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***image1***Hohenfels Soldiers dominated the 2007 U.S. Forces-Europe Combat Cross Country Championships Oct. 13.
Hosted by U.S. Army Garrison Hohenfels and its morale, welfare and recreation division, the event took place on a five-kilometer (3.1 miles) course that winds through many of the same trails that are used for the annual Mountain Bike Run.
And although the weather was ideal, the race certainly was no ordinary 5K “Fun Run” on a dirt road through the woods. The course was extremely challenging with rugged terrain throughout the entire race – which was anticipated to be more difficult than the 37 competitors made it look, with the leaders finishing 10 minutes quicker than expected.
Winning overall was Master Sgt. Matthew Vanausdoll, 36, from Hohenfels’ Joint Military Readiness Center, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Blacksheep Operations Group, completing the course in 23:27, almost two minutes ahead of the field.
Bamberg’s Sgt. Yuri Armstrong, from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment 38th Personnel Service Battalion, finished second in 25:17, followed by 2nd Lt. Jared Tomberlin from B Co. 1/4 Infantry, Hohenfels in 25:21.
Sgt. Trisha Baize, also from OPS Group Blacksheep, took the women’s event in 31:18.
Although many runners finished with times that may not have reflected the course’s difficulty, competitors labeled it very challenging.
Vanausdoll noted that he and several members from his unit run parts of the course daily – including a very steep 150-yard uphill climb that starts around the 3K mark – which may have contributed to the fast times.
The challenging hills, Vanausdoll added, are what he enjoyed most about the course.
