For Hannah Marie Akoury, pain is not something to fear — it is something to push through.

That mindset helped the Oklahoma State University senior set a new United States record in the Firefighter Challenge League’s 18-29 Individual Female Category with a time of 4:17.56, an accomplishment reflecting years of discipline, endurance and determination. The annual season opener took place in Indianapolis.

“I was very surprised,” Akoury said. “It was a good surprise, but I was not really expecting it at all.”

The Firefighter Challenge Championship Series is designed to simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting. Competitors race through tasks that mimic emergency response scenarios while wearing heavy gear and working against the clock. Events test endurance, strength, agility and mental toughness.

Preparing for those events requires extensive conditioning and the ability to work through exhaustion and discomfort.

“The off-season training was definitely huge for me as I emphasized cardio training,” Akoury said. “I am always working to catch up to and reach the same level as some of my male peers.

“Setting that goal, along with being able to watch others complete the challenge and telling myself, ‘I want to do that,’ has been my source of motivation.”

Although the record was surpassed later that same day, the achievement still marked a major milestone for Akoury, who serves as president of the OSU Firefighter Challenge Team while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in applied exercise science with a focus in strength and conditioning and a minor in emergency management.

For Akoury, the accomplishment not only represented a fast finish time but also reflected the values she has worked to personify both inside and outside the classroom.

At OSU, students are encouraged to live by the Cowboy Code — a set of principles emphasizing integrity, perseverance, courage and service. The Code includes statements such as “We know challenges come with pain, but pain will not win” and “We finish what we start.”

Few students embody those ideas more fully than Akoury, according to Kim Beard, who serves as assistant director of fitness for OSU’s Department of Wellness and adviser for the OSU Firefighter Challenge Team.

“Hannah Marie truly commits herself to everything she does and uses her grit, determination and dedication to see things through to the finish,” Beard said. “She is as passionate as they come and is the best leader, team member, student, athlete, friend and more."

She said Akoury stands apart because of her work ethic, maturity, resilience and leadership.

Originally from Danvers, Massachusetts, Akoury is not just a student-athlete but also a volunteer firefighter for the city of Yale, Oklahoma. Her long-term goal is to become a full-time firefighter and eventually complete the Lion’s Den firefighter fitness challenge, one of the most grueling firefighter endurance events in the country.

“All of my life I have wanted to do public service,” Akoury said. “... I have a lot of family in the military, including my dad. It’s not the same, but it is similar in the sense of giving back and the mental challenges that come with this field.”

Akoury’s academic path was intentionally designed to support that future.

As an applied exercise science major focusing on strength and conditioning, Akoury studies human performance, physical training and athletic conditioning — all directly connected to the physical demands firefighters face every day. Her emergency management minor adds another layer of preparation by teaching crisis response, organization and disaster management.

“The minor is a good way to learn about resources and various techniques for mitigating, responding and preparing during moments of crisis,” Akoury said. “With my applied exercise major, the whole program is about keeping your body healthy and getting stronger in terms of both exercise and nutrition.”

Balancing academics, firefighter training, competitions and work responsibilities requires intense discipline. Beard said Akoury manages all of it while continuing to support others around her.

“She is a positive role model for her teammates on the OSU Firefighter Challenge Team and for her academic peers,” Beard said. “She is always willing to lend a hand to help anywhere needed, and others are inspired by her actions.

"They broke the mold when they made Hannah Marie. She is one of a kind and a true inspiration to all those around her.”

That willingness to endure difficulty mirrors another principle of the Cowboy Code: “We stand for what matters, even if we stand alone.”

Akoury’s journey has required sacrifice and persistence, but those closest to her say she undoubtedly approaches challenges with humility and determination.

In April, Akoury and her partner placed second in the Fire Department Under Age 40 Coed Tandem category at the 2026 Firefighter Challenge League Season Opener with a time of 2:01.71. She also placed second in Division 2 Female with a time of 4:12.48.

Akoury’s academic and professional success is rooted in consistency, service and a willingness to keep moving forward through adversity.

“I just have to push through — because it is painful, but it’s a good type of pain,” Akoury said. “It’s like when you work out, and afterward you are sore, but that soreness isn’t bad. It's evidence of all the work you have put in.”

Whether she is training for competition, studying for class or responding as a volunteer firefighter, Akoury continues to pursue her goals with the same relentless determination that helped her earn a place in the record books.

And while one competition record may have fallen, the example she has set for others at OSU remains firmly intact.

Story By: Annie Ross | annie.ross@okstate.edu