Tech. Sgt. Shaun Harris, left, and John Gouldthorpe attempt to do more push-ups than the other other during the Battle of the Services Fitness Challenge at Risner Gym on Kadena Air Base. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Tech. Sgt. Shaun Harris, left, and John Gouldthorpe attempt to do more push-ups than the other other during the Battle of the Services Fitness Challenge at Risner Gym on Kadena Air Base. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Japanese Air Self Defense Force Staff Sgt. Yuki Yabuki does sit-ups as fast as she can during the second event of the Battle of the Services Fitness Challenge at Risner Gym on Kadena Air Base. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Airman 1st Class Keundra Griffin, with 18th Communications Squadron, struggles to complete a few more sit-ups in the final seconds of the three-minute time limit during the second event of the Battle of the Services Fitness Challenge. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — An Army unit pushed-up, sat-up and ran its way to top honors at Kadena’s first Battle of the Services Fitness Challenge on Friday at Risner Gym.
The eight-man team from 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment was confident from the start.
As Army Pfc. David Brown put it, “We’re going to blow them away.”
But first place was a tight battle between the soldiers and 320 Special Tactics Squadron airmen that was decided in the 400-meter relay, the final event.
There was no competition from the Marine Corps or Navy.
“I’m a little glad that the Marine Corps didn’t come,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Tricia Carmes, on a student team from Erwin Professional Military Education Center.
“I see them hard at work at PT during the week and I wouldn’t want to compete against them,” she said.
Tech. Sgt. John Gouldthorpe, a teammate, thought otherwise.
“There are some pretty fit guys on the Air Force teams and we would’ve given them a run for their money,” he said.
Organizers plan to make this a yearly event and hope to get the Navy and the Marine Corps involved next year, said Senior Master Sgt. John Yun, one of the coordinators.
Cream of the fitness crop
The Battle of the Services Fitness Challenge consisted of three events: push-ups, sit-ups and a 400-meter relay run.
Each member of the eight-man team had to put forth maximum effort for three minutes during the push-up and sit-up events. The total numbers performed were calculated for the teams to determine where they placed for the relay.
The event’s played out as follows:
Top individual scores:
Most push-ups
Male: 207 by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Watts, 18th Communications SquadronFemale: 130 by Sgt. Amoni Suttice, 1/1 Air Defense Auxiliary RegimentMost sit-ups
Male: 165 by Pfc. David Brown, 1/1 Air Defense Auxiliary RegimentFemale: 141 by Sgt. Amoni Suttice, 1/1 Air Defense Auxiliary RegimentTop team scores:
Push-ups (Top 3)
1. 1,131 by 320th Special Tactics Squadron2. 1,096 by 1/1 Air Defense Auxiliary Regiment3. 948 by 18th Communications SquadronSit-ups (Top 3)
1. 1,046 by 1/1 Air Defense Auxiliary Regiment2. 964 by 320th Special Tactics Squadron3. 850 by 18th Civil Engineer SquadronBest relay time
1. 1/1 Air Defense Auxiliary Regiment, 8:34:56
Overall ranking (Top 3)
