# News

## U.S. Air Force LogoUnited States Air Force

# Wright-Patterson AFB hosts 23rd Air Force Marathon

              - Published  Sept. 21, 2019
              -                             By John Van Winkle                                                    
              - 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

**WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) --  **
Fireworks and rain marked the start of the 23rd annual U.S. Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Sept. 21, featuring more than 13,000 runners from all states, all ages and all ranks.The Air Force Marathon is a host of fitness and family events, including a 1K kid's race, a full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K runs, with rain delaying the start of the 10K, full and half marathons.The marathon started and ended at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.Each of the runners had their reasons to train for and participate in fitness events like the Air Force Marathon, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein spoke to the crowd about his reasons for running and the name he carried on a bracelet.“I'm running for a couple of groups today,” he said. “First, I'm running for all those Airmen we've lost over the many years and their families, especially Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin, who we lost in 2018, a special tactics combat controller. The second group I'm running for is our command teams ... our flight commanders, squadron commanders, group commanders, wing commanders and their senior NCO teammates. Because if you're part of a command team in the United States Air Force, you're fit. We should never ask Airmen to do what we would never do ourselves, and I will tell you as chief, I'm not going to ask you to do something that I'm not willing to do myself. So I'm looking forward to seeing you out on the course.”Goldfein finished the half marathon alongside Air Force Materiel Command's commander and command chief, Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr. and Chief Master Sgt. Stanley Cadell, respectively.The marathon also drew a range of participants, ranging from entire families in some of the shorter races to the Air Force’s top male competitor from the third annual Air Force Alpha Warrior Final Battle, Capt. Noah Patricia, a C-130J instructor pilot from Yokota Air Base, Japan.The full marathon course also runs through several local communities, including the city of Fairborn and the Wright State University’s campus. The locations closed roads and hosted events for the 25,000 participants, volunteers and spectators.“Elite runners have come from all 50 states and 15 countries to join us, and it’s incredibly exciting,” said Brandon Hough, U.S. Air Force Marathon race director. “There’s no other race where you’re going to run 20-plus miles through an active duty installation, be greeted at the beginning with a flyover from actual Air Force aircraft to getting your medal at the finish from a general or a chief master sergeant, so from start to finish, it’s just very unique with the military, and it’s an experience you can’t find at another large city marathon.”Winners are listed below. All times are unofficial at the time of this writing.-- Men's Full Marathon Overall, Individual: Juris Silenieks, Bath Township, Ohio -- 2:22:37-- Women's Full Marathon, Individual: Ann Alyanak, Bellbrook, Ohio -- 2:52:17-- Men's Full Marathon, Crank Wheelchair Division: David Berling, Avondale, Arizona -- 1:13:54-- Women's Full Marathon, Crank Wheelchair Division: Holly Koester, Walton Hills, Ohio -- 1:57:29-- Men’s Full Marathon, Push-Rim Wheelchair Division: Joey Gibbs, Ocala, Florida -- 2:14:15-- Women's Full Marathon, Push-Rim Wheelchair Division: Jenna Fesemyer, Champaign, Illinois -- 2:14:15-- Men's Half Marathon, Individual: Jason Salyer, Columbus, Ohio -- 1:12:58-- Women's Half Marathon, Individual: Tech. Sgt. Emily Shertzer, Jonestown, Pennsylvania -- 1:23:14-- Men's 10K, Individual: Daniel Garza, Dearborn, Michigan -- 33:22-- Women's 10K, Individual: Maria Scavuzzo, Oxford, Ohio -- 36:37-- Men's 5K, Individual: Justin Weckler, Xenia, Ohio -- 18:14-- Women's 5K, Individual: 1st Lt. Maria Stephens, Beavercreek, Ohio -- 18:49Planning is already underway for the 24th Annual U.S. Air Force Marathon, which is scheduled for Sept. 19, 2020.

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