ESC athletes represent Air Force in England

  • Published
  • By Karen Guendel
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Capt. Charlynda Nyenke, 642nd Electronic Systems Squadron and 1st Lt. Kathryn Jannazo, 644th Electronic Systems Squadron represented the Air Force at AirNorth, the Allied Command Headquarters Ramstein Track and Field Championships at Royal Air Force Cosford, United Kingdom on June 1 through 3.

The two officers were selected to participate in the meet as part of the Air Force Sports Program (AFSP), which allows Air Force personnel to participate in national and international competitions in 15 different sports. Through the AFSP, United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) annually recruits top athletes stationed in Europe and the continental U.S. to represent the Air Force and USAFE in the international meet.

Captain Nyenke and Lieutenant Jannazo competed together in the women's four by 100-meter relay as the fourth and third legs of the team, respectively. The USAFE team finished second only to the team from the United Kingdom. Captain Nyenke, who has anchored the four by 100-meter relay at AirNorth since 2006, also competed in the long jump and the high jump and won the bronze in both events.

This was Lieutenant Jannazo's first AirNorth competition. At last year's Hanscom Olympics, she met Captain Nyenke, who encouraged her to apply for the AirNorth team. She enjoyed the international aspect of the competition, she said. "I liked the opening ceremony; every team marches in, they play everyone's national anthem and it was neat to see the different customs and courtesies of all the different militaries -- how they march, how they salute -- it was an Olympic kind of feel."

"It was a great opportunity to represent our country and the entire Air Force," said Captain Nyenke. "To show the other countries how strong and fast we are as American Airmen was a good feeling."

Both officers plan to compete in next year's meet in Belgium. "We're very serious about going back and getting our gold medal," said Captain Nyenke. "Our head coach, Staff Sgt. [Calvin] Bostic is coming out of retirement next year so we're all excited to go to Belgium with him and win the gold."

The USAFE team will have more opportunities for athletes next year. "They're expanding the meet for women," Lieutenant Jannazo said. "They're adding a lot more events because there's more participation. But men or women -- if you have the athletic ability you should apply."

To compete in the AFSP, athletes must apply by submitting a completed Air Force Form 303, Request for U.S. Air Force Specialized Sports Training. More information about the AFSP, including a schedule of upcoming competitions and application deadlines, is available at the Fitness and Sports Center and on the U.S. Air Force sports website, www.usafsports.com.