Grand Forks recognizes Athletes of the Year

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Derek VanHorn
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Two Grand Forks Airmen were recognized as the base's 2011 Athletes of the Year during a ceremony held April 13 at the Northern Lights Club here.

Capt. John Bone of the Area Defense Counsel and Tech. Sgt. Robyn Kaufhold of the 319th Communication Squadron were the selected nominees.

Throughout the year, Kaufhold completed her fifteenth and sixteenth marathons of her running career, including her seventh consecutive "Grandma's Marathon" in Duluth, Minn. That race, in particular, holds significant value to her.

Kaufhold began running when her father, Larry Sveback, talked her into joining him in Duluth. They ran their first marathon together in 2005. One month before the next year's event, he passed away unexpectedly.

Kaufhold has used that experience to fuel her drive to put a priority on fitness.

"I stay in shape because my dad died of a heart attack at 62 years old," she said. "I'm going to do everything I can to stay fit for as long as I can. I'll run until my knees give out."

Bone earned first-place finishes in both the Cinco de Mayo and Independence Day 5ks, along with setting the course record while winning the base's half marathon. He also participated in squadron intramurals, playing basketball, softball and leading his team to a runner-up finish in the base soccer championship.

"It feels great," said Bone, who has never scored less than 100 percent on a physical training test.

"I love competing," he said, "and as much as I enjoy winning, I hate losing."

Bone credited his father, Dr. William Bone, for teaching him how to become both a good winner and loser, saying that "with competition, comes losing. I'd like to consider myself better at losing now than when I was younger."

Bone's competitive drive propelled him to try out and walk on to the U.S. Air Force Academy basketball team as a sophomore in 2001, where he played which he played until he graduated in 2004.

"At the end of the day I would still consider myself a basketball player, but my best days are behind me," he said.

Bone and Kaufhold will next compete for the Air Mobility Command Athlete of the Year award.