News>Academy firefighters advance at world competition
Photos
Firefighter Stacy Billapando from the Colorado Springs, Colo., Fire Department hoists a rope attached to a 45-pound fire hose from five stories up during a firefighter challenge at the Air Force Academy June 27, 2009. Ms. Billapando, the world's top-ranked female firefighter, will join the Academy ladies' tandem firefighter team at World Firefighter Combat Challenge XVIII, scheduled to be held in Las Vegas Nov. 16 through 20. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)
Airman 1st Class Jessica Morehouse drags a rescue dummy backwards across the finish line during a firefighter combat challenge June 27, 2009. In her first-ever challenge, Airman Morehouse a member of the ladies' tandem team and the ladies' relay team at the Academy, both of which are ranked number one in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)
U.S. Air Force Academy firefighter Ron Prettyman hauls a loaded fire hose over his shoulder as he sprints forward to finish in the over-40 male relay at a firefighter combat challenge held at the Academy June 27, 2009. Mr. Prettyman is one of five firefighters who will compete at the World Firefighter Challenge XVIII, scheduled to be held in Las Vegas Nov. 16 through 20.. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)
by John Van Winkle
U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
11/10/2010 - MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Several U.S. Air Force Academy firefighters ran seeding runs for the World Firefighter Combat Challenge XIX here Nov. 9.
Tyler Moran, the newest member of Team USAFA, climbed the tower and burned through the course in 1:34.09 -- nearly 15 seconds faster than his finish in the regional competition at the Academy in June.
At regional firefighter challenges, an individual run of less than 2:00 allows a participant to advance to the next level of competition, and the difference between first and second place is often fractions of a second. Mr. Moran ran 1:48.71 at the regional.
"Anytime you can run within two or three seconds of your personal record is a good day," Mr. Moran said. "That's only the third time I've run under a 1:40 time."
Other Academy firefighters also clocked good times in individual runs. Senior Airman Jessica Morehouse cut 8 seconds off her personal record. Han Barkley used a strong finish to come in at 1:44.65, 7 seconds ahead of his competitor. Dan McAuliffe ran a 1:51.94, and Bill Gates clocked in at 1:28.99.
Two of the firefighters on the Academy teams are from the Colorado Springs Fire Department. The CSFD has a tandem team competing at the world competition this week as well.
The two combined Academy-CSFD teams ran in the tandem and women's team runs. In the tandem category, Airman Morehouse and CSFD Lt. Stacey Billapando won the 2009 world title in the women's tandem category. The duo finished the course at 2:06.38 -- a full minute ahead of their competitors.
Relay teams competed last. The Fire Fembots, a combined Academy-CSFD women's relay team and the returning 2009 world champions for the women's relay, still holds the women's relay world record of 1:44.49. The Fembots returned this year with the same lineup and ran a time of 1:50.49, guaranteeing their appearance in the relay finals Nov. 13.
