Air Force Marathon a success
By Brett Turner
Skywrighter Staff, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
September 26, 2003
Several Air Force members and Team Wright-Patt members did their service proud Saturday at the seventh annual Air Force Marathon here. Approximately 3,300 participants from 49 states and eight countries ran in the 26.2-mile marathon, 13.1-mile half-marathon, as part of a four-person relay team or in the 5k (3.1-mile) race. Race officials said they believe the number sets a participation record.
Approximately 10,000 people attended the event as a runner, volunteer or spectator. The 5k race and half-marathon were new events added this year.
Taking first overall for the 26.2-mile race was Hendrik Vanloon of Belgium , representing the Air North team. He finished in an unofficial time for two hours 37 minutes 44 seconds. Vanloon is the second Belgium to win the Air Force Marathon; Tony Meyers won the event in 1999.
Air Force Capt. Jill Metzger of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and representing the U.S. Air Forces in Europe team took first in the women's race in 3:05:35.
First Lt. Greg DeStefano, a student at the Air Force Institute of Technology here, was a member of the Miami Valley track Club team that was first overall in the four-person relay race. They finished in 2:21:05.
Raymond Youngs of the Army and Air National Guard team was the first-ever overall winner of the half-marathon in 1:12:25. Lisa Spatz of Dayton was the women's half-marathon winner in 1:29:49.
Patrick Doak of Cumming, Ga., became the third man to capture two 26.2-mile wheelchair races, as he defended his title and set a course record in 1:50:48. Holly Koester captured her sixth consecutive title in the women's division of the wheelchair race in 3:12:49.
Gunnar Shogren of Morgantown , W.V., was the first ever finisher in the 5k race in 0:17:16. Lisa Veneziano of West Chester, was the first female 5k finisher in 0:18:07.
According to marathon coordinator Bob Brodess, all finishing times are unofficial. Official times are scheduled to be posted Oct. 17.
The morning began with chilly temperatures in the mid 40s and lots of dense fog. An opening ceremony at 6:30 a.m. kicked things off.
Dignitaries of the ceremony included Lt. Gen. Dick Reynolds, Aeronautical Systems Center commander; Col. Mike Belzil, 88 th Air Base Wing commander; Col. Jim Cramp, 88 th Mission Support Group commander; Claude Bolton, undersecretary of the Army for acquisition who is also a retired Air Force major general and participant in all previous Air Force Marathons; and Dan Curtis of presenting sponsor BearingPoint.
The ceremony included the reading of a letter from President George W. Bush addressed to the attendees.
As always, the Air Force Marathon drew a number of unique entrants. One competitor ran the 26.2-mile marathon carrying an American flag in remembrance of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks - a feat he is trying to do in all 50 states.
A relay team from Eglin AFB, Fla. , ran the race in remembrance of an Air Force member who was killed in action in Iraq earlier this year. Another competitor, Mike Brooks of Danville, Maine, was competing in his 100 th marathon.
People ran, jogged, walked or struggled across the finish line, located near the Air Force Museum. They were cheered on by throngs of spectators, fellow runners and volunteers.
Upon finishing, runners hugged family members or got pictures with family, friends or teammates, ate and drank, got medical attention and soaked up the unique atmosphere.
Several Wright-Patterson runners left their mark on the marathon. Maj. Heidi McKenna of Air Force Materiel Command finished second overall and first in her age group in the half-marathon in 1:32:21. She won the 26.2-mile race in 1998.
The Star and Stripes relay team made up of Jerry Apt, Brig. Gen. Frank Faykes, Kenny Russelburg and Maj. Mike Michno took third place overall and first in the men's masters division in 2:34:02. Beatrice Downey, who manages an Area B base exchange, won the senior women's division in the 26.2-mile race.
Runners in the full marathon ranged in age from 10 to 80. Margaret Hagerty is the latter.
Hagerty has been to every Air Force Marathon and has reflected the spirit of the event. She said despite her age, the nine-and-a-half hour trip from her North Carolina home here is always worth it.
"I have a good time here, I really enjoy this marathon," she said. "I like the course, the people and everything about it. I want to thank everybody for putting on this race."
More information on the marathon including results can be found at http://afmarathon.wpafb.af.mil.
The eighth annual Air Force Marathon will be Sept. 18, 2004.