in this year's field notable: many of the swimmers who took on the Atlantic Saturday were well past their 20s and 30s, some considerably so. Three of the top five finishers were over the age of 55.
Results
Bill Horn, a current Council Member in Jacksonville Beach, finished first with a time of 1:23:53, completing his 36th Meninak swim and chalking up his fourth win. Cleve Cooney placed second at 1:24:51, marking his 19th career win in the race. Joey Civello finished third at 1:30:09, notching his first career win. Ben Jokisch rounded out the top four at 1:50:11. Maurice "Mo" Rudolph rounded out the top five at 1:54:40, completing his 30th Meninak Marathon at age 56.
Jeff Goldstein, 74, was the oldest competitor in the field, completing his 46th Meninak swim in 3:07:20, a finish that stands on its own as impressive at any age, and a testament to the staying power of a group that trains and races together across generations. The youngest swimmer was 16. Several competitors are swimming in the 40s for career race counts, meaning they've been taking on this same grueling course annually since long before many of this year's youngest entrants were born.
The longest-tenured competitor, Sean O'Brien, sat out this year's race due to a recent injury after reaching 50 career swims last year. O'Brien is expected to return next year for his 51st Meninak.
For Rudolph, the milestone finish carried weight beyond the clock.
"Swimming the Meninak Ocean Marathon is always special, but the 93rd anniversary was an incredible reminder of the legacy generations of VLSC volunteers have carried forward right here in our community," Rudolph said. "Completing my 30th Meninak Marathon and finishing fifth at 56 years old was, first and foremost, a blessing, and I am grateful to still have the health and strength to compete alongside so many talented lifesavers. A 3.5-mile ocean swim is definitely not for the faint of heart. It takes endurance, mental toughness, a healthy dose of stubbornness, and a real passion for preserving one of Jacksonville Beach's greatest traditions."
Rudolph said he thought of two former VLSC mentors throughout the race.
"During the race, I thought about all those who swam these same waters before us, especially my late mentors Richard Riley and Steve Park, who were wonderful leaders and mentors to so many VLSC volunteers," he said. "Their initials are imprinted on my vintage metal rescue buoy, so every time I looked back to check the competition, there they were reminding me to keep moving. That is the beauty of this event. It brings generations together and, much like life itself, teaches us to put our heads down, work hard, push past the doubt, and trust that when we finally round the buoy and look toward the finish, we may be much farther along than we ever imagined. The VLSC is living proof, with the marathon back to 28 swimmers and our 114-year-old organization looking strong, having fun, and ready to serve the Beaches for another 100 years."
Rudolph isn't the only VLSC member who sees the race as bigger than a single finish line.
"The Meninak Ocean Marathon is one of the traditions that brings together VLSC members from different generations," said Ryan Karish, Captain in the VLSC. "Recruit surfmen must swim during their first active season. We also have members that have swum the marathon for decades. We always have a social gathering the evening of the marathon to come together and enjoy each other's company. It doesn't matter if you are 16 or 75, we all love the beaches community and the Corps."
Unlike most marathon swims, the Meninak is not open to the general public. The field is limited to members and alumni of the VLSC, making the race an internal test of endurance among the lifeguards who patrol the Beaches year-round. The event is organized and sponsored by the Meninak Club of Jacksonville, a civic organization that has spent nearly a century supporting area youth programs, regional safety initiatives, and local charity grants.
Residents who want their own shot at the open water won't have to wait long. The 21st Annual HammerHead Ocean Marathon will take place on August 22, open to the public with 1K, 2K, and 5K distances. This event supports the Volunteer Life Saving Corps and is supported by the City of Jax Beach. Registration is open to all skill levels, and proceeds go directly toward funding VLSC safety operations
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