BY Fred Jeter
Richmond Times - Dispatch (Virginia)
Copyright 2006 Richmond Times - Dispatch
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
If you’re ever trapped upstairs in a burning building, you’ve got to pray Lonnie Lewis is nearby.
When it comes to showing off live-saving skills, few do it faster or with more style than captain/paramedic Lewis, a 13-year veteran of Chesterfield County Fire & EMS.
The 6-3, 225-pound former Henrico High and Longwood University basketball player was first in the 40-plus division and eighth overall at the Firefighters Combat Challenge nationals on Oct. 13 near Atlanta.
Lewis’ winning age-group time over an exhausting obstacle course was 1:36.
“It’s a tremendous confidence boost,” Lewis said. “As you get older, a lot of firefighters don’t know what they’re capable of doing. This allows you to measure yourself.”
When Lewis began challenge competitions seven years ago, he couldn’t break two minutes.
“I’ve been grinding seconds off my time,” he said. “I never dreamed, at 43, I’d be posting my best times. I’ve put a lot into my training, and I’ve been lucky in avoiding injury.”
Sponsored by Advanced Orthopedic, Shorts Cuts and “my own pocket,” Lewis attended national qualifying challenges in Deerfield, Fla.; Virginia Beach; York, Pa.; Gainesville, Fla.; Erie, Pa.; and Elkton, Md., before the Georgia event.
He also made three trips to Atlanta during the year for specific training on a five-story platform identical to the one used for nationals.
Lewis has access to a training set-up in Chesterfield on Lori Road adjacent to the new county jail.
Lewis, also the grand national points champion, wasn’t finished when he accepted his Atlanta gold. From Georgia, he flew to Las Vegas for a world challenge, including firefighters from various nations.
Though he performed a career-best 1:34, he was second to Rick Pryor (1:32) of Illinois. The victorious overall time was 1:29. Lewis was 20th among all firefighters.
Qualifying events for next year’s national and world competition commence in February. Lewis vows to be faster.
“The world record, for over 40, is 1:26. . . . That’s my goal,” he said.
If it weren’t such a dirty word in his profession, you might Lewis is determined to go out with a blaze of glory.