Fort Gordon firefighter gets third title

Brandon Cunningham came away with top honors at the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge World Championships in Las Vegas on Nov. 10-15.

//

"I've been very fortunate. I thank God he's given me the ability to do so," said the three-time winner. "Three titles -- it was tough. The pressure builds. It's tougher and tougher each year."

Cunningham, a member of the Fort Gordon Fire Department, won his third consecutive individual title; the tandem title, with Anthony McMurtry; and the coed tandem title, with Jacqueline Rasenberg, of Canada.

"It was the first time I did (the coed event). I figured I'd give it a shot," he said.

Competing with someone with whom he had never trained was a little difficult, but the way the event was set up made doing it easier, Cunningham said.

"I did my part, and she did hers," he said.

Rasenberg finished third in the individual female competition.

The accomplishments of Cunningham and McMurtry were the highlights for the Fort Gordon team, which finished sixth overall. Matthew Williams finished eighth in the chief's division.

With seven world championships, Cunningham plans to take a break from the individual competition next year. He will compete with the relay team.

"I'm going to do some career-program things and spend time with my family," he said.

Cunningham's wife, Susan, gave birth to their son, Brayden, on Sept. 19.

"When he gets big enough to go, I'll probably do it again," Cunningham said of resuming individual competition.

He finished nearly three seconds ahead of the second-place competitor and is the world record holder in the individual event.

The Scott Fighter Combat Challenge combines a series of five tasks used by firefighters and times competitors as they go through them.

Tasks include dragging a 175-pound mannequin to safety and climbing a five-story tower while wearing complete gear.

Last year, the Fort Gordon Fire Department's relay team finished first in the world competition.

Label hed here n