501st CSW member wins Fitness title in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. - Matt Kaleikini, 423rd Force Support Squadron, recently competed in the Throwdown Fitness Festival Competition in Tampa, Fla. Kaleikini finished first in the Men’s Master Division (age 40+), completing five WODs (work outs of the day) in record time and weights. The event in Tampa involved team and individual competitions and raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project. (Courtesy photo)

501st CSW member wins Fitness title in Florida

Published Sept. 20, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs

RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom -- Nearly 400 people, including one member of the 501st Combat Support Wing, participated in a two-day Throwdown Fitness Festival competition at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa, Fla., Sept. 14 and 15.

Matt Kaleikini, from the 423rd Force Support Squadron, joined the competition which consisted of various exercise events that included barbell clean and jerks, sprints and burpees - a four-step, full-body movement - in a series of timed WODs or "workouts of the day."

"I competed in this because I like to push myself," said Kaleikini, who retired from the Air Force in 2009 as a chief master sergeant.

With that attitude, Kaleikini pushed himself to a first place finish in the Men's Master Division (age 40+), completing five WODs in a record time and weight.

"It meant my new training is working," said Kaleikini. "I competed in other contests and did well, but I changed up my training over the last two months for this competition. Changing it up, made a big difference."

The event in Tampa involved team and individual competitions and raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project.