Sunrise Sprint Triathlon a success

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Forty-four Team BLAZE members competed in the Sunrise Sprint Triathlon here at Columbus Air Force Base, Aug. 28.

The Sunrise Sprint Triathlon allowed Airmen to compete individually, or in teams of three, with swimming, cycling, and running portions of the competition.

The times for the top competitors are as follows:

Top male
2nd. Lt. Brendon Sullivan - 1:03:18

Top female
Jill Hubert - 1:25:35

Top team
Team 6 - 1:02:12
Paul Fulkerson
1st. Lt. Zach Krueger
Alysia Krueger


The three members of the top-team will also be granted the use of the vice commander's parking spots across base for two weeks each.

The course consisted of a 750 meter swim at the base pool, followed by 20 kilometers of cycling, primarily on the airfield, and 5 kilometers of running.

Capt. Dan Hoak, a first-time triathlon competitor said he felt that the course was a good distance and overall great for a beginner.

"It's a very safe course, and it was good to not have to worry about cars or anything," he said.

Lieutenant Sullivan, the top male competitor in the triathlon who has competed in 15 other triathlons, agreed it was a good course for beginners because the course is mostly flat and well paved.

The event's attendees; friends and family of competitors, volunteers, and event staff cheered the Airmen on alongside their competitors.

"Everybody heard the cheering. The comradely was good, and it was great racing against each other," said Lieutenant Sullivan.

The Sunrise Sprint Triathlon also had a side competition going alongside the race. Col. George Ross, 14th Flying Training Wing vice commander, challenged each squadron to bring the most competitors to the triathlon. The 14th Operations Support Squadron brought seven competitors to the event.

Carmine Muscarella, one of the points of contact for the event took time after the competition to encourage the event's attendees to spread the word and raise interest in events such as the triathlon.

"A lot of these events we don't have to do, like triathlons, are driven by demand. I saw a lot of competitive people here, and a lot of people who just had fun. So get out there and tell more people who may be interested," he said.