TYLER, Texas — Firefighters with Forney Combat competed in the Scott FireFighter Combat Challenge in Tyler, Texas, on Friday and Saturday — clinching a World Finals bid as well as individual and tandem qualifiers.
TYLER, Texas — Firefighters with Forney Combat competed in the Scott FireFighter Combat Challenge in Tyler, Texas, on Friday and Saturday — clinching a World Finals bid as well as individual and tandem qualifiers.
The Forney Combat team, which consists of members of the Forney Fire Department, competed Friday in individual competition and Saturday during relay competition.
Forney Combat Team Captain Russell Bannister set a new personal record of 1:38 during the individuals — one second quicker than his 2013 sub-1:40 Lion’s Den record from the 2013 World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bannister’s time placed him in 7th overall out of 56 total individual competitors and qualified him for the individual competition at the 2015 World Finals to be held in Montgomery, Alabama, in October.
Bannister also qualified for the tandem run with teammate Mississippi State Fire Academy Instructor Clarence Parks. Their 1:19.25 time placed them in 2nd place overall and a spot at the World Finals.
Forney Combat also qualified as a team in the relay competition with a 5th place finish. Team members include Bannister, Ryan Elder, David Lawson, Brian Leathers, and Darren Yarborough.
Although the team has qualified for World Finals, they still have competitions scheduled in Arlington, Texas, in August and Farmers Branch in October, according to Bannister.
Follow the Forney Combat team on Facebook, here.