Twenty years is long time to exhibit an exceptional level of strength; however, in this instance, the word “strength” can be associated with both the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge competitors’ physical state as well as the longevity of the Challenge itself–known today as the toughest two minutes in sports.
Originally designed as a physical fitness study for firefighters in 1991, the “Challenge” participants found that they enjoyed the competitive aspect of enduring the rigors of the testing with their peers. Their enthusiasm became a light-bulb moment for Dr. Paul Davis, who decided to turn the fitness study into what we know today as the Firefighter Combat Challenge.
Twenty years later, on a very chilly March morning, the organizers of the Challenge found themselves on the welcome mat of the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the 2011 Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC). It was the start of another exciting year for the Challenge, and the first few events have not disappointed.
Despite the bone-chilling temperatures in Indy, Adam Brock (Evansville Metro, Ind.) had no problem warming himself up to take the first place position. Brock ran the course in 1:40:82, while Rick Stephens, a 40-plus competitor from Miami Dade Fire Department (Fla.) beat down the course in an impressive 1:45:05, coming in second for the men’s open competition.
Berkley Hobson (Team Rescue Mode/MorningPride, Va.) started off the season by taking gold in the women’s open competition. She then continued her first-place streak by winning the co-ed tandem with partner Scott McClelland (Team Rescue Mode/MorningPride). Brock followed suit by placing first with his male tandem partner, George Madison (Evansville Metro), with a time of 1:25:78. The relay competition was won by Team Myrtle Beach Fire (S.C.), who beat Evansville Metro Relay with a final time of 1:26:52.
Three weeks later, in mid-April, the Challenge convoy pulled into Miami Township, Ohio, where Eric Burkhalter from Team Met-Rx (Ohio) took first place in the men’s open, finishing at 1:35:83; he also joined his teammates for a first-place team finish. Brent Gerrety (Fairfield Fire Department, Ohio) placed second, while Adam Brock returned to the winner’s circle in third place. Chris Cerci (Team Ride Backwards, Pa.) took the Over-40 category title and Al Ertzner (Omaha, Neb.) nabbed the first-place medal for the Over-50 category. Fairfield Fire won the first-place title in the relay race with a 1:16:34 finish. Met-Rx Relay placed second.
Lake Charles, La., played host to the third event of the season, which was part of the city’s annual Contraband Days Pirate Festival. David Bowman (Charlotte Fire Department, N.C.) took first place for the men with a 1:36:11 final time, and event host Cheri Ardoin (Lake Charles, La.) took home the first-place medal for the women, finishing at 3:20:14, which was also a personal best. Ardoin and Jeannie Allen (Nampa, Idaho), competing under the name Swamp Tators, placed first for the female tandem at 2:36:00, as Thomas Baker and Roy Dale Smedley (both from Montgomery, Ala.) took the male tandem first place at 1:23:25. Team McKinney (Texas) was already draped with gold medals when they beat Montgomery (Ala.) Fire/Rescue Blue in the relay competition. McKinney beat Montgomery with a time of 1:12:64.
Then the Challenge was on to Charleston, S.C., where Team Met-Rx and its members were once again dominant, emerging as the team to watch this season. Aside from placing first with his team, Eric Burkhalter won the men’s individual, crossing the finish in 1:30:95. His teammate, Ted Koeppen, finished second at 1:36:87; Met-Rx also took home first in the relay competition. Team Horry Reebok (S.C.) took second place in the relay. Berkley Hobson, who won the women’s competition in Indianapolis, reprised her role as front-runner when she took home gold for the women’s competition, finishing at 3:32:52. Scott McClelland and Berkley Hobson placed first in the co-ed tandem competition, with Levi Burrell and Brian Swartz (Polk County, Fla.) taking the men’s tandem crown. MarieAnntoniette McCulley and Holly Nourigut earned first-place glory with a win as the female tandem.
This season the Challenge is pursuing a full tour schedule, including stops in almost every part of the country, culminating in the national competition in Fort Pierce, Fla., in October. The 20th season World Championship will take place in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the second year in a row.
For more information on this year’s Challenge events and schedule, visit www.firefighterchallenge.com.
