Honolulu lifeguards combined to win seven individual gold medals, and Hawai'i placed fourth in the team standings at the National Lifeguard Championships last weekend at Virginia Beach, Va.

"It's by far the best we've ever done," Hawai'i captain Matt Dubrule said. "We placed sixth last year and thought that was great so we're moving in the right direction."

Dubrule, an East O'ahu lifeguard, won two gold medals. He placed first in the surfski race and the ironman race in the senior division (ages 30 to 34).

Matthew Higgins, another East O'ahu lifeguard, also won two gold medals. He placed first in the surfski and ironman races in the veteran division (ages 50 and older).

Other gold medal winners from Hawai'i were Sean Monahan (surfski, ages 35 to 39), Brian Rocheleau (surfski, open) and Chris Miller (run-swim-run medley, ages 40 to 44).

"It was a typical East Coast beach, a lot of current, but not too much surf," Dubrule said. "It wasn't the type of conditions we see in Hawai'i, so we were real happy with how we did."

More than 1,000 lifeguards representing 40 teams from across the nation participated in the three-day event. It is considered the most prestigious event in the country for lifeguards, and features swimming, running and paddling races in various age divisions.

Los Angeles County won the overall team title.

"Those guys brought around 100 lifeguards and we brought 14, so to win as many medals as we did was a pretty nice accomplishment," Dubrule said.

Maui Jim and Hawai'i Modular Space sponsored the Hawai'i lifeguards, according to Dubrule.

How Hawai'i lifeguards fared:

Brian Rocheleau (open): 1st in surfski.

Matt Dubrule (30 to 34): 1st in surfski, 1st in ironman.

Guy Pere: (30 to 34): 2nd in surfski, 2nd in ironman, 2nd in paddleboard.

Sean Monahan (35 to 39): 1st in surfski, 3rd in paddleboard.

Ian Forrester (35 to 39): 2nd in surfski.

Chris Miller (40 to 44): 1st in run-swim-run medley, 2nd in paddleboard, 2nd in ironman, 3rd in swim.

Kenny Rust (40 to 44): 2nd in surfski, 3rd in swim, 2nd in beach flags.

Mike Fox (40 to 44): 3rd in paddleboard.

John Hoogsteden (45 to 49): 2nd in surfski, 3rd in ironman, 3rd in run-swim-run medley.

Matthew Higgins (50-older): 1st in surfski, 1st in ironman, 3rd in swim, 3rd in beach flags.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.