Rakkasans pump serious iron in contest

Courtesy Photo | First Lieutenant Aaron Danielle dead lifts 315 pounds during the Leader Rakkasan Weightlifting Competition at Combat Outpost Meade June 15. More than 40 Soldiers from four of the battalion's companies participated in the competition.  

COMBAT OUTPOST MEADE, IRAQ

06.29.2008

Story by 1st Lt. Keith Guglielmi 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By 1st Lt. Keith Guglielmi
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

COMBAT OUTPOST MEADE, Iraq – Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment held the first-ever Leader Rakkasan Weightlifting Competition at the COP Meade gym June 15. More than 40 Soldiers from four of the battalion's companies participated in the competition.

The three-event contest consisted of the bench press, squat and dead lift. The rules were simple: contestants were given three attempts at each lift; the greatest successfully lifted weight in each event combined to make the final score. The contestant who lifted the greatest total weight would be crowned champion. Soldiers were divided into six weight classes, ranging from lightweight (less than 150 pounds) to heavyweight (more than 215 pounds).

The event kicked-off with competitors taking to the weight bench. Supporters and competitors alike cheered on their fellow Soldiers while loud rock-and-roll music played in the background.

"This event serves two purposes," said Capt. Kwadwo Agyei-Aye, commander of Company B. "One, it motivates a lot of these guys to get out and lift ... these guys are huge. And two, they are maintaining a high level of fitness during deployment while a lot of Soldiers let themselves go."

Staff Sergeant Terry Gilbert took a commanding lead with an impressive 420-pound bench press. Unfortunately, he pulled a hamstring during the squat portion of the contest limiting his performance. Gilbert did summon the internal courage to push through the pain and land a strong dead lift to put his total score at more than 1,000 pounds.

Specialist Marcus Dudley, of Selma, Ala. won the heavyweight division and was declared overall champion, lifting a combined total of 1,360 pounds.

"He's a monster; a natural," said 1st Sgt. Dave Pribble, first sergeant of Company B. "He doesn't even have to lift a weight and he's gigantic."

Staff Sergeant Thomas Cain judged the event and said it was a great success.

"With small patrol bases, going to the gym is a good stress reliever. It's a great alternative – a lot of guys get bored with the normal push-ups, sit-ups and running routine. It's a good change of pace," said Cain, of Baltimore, Md.

Prizes given to the winners of each weight class included a DVD player, an iPod and a Palm pilot computer. Another contest is already scheduled for October based on the large turnout and enthusiasm of the Soldiers.

Pribble summed up his company's passion for pumping iron.

"If the bar ain't bending, you're pretending. That's the motto in our company," he said.

• Date Taken: 06.29.2008
• Date Posted: 06.29.2008 12:31
• Story ID: 20984
• Location: COMBAT OUTPOST MEADE, IQ