Security forces team, CE soloist win at Sawtooth Relay

  • Published
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Covering nearly 62 miles through the mountains east of Boise, six members representing the 366th Security Forces Squadron and a member of the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron here earned top honors at the 16th Annual Sawtooth Relay held recently.

Posting a combined time of 8 hours, 9 minutes and 15 seconds, the security forces team earned first place in the competition's corporate division category.

Meanwhile, Charlie Francisco conquered the entire 61.91-mile course in 12 hours, 27 minutes to win the race's solo division. He was one of three soloists competing during the day.

"[The Sawtooth] is easy because you get the hard uphill part out of the way in the dark, and the last leg is all downhill, so it's not all that bad," said Mr. Francisco, a soloist in three previous Sawtooth Relay races.

In addition to the soloists, the race featured 221 teams, including four from the base. Each team donated $300 dollars to benefit the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation. The foundation continues to work on finding a cure for this disease, which claims the lives of nearly 50 percent of affected newborns.

"The best part about the race was getting six people to come together and give it their all toward a great cause," said Chief Master Sgt. Nicholas H. Liberti, security forces manager here. "What a better way to spend a Saturday."

Dealing with morning fog and temperatures hovering in the upper 30s at the starting line in Stanley, Idaho, the security forces runners hoped to finish the course within eight hours. First Lt. William Beard started the team's drive to the finish line, completing the first 5.96-mile leg in 47:51.

Chief Master Sgt. Lee Stirewalt carried the team's bracelet for the next 5.83 miles, finishing the uphill leg in 48:45. Chief Liberti completed the third 5.03-mile segment in 43:40. Seeing the team struggle to maintain its planned eight-minute pace, retired Chief Master Sgt. Steve Tucker picked up the team's pace to finish the next 4.43 miles in 34:05. Coming off a half-Ironman the week prior, Capt. Eric Carlson ran the next 5.83 miles in 48:26. As teams reached Galena Summit at the race's midpoint, runners needed to overcome the course's 1,331-foot gain in elevation. Maj. James Tanner finished this 5.35-mile leg with a time of 43.04.

The following six legs led down the summit, traversing the valley toward Ketchum, Idaho, to test each runner's agility and speed. Maj. James Tanner finished this final 2.63-mile leg in 16:26.

"I cannot say we were the fastest team on the course [because] high school students from the local area ... completely devastated the course in 6:21:07," said Chief Liberti, calling the teens' accomplishment a virtue of being young.

Other base teams finishing the race included the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron's Raging Bulls, who finished 12th in the men's open division. The team included Lt. Col. Tim Wood, Maj. Mark Slominski, Staff Sgt. Hollis Collins, Airman 1st Class Zachary Albright and Airman 1st Class Scott O'Connell.

Mr. Francisco hopes the base's participation in the Sawtooth Relay continues to increase in coming years and include teams composed of commanders, first sergeants and enlisted chiefs to inspire others here to adopt this healthy runner's lifestyle. Ultimately, he hopes this increased participation will encourage leaders from other bases to come here to compete against those stationed at Mountain Home.