Incirlik hosts multi-national triathlon

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daniel Phelps
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Americans stationed at Incirlik Air Base and Dutch soldiers competed in a sprint triathlon organized by the 39th Force Support Squadron fitness center Aug. 17.

"This event was created to encourage a fitness lifestyle and help increase base morale," said Master Sgt. Ann Mitchell, 39th Force Support Squadron event coordinator.

The 65 athletes showed up at the Incirlik AB pool at 5:30 a.m. to sign up for the event that began at 6:00 a.m. The participants were broken into 35 individuals and 10 teams.

The event consisted of a five-kilometer run, a 20-kilometer bike ride and finished with a 200-meter swim.

"Most triathlons are longer, but this is a good way for people to try something new and to push themselves," Mitchell said.

Two Airmen brought an interesting challenge to the event by completing in the entire triathlon wearing their Airman Battle Uniform.

"We have a lot of fallen Defenders out there, and we wanted to do this in memory of them," said Christopher Korleski, 39th Security Forces Squadron.

He and Dustin Doyea, 39th SFS, pushed through the whole event.

"The bike portion was the hardest part for us," Korleski explained. "Doyea had some issues with his bike and dropped behind. But, we never thought about quitting."

Though Korleski finished the triathlon before his fellow defender, when Doyea caught back up, Korleski jumped right back in the pool, boots and all, to swim alongside his wingman.

Floris Kolamberg, 1st Netherlands Ballistic Missile Defense Task Force and second place winner, said he enjoyed the friendly cross nation rivalry.

"The Dutch recently held our own triathlon here and I won that one," Kolamberg said. "This time, it was fun competing with Americans and seeing what they had to bring."

Americans present echoed that sentiment.

"It was nice seeing Dutch and Americans come out and compete together," Mitchell said. "It shows we are a team here at Incirlik."

The results of the triathlon are as follows:

Top Men Finishers
1st: (59:34) Brian Baumgarten
2nd: (59:51) Floris Kolamberg
3rd: (1:03:09) And Kykamp

Top Female Finishers
1st: (1:04:27) Julie Ostrand
2nd: (1:07:42) Lindsay Vande Pol
3rd: (1:08.42) Stephie Terwint

1st Team Finishers
1st: (57:38) Jason Delany, Matt Welling, Alexander Turner
2nd: (1:04:28) Beau Robbins, Kyley Barnes, Trinity Barnes
3rd: (1:11:47) Kellie Rutherford, Denise Wright, Laura Rosenzweig