Manas members compete for strongest in AOR

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Senior Airman Mark Smith groans as he attempts to squat 475 pounds of weight during the “Strongest in the AOR” competition organized for contestants by the Fitness Center here Dec. 6. In the combined total of bench press and squat performed, Airman Smith ranked second after Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brosko. Airman Smith, whose combined weight lifted is 785 pounds, is assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi)

Manas members compete for strongest in AOR

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Second Lt. Reyne Hochstein, 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, performs her last attempt of 115 pounds during the bench-press portion of the “Strongest in the AOR” competition held here Dec. 20. Lieutenant Hochstein led her category by lifting a combined weight of 300 pounds. The result of the Manas competitors will be forwarded to a location in Southwest Asia, and the winners of the “Strongest in the AOR” will be announced Dec. 20. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi)

Manas members compete for strongest in AOR

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brosko presses 405-pound weight during the bench-press portion of the “Strongest in AOR” competition held at the fitness center her Dec. 6. Sergeant Brosko emerged as the overall top lifter here when he lifted a combined total of 820 pounds. The result of the Manas competitors will be forwarded to a location in Southwest Asia, and the winners of the “Strongest in the AOR” will be announced Dec. 20. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi)

Manas members compete for strongest in AOR

Published Dec. 7, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Nine service members here gathered at the Fitness Center to determine the fittest among them during a contest of the strongest person in the area of responsibility held Dec. 6.

The weight-lifting competition, which involved squatting and bench press, enabled participants to compete "pound for pound" without any consideration for their weight class.

Participants were judged by the amount of weight lifted at a time and the combined weights of bench press and squat were added to determine the total weight lifted.

"More than 30 spectators watched and cheered as the nine participants from the Air Force, Army and U.S. Marine Corps lifted to enter their scores in the Strongest in the AOR Competition," said Pamela Browning, 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron. "The strain on faces and muscles showed as each competitor tried to better themselves with each lift."

Participants were allowed three attempts for the bench press and four attempts to squat their maximum weight.

Marine Sgt Nicholas Brosko led the competition, lifting a combined 820 pounds, while Senior Airman Mark Smith, 376th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, ranked second with a total of 785 pounds.

"It feels good to see what I can do," said Airman Smith. "I pushed myself to the limit out there. It was hard, but I am so glad I did it."

During the competition, Sergeant Brosko benched 405 and squatted 415 pounds, while Airman Smith did 330 pounds on the bench and squatted 455 pounds of weight during their last attempts.

In the female category, just two contestants participated in the event; 2nd Lt. Reyne Hochstein, 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Lynn Rinker, 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.

Lieutenant Hochstein led both categories of the weightlifting lifting 300 pounds total, while Sergeant Rinker lifted 250 pounds.

The list of the top three male and female contestants was sent to a location in Southwest Asia, where it will be compared to other participants in the command to determine the overall winner.

The final results of the strongest male and female will be announced Dec. 20.