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Shogun CrossFit fittest team in Asia

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Natassia N. Cherne
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Kadena Shogun CrossFit gym may not always have the best equipment or even a permanent facility, but they always have heart and that was proven at the Regional CrossFit Games at Gyeonggi-do, Korea, May 5-7.

The CrossFit Games is an annual event that tests international CF athletes on a broad range of functional exercise movements. It's a three-part series that athletes can compete as individuals or as a part of a team. The games have one goal - to find the fittest men and women on Earth.

The first part of the series was an inclusive five-week competition called the Open. The winners from the open then competed in the regional, three-day competition, which included 17 regions worldwide. The Asia Regional games had 14 countries battling it out to find the fittest athletes to compete in the games.

Eight joint military and civilian Shogun CF team members competed against five teams. Shogun CF won four out of six events, claiming the top spot and the title of the fittest CF team in Asia. To the veteran CF gyms throughout the region, this was a huge upset - especially, since Shogun CF has been open for less than a year.

"When I opened the gym last July, it was my goal to send a team to the Asia regional. In the nine months following, my teammates struggled through sparse equipment, a disintegrating floor, and no place to hang gymnastics rings up to the last two weeks before the competition," said 1st Lt. Ashley Jensen, 372nd Training Squadron - Detachment 15 commander and head Shogun CF trainer. "We all have full time jobs, previously debilitating injuries, families and varying schedules --needless to say the odds were stacked against us."

The team now heads to Carson, Calif., July 13-15 to participate in 2012 CrossFit games that will be televised on ESPN.

"We overcame adversity and surpassed my wildest expectations. I'm thrilled to be a part of this team, both on the road and at home with the rest of our amazing athletes," Jensen said.

Last year, more than 17,000 spectators attended the 2011 CrossFit Games to support their favorite athletes and teams. Congratulations and good luck to the following Shogun CF team members who will represent Kadena:

Capt. K. Rose Banning, U.S. Army Judge Advocate
Maj. Lisa O'Brien, U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael O'Brien, USMC, 7th Communication Battalion
Maj. Jonathan Heskett, USMC, 1st MAW
1st Lt. Ashley Jensen, U.S. Air Force, 372nd TRS - Det 15
Capt. Terry Fregly, USAF, 67th Fighter Squadron,
Airman 1st Class Jim Lawler, USAF, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Kristen Arnold - DoDDS Teacher, Kadena High School Special Education