Air Force Marathon sets attendance record

  • Published
  • By Bill Hancock
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  A record field of 12,000 runners registered for 2010 Air Force Marathon events Sept. 17 - 18 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

This year's race participation shattered the previous 2009 Marathon record of 9,969 runners, and by Sept. 14, had completely sold out at the pre-determined race cap of 12,000 runners.

Participants included those running in the full marathon, a wheeled division, a half-marathon, along with 10K and 5K runs.

The 14th annual running was opened by Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger, Air Force Materiel Command vice commander.

"This is truly a record breaking day," General Wolfenbarger said. "There are representatives from every state, along with 6 nations, and 44 folks who have attended every U.S. Air Force Marathon start since its inception in 1997."

The general reminded those gathered that the running of the 10K, half- and full marathon races on Sept. 18, coincides with the U.S. Air Force's 63rd birthday. She thanked the thousands of runners, volunteers, and spectators "for making this a wonderful event."

The three-day event started with a sports and fitness Expo held at the Ervin J. Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University. The expo hosted over 60 exhibitors featuring the latest in sports, fitness and nutrition.

The expo concluded Sept. 17 with a 5K race for 2,000 runners held on the university's campus and a gourmet pasta dinner at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Runners were treated to B-52 and F-16 flyovers and a course that visited historical sites on the base and throughout downtown Fairborn, Ohio. A large contingency of fans lined the course and cheered as participants raced by.

The Air Force Marathon is sanctioned by the USA Track & Field Association and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

"What a privilege it is to run," said Airman 1st Class Morgan Burns, an Air National Guardsman from DeSoto, Kan., as she caught her breath having just won the Women's 10K. "I just completed basic training last January and currently attend technical school at Keesler AFB, Miss.. "Academics come first, and I needed to attain special permission from my squadron commander to run today."

Among the noted runners in attendance, and one who didn't need to ask permission, was Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton A. Schwartz. General Schwartz participated in the 10K run with his wife, Suzie, and later presented finishers' medals and awards to overall winners. The general finished his 10K in 1:00:23.

Capt. Brian Dumm, an English instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, won the full marathon with a time of 2:27:40.

"It's tough to win here, the competition is always there," said Captain Dumm, who is originally from Washington D.C. and running his fifth-ever marathon. "To win this on the Air Force's birthday is pretty cool. I came out here to win...(just) glad it worked out."

Capt. Anne Marie Sibal, an Air Force judge advocate at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., 3:06:47 finished first among military females running the full marathon. The captain said she found inspiration to push herself during the race thinking of the sacrifices of deployed military members and their families.

"It felt great to be a part of this marathon and represent the Air Force," Captain Sibal said. "I will definitely be back next year."

This year's half-marathon event featured some friendly inter-service rivalry between the Air Force and Marine Corps teams. The six-person Air Force team of four male and two female Airmen took the honors.

Running in her first Marathon, Staff Sgt. Alicia Salas, from March Air Force Base, Calif. took home the "Tail-end Charlie" trophy as the last full marathon finisher. Like many first-time marathoners, she ran in to a "wall."

"Brutal," was how she described the pain she felt in her knees during the final miles of the race, but she persevered and successfully finished. "I finished and I am very thankful," Sergeant Salas said.

Winners are listed below. All times are unofficial at the time of this release:

-- Men's full marathon overall: Capt. Brian Dumm, 27, U.S. Air Force, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2:27:49.

-- Women's full marathon overall: Rebecca Murray, 25, Franklin, Tenn., 3:01:07

-- Men's full marathon active military winner: Capt. Brian Dumm

-- Women's full marathon active military winner: Capt. Anne Marie Sibal, 29, U.S. Air Force, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3:06:47

-- Men's Full Marathon Push Rim Wheel Division: John Moore, 27, Centerville, Ohio, 3:12:25

-- Women's Full Marathon Push Rim Wheel Division: Holly Koester, 50, Walton Hills, Ohio, 3:17:11

-- Men's Full Marathon, Hand Crank Wheel Division: Adam Rose, 16, Macomb, Mich., 1:33:37

-- Women's Full Marathon, Hand Crank Wheel Division: Joy Koester, 50, Indianapolis, Ind., 2:32:19

-- Men's Half Marathon overall: Capt. Ben Payne, 29, U.S. Air Force, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., 1:08:28

-- Women's Half Marathon overall: Christina Johnston, 30, Xenia, Ohio., 1:18:21

-- Men's Half Marathon active military winner: Capt. Ben Payne

-- Women's Half Marathon active military winner: Capt. Jennifer Perrottet, 30, U.S. Marine Corps, San Marcos, Calif., 1:23:06

-- Half Marathon Military Challenge Team Award: Air Force

-- Military Challenge First Place Men's: Capt. Ben Payne, Air Force, 1:08:27

-- Military Challenge First Place Women's: Capt. Jennifer Perrottet, Marine Corps, 1:23:36

-- Military Challenge Second Place Men's: 2nd Lt. Jacob Bradosky, Air Force, 1:08:59

-- Military Challenge Second Place Women's: Maj. Brenda Schrank, Air Force, 1:24:22

-- Military Challenge Third Place Men's: Capt. Levi Severson, Air Force, 1:10:01

-- Military Challenge Third Place Women's: Capt. Maureen Carr, Marine Corps, 1:25:00

-- Men's 10K Individual overall: Kristoffer Chacon, 23, Lomita, Calif.. 33:26

-- Women's 10K Individual overall: Airman First Class Morgan Burns, 21, U.S. Air Force, DeSoto, Kan., 41:11

-- Men's 10K active military winner: Airman First Class Jeff Coverdale ll, 26, U.S. Air Force, Grovetown, Ga., 35:33

-- Women's 10K active military winner: Airman First Class Morgan Burns

Air Force - Wright State University 5K race results from Friday, Sept. 17:

-- Men's 5K overall: Calvin Heim, 19, Ann Arbor, Mich., 16:39

-- Women's 5K overall: Maj. Leann Ferguson, 33, U.S. Air Force, Bloomington, Ind., 21:19

-- Men's 5K active military winner: Airman First Class Samson Ohingo, 28, U.S. Air Force, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, 20:04

-- Women's 5K active military winner: Maj. Leann Ferguson

-- Men's 5K Push Rim Wheel winner: Tom Lowen, 56, Beavercreek, Ohio, 1:14:29

-- Men's 5K Hand Crank Wheel winner: Jeffery Lee, 12, Mason, Ohio, 25:16

-- Women's 5K Hand Crank Wheel winner: Kirstie Lou Honeywill Syke, 35, Celebration, Fla., 18:58

For a complete listing of race results visit www.usafmarathon.com.