A team of Iowa City police officers posted the fastest time at the 2010 Fight for Air Climb Law Enforcement Challenge for the second year in a row on Sunday.

The competition, sponsored by the American Lung Association, took place at 801 Grand in downtown Des Moines.

Individual and team participants from around the state competed to see who could climb 1,100 stairs the fastest in an effort to raise money and awareness for lung disease.

Iowa City officers won the Law Enforcement Challenge, which began last year. Previous challenges included state fire departments and corporations, but 2009 was the first year law enforcement were invited to compete.

Officers Colin Fowler, Derek Frank, Ryan Wood, and Niles Mercer climbed the 82 flights of stairs, or 41 stories, in 27 minutes and 55 seconds and received a traveling trophy, which will be displayed at the Iowa City Police Department for the second-consecutive year.

Fight for Air participants raised more than $113,000 toward research and programs to prevent lung disease.

— by Jordan Fries