Members of the 319th Air Base Wing get into push-up position for one of three components of the Triple 8 Fitness Challenge on July 9, 2014, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The Triple 8 Fitness Challenge is a premier fitness event designed to test the conditioning limits of Air Force athletes. The event challenges Airmen to run 1.5 miles in under nine minutes, as well as perform at least 80 push-ups and 80 sit-ups each in one minute or less. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Xavier Navarro)

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First Lt. Jon Datsko, 319th Air Base Wing Staff Agencies executive officer, runs the second lap of the 1.5-mile run during the individual competitions of the Triple 8 Fitness Challenge on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, July 9, 2014. The Triple 8 Fitness Challenge is a premier fitness event designed to test the physical conditioning limits of Air Force athletes. The event challenges Airmen to run 1.5 miles in under nine minutes, as well as perform at least 80 push-ups and 80 sit-ups each in one minute or less. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Xavier Navarro)

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Senior Airman Kevin Ramos, 319th Logistics Readiness Squadron flight service center journeyman, performs a sit-up during the Triple 8 Fitness Challenge on July 9, 2014 on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Ramos completed 85 sit-ups in one minute as part of the team event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Xavier Navarro)

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Senior Airman Olivia Minks, 319th Communications Squadron commander support staff, records the numbers of repetitions that competitors completed during the Triple 8 Fitness Challenge on July 9, 2014, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The Triple 8 Fitness Challenge is a premier fitness event designed to test the conditioning limits of Air Force athletes and to distinguish an elite group that sets the fitness standard. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Xavier Navarro)

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(left) Col. Paul Bauman, 319th Air Base Wing commander, congratulates members of the 319th Logistics Readiness Squadron team who placed first with 117 points in the Triple 8 Fitness Challenge July 9, 2014, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The 319th LRS team completed 87 push-ups, 85 sit-ups and a 1.5-mile run in 8 minutes and 52 seconds, distinguishing them as an elite group that sets the fitness standard. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Xavier Navarro)

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Ana Montes, daughter of Tech. Sgt. Jason Montes, 319th Logistics Readiness Squadron, runs toward the finish line for the 100 meter dash during a children’s segment of the Triple 8 Fitness Challenge on July 9, 2014, on Grand forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. During the Triple 8 Fitness Challenge, children enjoyed the bouncy castles, a dunking booth and free food for the families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Xavier Navarro)

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Grand Forks athletes strive for Triple 8

Published July 10, 2014
By Senior Airman Xavier Navarro
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The second annual Triple 8 Fitness Challenge put 54 competitors ranging from airmen to colonels to the test, July 9.

The Triple 8 Fitness Challenge is designed to test the physical conditioning limits of Air Force athletes and to distinguish an elite group that sets the fitness standard.

Senior Airman Olivia Minks, 319th Communications Squadron support staff, was one of the coordinators of the event.

"Last year started off as a fundraiser for the Air Force Ball, however with such a great turnout and a great point behind it about fitness, this year is just about developing yourself as a healthy person," said Minks. "We only have one body, so we only live once."

In order to achieve the title of Triple 8 Athlete, a participant or team are required to accomplish, at minimum, 80 pushups in one minute, 80 sit-ups in one minute and a 1.5-mile run in a time of 8 minutes, 59 seconds or faster.

Airman 1st Class Anthony Duque, 319th Communications Squadron cyber systems operations technician, was one of many competitors that challenged their body to its full potential.

"I thought I did well," said Duque. "I actually did better than my normal physical fitness test."

The team category consisted of three-member teams, with each member completing a single component. Teams were comprised of members from the same unit and each unit was limited to a single team.

The 319th Logistics Readiness Squadron team placed first with 117 points during the Triple 8 Fitness Challenge. The team completed 87 push-ups, 85 sit-ups and an 8:52 1.5-mile run.

Children weren't left out of the fun either, in addition to bouncy castles and a dunking booth. One segment during the Triple 8 event was for children to participate in their own fitness challenge such as a 20 second sit-up, push-up challenge and a 100-meter dash run.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Laube, emcee for the event, thanked the organizations who helped stage the event, including the 1st Sergeants Council and the Army Air Force Exchange Service.