Salute, Inc. got freedom? 5k + Tactical Challenge Crowns Champs
Athletes from Elite Athletic Development | CrossFit Arlington Heights | CrossFit Axis dominated the Salute, Inc. got freedom? Tactical Challenge for the third consecutive year, taking top honors in the Team, Men's and Women's events. To date, the event has raised more than $8,500 to help meet the financial, physical and emotional needs of military service members, veterans and their families. Event sponsor Elite Athletic Development | CrossFit Arlington Heights donates 100 percent of the funds raised by the Tactical Challenge to Salute, Inc.
The Tactical Challenge pairs a 5k run with a series of military-style calisthenic movements using 20-pound sandbags for women and 40-pound sandbags for men. Participants this year lugged the sandbag through four, 25-foot Army Crawls, plus completed 20 reps each of CrossFit Games Push Ups, Ground to Overhead lifts, Anchored Sit Ups, and Bag Hop Burpees.
Steven Buchholz, 15, Arlington Heights, finished the challenge in 30:11.8. Buchholz ran the course with his dad, Steve, 49, and brother, Jack, 9; the athletes train at CrossFit Axis | PlayersU in Mt. Prospect. Also earning podium spots were Arlington Heights residents Tom Weiss, 49, who finished the grueling course in 33:52.9, and Tim Decker, 43, with a finish time of 34:50.2.
Elite Athletic Development | CrossFit Arlington Heights athlete Kelly Buchholz (no relation to the men's division winner), 34, Arlington Heights, finished the course in 34:00.8; she placed 3rd in 2013. Finishing second was Grace Wasielewski, 60, Prospect Heights, in 34:17.6; she placed 6th in 2013. Rounding out the top three women was Maria Subia-Grzesiak, 40, Arlington Heights, in 34:54.1.
The finish times of Ms. Buchholz and Wasielewski, plus the father-son Fowler tandem, Nathan, 13, and Ron, 46, ensured the got freedom? Tactical Challenge Team Division trophy remained with 2012 & 2013 champ Elite Athletic Development | CrossFit Arlington Heights. The event Team Division is determined by the fastest two men's and women's times.
Congratulations to EAD / CFAH / CFAX athletes who participated in the 2014 5k + Tactical Challenge Kelly Buchholz, Kevin Tesch, Grace Wasielewski, Charlotte O'Neill, Mike O'Neill, Karen Jones, Nick Jones, James Jones, Ann Marie Nordby, Steven Buchholz, Steve Buchholz, Jack Buchholz, Ron Fowler, Nathan Fowler, Bob Dapisa, Will Hinshaw, Andrea Poffenberger, and John O'Neil. Congrats, too, to the dozens of EAD | CFAH athlete who supported Salute, Inc. and ran the 5k or 10k. And thanks to the EAD | CFAH athletes and performance coaches who volunteered for the 2014 Salute, Inc. got freedom? 5k + Tactical Challenge Jim Inman, Web Eby, Scott Mezzano, Becky Rivard, Ashley Butaci, Michelle Patinella, Kristen Parenti; Rachel Richards, Kate Konkel, Juan Mir, Laura Melko, Kenny Melko, Eddie Melko, and Karen Stoychoff Inman.
Check out more event photos at the EAD | CFAH Facebook Page.