Marines and sailors from around the station gathered at the IronWorks Gym here to compete in the 2010 Commander’s Cup Challenge Indoor- Triathlon May 14.
Cpl. Dustin Ashley, Lance Cpl. Elizabeth Follet and 2nd Lt. Mike McElhenny came out representing Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and took first place in the competition while the sailors of Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic came in second.
“It went great,” said Barbara Roman, Marine Corps Community Services Fitness Coordinator. “It was fast, easy, successful and competitive. The times were extremely close.”
MALS-12 took first place with a time of 27 min. 18 sec., while the BHC claimed second with a time of 28 min. 20 sec and Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 won third with a time of 28 min. 21 sec.
“It was competitive,” said Roman. “Overall it was a fabulous event.”
The competition consisted of three-man teams with each participant competing in one of three events.
The three events of the competition were a 300 meter swim, a five-mile stationary-bike ride set on level 9 and a two-mile treadmill run set on whatever level the participant wanted. Sgt. Rebecca Kubica, Combat Logistics Company 36 competitor, competed in the five-mile stationary-bike portion of the competition.
“The hardest part was just pushing through it knowing that my thighs were burning,” said Kubica. “I got real thirsty. I‘ve never gotten that thirsty on a bike or on an elliptical before.”
Kibica said part of what helped her push through the pain and the thirst was the motivation she got from the service members who were there from her squadron supporting her.
“CLC-36, we came out here to represent,” said Kubica. “We had, like a quarter of our unit out here. That was good stuff running out here with everybody standing right there. That made me push a whole lot harder.”
Many of the participating service members thought one of the best things about the Commander’s Cup challenges — like the Indoor- Triathlon — was how it helped build unit cohesion.
“It let’s everybody work together,” said Ashley. “Officers, staff (non-commissioned officers), NCOs, troops. If your not part of the Commander’s Cup, if you don’t actually participate, come out and just show support if anything.”
Ashley competed in the running portion of the event and finished with a two-mile run time of 11 min and 18 sec.
“I volunteered,” said Ashley. “I did this event last year in the Commander’s Cup Indoor-Triathlon. It went really well last year but I think it went better this year. Overall we performed really well.”
Each competing unit earned 20 points toward the Commander’s Cup Challenge.
First place winners earned an additional 10 points for their unit with second place earning 7 and third earning 5 points.
The overall standings for the Commander‘s Cup Challenge are Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 in first place with 305 points, MALS-12 in second place with 217 and CLC-36 in third with 257. The next Commander’s Cup event is the Endurance Challenge slated for June 18.
For more information on this or any other upcoming 2010 Commander’s Cup challenges, call 253-5051.