Airman, Soldier take top Air Force marathon races

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SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  An Air Force doctor and an Army helicopter crew chief won the top spots in the 10th Annual Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, on Sept. 16.

The Air Force Running Team's Mark Cucuzzella crossed the finish line in 2:31:47 to win his first full marathon men's division title. Michelle Elliott won the women's division title with a time of 3:17:48.

"This is what I do for fun on my lunch hour" to keep healthy and fit, the men's winner said. The winner, a lieutenant colonel with the 89th Medical Group at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., said he tries to gets his patients to run.

"This year, we have a pretty good team," the colonel said. The team will compete in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., in late October. 

The women's winner said, "I was shocked that I was the first female finisher." A sergeant, she works on Apache helicopter at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. She took up distance running 10 years ago, when her husband passed away.

"It kind of takes me to a different place," she said. On this race day, it took her to first place.

Additionally, participants set new wheelchair and half-marathon records.

Forty-five year old Glen Ashlock broke the old wheelchair record by more than 12 minutes, finishing and 1:47:06. Monica Szymanski won the women's division in 3:08:16.

Derrick Butler won the half marathon in 1:09:03 and Caitlin Reese won the women's division in 1:22:20.

Coming in first in the relay division was the National Guard Stars with a time of 2:35:21. Special relay participants included four Wright-Patterson 88th Air Base Wing security forces Airmen, who crossed the finish line with two of their working dogs.

Finishing up the events in the 5k race was Eric Petersen, winner of the men's division in 17:13 minutes. Female winner Gabrielle Beal finished at 21:37.

This year's event was the largest held since the event's inception in 1997. Seventy-one racers received "10-year runner" honors.

And there was even one unexpected event at the finish line.

When Marine Isaac Pacheco crossed the finish line with his girlfriend, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. She said yes -- as spectators cheered, event organizers said.