Fifth Air Force Marathon a success Published Sept. 22, 2002 By Sue Baker Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- More than 3,200 runners from 48 states and eight foreign countries ran in the fifth Air Force Marathon here Sept. 21.Wheelchair competitors began the 26.2-mile race at 7 a.m., followed by individual runners at 7:05 a.m., and relay teams at 7:30 a.m.Patrick Doak of Alpharetta, Ga., was the first male wheelchair competitor to cross the finish line, with winning time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 47 seconds. Christopher Rodney of Beavercreek, Ohio, finished in second place with time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 20 seconds. Maynard Read of Rochester, Minn., came in third with 2 hours, 47 minutes and 20 seconds.Holly Koester of Cleveland, Ohio, was first-place female wheelchair competitor with winning time of 3 hours, 1 minute, and 42 seconds. Stacy James of Dublin, Ohio, was second, with time of 5 hours, 4 minutes and 12 seconds. There was no third-place female wheelchair competitor.Individual overall male winner was Jeffrey S. Gibson of Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, with time of 2 hours, 42 minutes and 15 seconds. Second-place overall male winner was Guido Bocklandt of Dendermonde, Belgium, with time of 2 hours, 44 minutes and 30 seconds. Taking third place was Timothy L. Miller of Dayton, Ohio, with time of 2 hours, 47 minutes and 42 seconds.The individual overall female winner was Sandy M. Hundley of Hilliard, Ohio, with a time of 3 hours, 16 minutes and 41 seconds. Second place went to Jill M. Metzger of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, with 3 hours, 17 minutes and 38 seconds. Finishing third was Marcie R. Knapp of New Castle, Pa., with 3 hours, 20 minutes and 49 seconds.The first overall relay team to cross the finish line was the NG Seacows, with an elapsed time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 17 seconds. The second-place relay team was Team Vance with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 33 seconds. The third-place relay team was Miami Valley TC at 2 hours, 32 minutes and 14 seconds.Each competitor crossing the finish line immediately received a commemorative medal. At the awards ceremony, Lt. Gen. Dick Reynolds, Aeronautical Systems Center commander, presented awards to the top finishers in all categories: overall male; overall female; open; military; masters; grand masters; seniors; wheelchair; marathon; and relay.Final race results will be posted in the near future on the marathon Web site. The sixth Air Force Marathon is scheduled to take place Sept. 20, 2003.