Ankara member places 1st in Antalya Olympic Distance Triathlon

Tech. Sgt. Jessica Pigott, 717th Air Base Squadron logistics contracting manager, (middle) poses for a group photo with the women’s second and third place winners after the Antalya Olympic Distance Triathlon May 3-4, Antalya, Turkey. Pigott won first place in the women’s category completing the race in 2:38:57. (Courtesy photo)

Ankara member places 1st in Antalya Olympic Distance Triathlon

Published May 12, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- A member of the 717th Air Base Squadron took first place in the women's category of the Antalya Olympic Distance Triathlon held May 3-4, at Antalya, Turkey.

Tech. Sgt. Jessica Pigott, 717th ABS logistics contract manager, completed the race with an overall time of 2:38:57.

The race was comprised of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and a 10-kilometer run.

Pigott said the most challenging part of the race for her was the run.

"Even though it's my strongest discipline, it was incredibly hotter than what I have been training in," she said. "It took me a whole lap to overtake the lead woman, when it happened she was very complementary and encouraging. I showed her and the other female runners the same respect. The rest of the race I kept the lead with a very strong finish to the end."

Lt. Col. Emanuel Cohan, 717th ABS commander, said that Pigott won women's 1st place in her age category and women's 1st place overall; she also brings that winning spirit and fitness motivation to the Squadron as well.

"Not only am I proud of her for competing and taking first place, I am also proud of her lead role in organizing and coordinating twenty events during the first US Embassy and 717 ABS Olympics," Cohan said. "She brings the same motivation into work, greatly improving our support to more than 1100 members of the Ankara American Mission."