USAFE marathon team member claims Athlete of the Year Award

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Taking first place at the Incirlik Sprint Triathlon for the female competition requiring a concurrent 200-meter swim, 19-kilometer bike ride, and 5-kilometer run, is another day at the office for the United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa's 2013 Athlete of the Year Award recipient, Tech. Sgt. Jessica Pigott, 717th Air Base Squadron logistics contract manager.

"Winning this award means the world," said Pigott. "It makes me teary eyed as I never thought I would've won USAFE."

Being physically fit to Air Force standards can be a task within itself, but Pigott takes fitness to the next level by pushing herself with athletically challenging events for the pure joy it brings her.

"May 3, 2013, when I completed the Olympic distance triathlon in Antalya, Turkey, I could see the first place female ahead of me, she had a pacer on a bike so everyone knew who the first female was and I could see myself creeping up beside her," explained Pigott. "The best feeling was when I passed her and took the lead, the bike pacer was now on me. It was so cool to watch everyone as I passed and to know that I was the lead female. This feeling has never happened to me before, it was more than amazing."

Lt. Col. Emanuel Cohan, 717th Air Base Squadron commander, explained how since Pigott's arrival she had been the main ingredient to the recipe for better quality of life throughout the squadron.

"Sergeant Pigott has promoted fitness since day one," said Cohan. "She is an on-staff physical trainer and dietician for our squadron. Every physical fitness test that she's helped with has improved. She even paced me for my run knocking more than 30 seconds off of my run time. She's an example for everyone in the Air Force to follow."

Currently training for the Air Force Marathon this month with plans to garner a new personal record, Pigott shares the basis of her interests.

"What I love about being an athlete is pushing my body to limits that I didn't think I could reach," said Pigott.

She advises people just starting out with a new hobby to maintain constant, attainable and future goals at all times.

"A way or method to keep me motivated is registering for an event," said Pigott. "If you ever ask me what event I have next or goal I want to achieve, I will always have an answer for you. "

Some of Pigott's future goals are to become a member of the Air Force Triathlon Team and the Air Force Marathon Team. For now, her eyes are set on being the Air Force Athlete of the Year recipient, while exemplifying the priorities to win the fight, strengthen the team and shape the future.