35,000 runners, 700 teams register for 29th Annual Army Ten-Miler
35,000 runners, 700 teams register for 29th Annual Army Ten-Miler
With over 35,000 registered runners – the largest running field in the race’s history – the 29th Army Ten-Miler took place Oct. 20 at the Pentagon, the day before the 2013 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition.The first male runner to cross the finish line, Solonei Silva, completed the run in 48:04.The first female finisher with a time of 54:56 was Kerri Gallagher who also came in first last year.The Overall Male U.S. Army winner was Spc. Aron Rono, with a time of 48 minutes, 18 seconds. Rono is a member of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program.The Overall Female U.S. Army winner was Capt. Kelly Calway, a former member of the Army World Class Athlete Program, with a time of 57 minutes, 06 seconds.On Sunday, Oct. 27, Calway won the Female Division in the Marine Corps Marathon. Her time was 2 hours, 42 minutes, 16 seconds.Calway was also the Army’s female athlete of the year in 2008.At the Ten-Miler, special recognition was given to the wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, before the race began, to include a personal visit at the start line from Secretary of the Army John McHugh, the Army chief of staff, Gen. Ray Odierno, and the vice chief of staff, Gen. John Campbell.The Fort Carson Men’s Team – the Mountain Post Men – for the second consecutive year, fielded the winning Active Duty Men’s team with a team time of 3:28: 43, and the Fort Bragg Women won the Active Duty Women’s category with a time of 4:17:43.The Sergeant Major of the Army’s Trophy was won by the Fort Sill Sergeants Major Team with a time of 5:03:32.The Commander’s Cup and the Sergeants Major’s trophy were presented on site at the race awards ceremony and were again presented at the opening session of the Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.The Brazilian Army Team won the International Division with a time of 3:14:44 and the runners were recognized at the race site and at the Annual Meeting’s opening ceremony.Runners came from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as from 10 foreign countries.Thousands of spectators at the Pentagon’s start and finish lines and along the race course were there to support their family members, friends or co-workers. Most stayed to enjoy the HOOAH tents, exhibits, food and bands and entertainment located in the Pentagon’s north parking lot.Entertainment was provided at the award’s stage by Down Range from The United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own).These talented musicians and singers also performed at the GEICO Pre-Race Pasta Dinner the night before the run.The stage was then turned over to Maj. Gen. Jeff Buchanan, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters – National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington, and his command sergeant major, David Turnbull, who presided at the awards ceremony.Representatives from the Association of the United States Army’s George Washington and Fairfax-Lee and KBR joined Buchanan and Turnbull on the stage to present the top male/female overall and Commander’s Cup awards.In support of the Army Ten-Miler, several shadow races were run around the world to include Afghanistan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Egypt, Korea, Cuba and Pakistan.Wrapping up the running portion of the Ten-Miler were more than 400 youth participating in the Army Ten-Miler Youth Runs.Children K-3 ran a 100-meter sprint to the finish and kids in grades four through eight participated in a 200-meter competition.Each runner received a bib, a special T-shirt and a finisher’s medal.The race’s co-lead sponsors are AUSA, the race’s founding sponsor, and KBR, an AUSA sustaining member.Major sponsors include: PWC, GEICO, Navy Federal Credit Union, DRS Technologies and Boeing.Marathon-photos.com, G&G Outfitters, Clearance Jobs.Com, Nestle Purina Pet Care and Nestle Purina Powerbar are Supporting Sponsors.ESPN 980 is the race’s Media Partner.For complete race coverage and results go to: www.armytenmiler.com.