Third place an extreme acheivement

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Agneta Murnan
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affiars
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  A team of four Warbird pilots from the 3rd Fighter Training Squadron took third place in the 'extreme' category of a 36-mile race April 26 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, proving their warrior spirit through training, fundraising and three hours, 37 minutes and 19 seconds of physical competition. 

Laughlin AFB's fourth annual Adventure Race included 66 teams from as far as Colorado, and began with 26-miles of biking across terrain from dirt roads to open highway. Maj. Brian Gienapp, Maj. William Browne, Capt. Nathan Thompson and 2nd Lt. Jondavid Hertzel each participated in every segment of the race instead of competing relay-style, which fit them into the 'extreme' category of teams. Following the biking was an eight-mile run across varied terrain, and for the final leg of the race, two members of each team paddled approximately two miles in an inflatable raft to meet up with the rest of their teams and carry the rafts across the finish line. 

The Warbirds recevied an award for being the fastest team during the raft portion of the race; the team placed eighth overall. 

"We had perfect conditions at the start of the race," said Major Gienapp. "The temperature was 70 degrees with a good tailwind for most of the bike race. By the time we started the run, the temperature was heating up to the 80s." 

In addition to the motivation of the competition was the motivation of assisting a fellow servicemember's family. Reading in the Enid News & Eagle about an education fund for Gage Hake, son of deceased Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Hake, the Vance team thought about raising money to help. 

"We wanted to set up a fundraiser, not only to help us run well, but if we did run well, we would help Gage and his education fund," Major Gienapp. 

The team set up a tiered fundraiser, in which different amounts were pledged on the conditions of certain benchmarks, with the highest donation pledged for top-three placement. $1,303.00 has been raised for the Gage Hake Education Fund.

"The wing was outstanding in support. Everyone was donating, everyone was supportive. Some donated above the amount requested. It was really a win-win situation," Major Gienapp said. 

"I'm proud not only of [the team's] participation, but of their success. The fundraiser made it awesome," said Lt. Col. Tom Tyson, 3rd Fighter Training Squadron commander.