512th AMXS dominates Ultimate Fitness Challenge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joe Yanik
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  About 200 Liberty Wing reservists came out to the 2012 Ultimate Fitness Challenge Saturday at the base track.

"The goal of the fitness challenge is to build esprit de corps among squadrons while promoting fitness throughout the wing," said 1st Lt. Michelle Anderson, 512th Maintenance Group executive officer and one of the event organizers.

Airmen from the 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron earned the trophy for best Overall Team, capturing more than half a dozen awards by the end of the day.

Physical fitness contests included categories in sit-ups, pushups, a relay race, a lap walk and a tug-of-war. Service members could participate in any combination of events in their respective age category.

"The new addition to this year's fitness challenge was the tug-of-war competition, which went over very well," said Anderson. "Our plan for next year is to keep this event and all others, except the fastest walker category; this will be replaced with a pull-up contest."

About 30 percent of the wing's units competed this year, and several other squadrons showed up to support fellow Airmen.
Senior Airman Jeffrey Villagomez, 512th AMXS, watched from the sidelines as his squadron ran the relay race with the fastest time of 4:23.

"It's a lot of fun to come out and see who you can compete with," said Villagomez, who completed 99 pushups, 14 shy of first place in the age group of men under 30 years old.

That win went to Senior Airman Brandon Bermudez from the 712th AMXS with 113 pushups.

"Everyone being out here is a real morale booster," said the C-17 aircraft propulsion specialist, who also won the award for most sit-ups in his age group last year.

Even without all their Airmen stateside, many are currently deployed to the Middle East, Capt. Dinah Bell, Master Sgt. Destiny Donigan and Staff Sgt. Robert Gray represented the 46th Aerial Port Squadron with distinction.

Bell and Gray completed the most sit-ups in the categories of men and women between the ages of 30 and 39, 96 sit-ups and 113 sit-ups respectively. Donigan completed 85 pushups, winning the category for women between the ages of 30 and 39.

The event concluded when Col. Raymond Kozak, 512th Airlift Wing commander, addressed the crowd, encouraging them to continue embracing the fitness culture.

"Fitness is good, and fitness helps improve the mission," said Kozak before presenting the medals and trophies to the fitness winners. "Thanks for being out here competing and thanks to the organizers."

"The event was a huge success when it came to camaraderie, fun and fitness," said Anderson. "We received a lot of positive feedback. For next year's event, we hope more units participate, giving the 512th AMXS more competition to defend their trophy."

512th AW Ultimate Fitness Challenge Winners List

Overall Team
512th AMXS

One-Mile Relay
512th AMXS 4:23
Tech. Sgt. Ethan Gillson
Tech. Sgt. Jason Jones
Staff Sgt. Dominique Johnson
Senior Airman Steven Cisco

Tug-of-War
512th AMXS

Fastest Lap Walk
Staff Sgt. Guerschon Lilavois, 512th AMXS

Sit-ups
Men under 30: 123, Senior Airman Anthony Cosgrove, 512th AMXS
Women under 30: 100, Senior Airman Jasmine Cagado, 512th Force Support Squadron
Men 30-39: 116, Staff Sgt. Robert Gray, 46th APS
Women 30-39: 96, Capt. Dinah Bell, 46th APS
Men 40 plus: 87, Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Moore, 512th AMXS
Women 40 plus: 73, Maj. Catherine Milhoan, 512th FSS

Pushups
Men under 30: 113, Senior Airman Brandon Bermudez, 712th AMXS
Women under 30: 52, Senior Airman Dayna Twyne, 512th FSS
Men 30-39: 96, Tech. Sgt. Stanley Lahendro, 512th Maintenance Squadron
Women 30-39: 85, Master Sgt. Destiny Donigan, 46th APS
Men 40 plus: 72, Master Sgt. Brian Allen, 512th AMXS
Women 40 plus: 72, Maj. Catherine Milhoan, 512th FSS