Top athletes are always looking for a new challenge, and those in Monmouth County got a chance to take on something different when the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge came to Long Branch on Thursday.
    The Navy, in conjunction with the National High School Coaches Association, is bringing their gauntlet of physical screening for prospective Navy SEALs to communities all over the country. The goal, according to Director of Field Recruiting Captain Curtis, is to promote fitness and expose the athletic population of the country to the Navy SEALs.
    "We had a great event today with a whole bunch of young people doing our physical screening test as an athletic event," Curtis said. "We're mainly here to be associated with young athletic people in our communities."
    The Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge consists of five separate challenge events that have certain time and number requirements in each grade. The challenge starts off with a 500 yard swim with a 12:30 physical SEAL standard and a 10:00 competitive SEAL standard. After a 10-minute rest, participants have two minutes to complete 42 push-ups for the physical standard and 80 for the competitive standard. A two-minute rest segues into a sit-up challenge in which the competitor once again has two minutes to do either 50 or 80 sit-ups. Next comes pull-ups. There is no time limit with a physical standard of six and a competitive standard of 11. The final challenge is a 1.5 mile run that has a physical standard of 11:00 and a competitive standard of 12:00.
    The overall champion on Thursday was 2001 Shore Regional graduate Brian Gleason, who almost decided against participating.
    "I really wasn't that excited to do it in the beginning but I'm glad I did it," he said. "I had a great time."
    There were plenty of current and former Shore Conference high school athletes competing including Gleason. Another was Rumson-Fair Haven standout swimmer Connor Jaeger. Jaeger is the defending Shore Conference champion in the 200 freestyle.
    "I came to work today (as a lifeguard) not even knowing about it," Jaeger said. "My boss had it as a surprise for us and it was something I was interested in."
    Jaeger came in first in the 500-yard swim.
    Also out was a group of Keyport High School students and also some students from nearby Long Branch High School. Maggie Brocklebank, a junior three-sport athlete for the Green Wave who is also a lifeguard, tested her skills in each event.
    "It was easy, a piece of cake," she said. "Being a lifeguard really helps me stay athletic and stay in shape."
    Wrestler Louis Felipe surprised himself with his abilities.
    "I didn't think I was going to do it as well as I did," Felipe. "Wrestling all summer really helps me stay in shape."
    All in all it was a successful day on the beach in Long Branch as local athletes got to see what it takes just to be considered to train for a Navy SEAL.
    "You hear a lot that our country is getting soft," Curtis said. "But you come to parts like this and see there are still plenty of hard-working young people."