Fort Drum Soldiers participate in an Army Ten-Miler Team qualifier run on post Aug. 20. Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation organized a second qualifier run to give those Soldiers who were on deployment a chance to get on Fort Drum's team. Memb...

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- There are only 18 spots on the Fort Drum Army Ten-Miler Team, but that did not stop more than 50 people from running the second team qualifier race Aug. 20 to vie for one of those coveted positions and a chance to participate in the 30th Anniversary Army Ten-Miler in Washington, D.C.

The first qualifier was held May 28. Frank Romano, Fort Drum sports director, explained that having two qualifying events gives those Soldiers who were deployed a chance to make the team.

"There are a lot of talented runners, and we give everybody an opportunity -- from novice to elite athlete. Everybody has a chance," he said. "This is a big event. It's played up real big every year, and it's a reward for them to go down there and represent Fort Drum. We've got some fine young people out here, and when do you get an opportunity to go down to Washington, D.C., and represent your division? Not often."

Participants began the race in front of Magrath Sports Complex and continued around the 10-kilometer inner loop back to the start / finish line where their times were recorded.

Once the finishing times from both qualifiers were compared, the team was organized into three groups: all-male team of six runners, all-female team of six runners and a coed team of six runners. After that, they practice together and forge the bonds needed to help them do the best they can during the actual run.

For some, participating in the 10K was just a fun thing to do and a chance to see how fast they could finish it. For others, it was a serious race with a lot at stake. The race participation cap is set at 35,000, and it fills up in a matter of hours, so being on the team guarantees a chance to get on that start line.

Those who came in at the head of the pack Aug. 20 have reason to be excited.

Capt. Lindsey Lalonde of DENTAC finished the race first with a time of 33:42.

The second to finish, at 34:09, was Pfc. Edward Limo, a supply clerk assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, who ran with determination even though he had a cramp. An avid runner, he is very enthusiastic about making the team.

"It feels good," he exclaimed with a wide grin. "I wish I had done better; I had a terrible stitch. I almost stopped, but I said 'I'm gonna fight all the way through.' I love running; I want to be part of a team."

The first female runner to cross the finish line was Staff Sgt. Shannon Corona, a linguist from B Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

Corona ran the qualifier in May, just weeks after giving birth to her son. She knew she could run faster this time around, so she decided to participate in this run to better her time and solidify her spot on the team.

"I was hoping to best that time. I was hoping to go under 40 minutes this time, and I just made it," she said about her 38:40 finish.

"I ran the Ten-Miler once before, and I actually always wanted to be on a team," Corona continued. "I came from Fort Meade, Md., and they did not have any teams, and when I came here I found out (Fort Drum) did. It's just the camaraderie and being able to represent the post and the division."

The big day for these athletes is Oct 12. The race will start and end at the Pentagon, taking the runners through the streets of the nation's capital, near several famous monuments and memorials and past the cheering crowd.

"I am so excited," Limo said. "I look forward to doing much better. I'm going to go back and start training hard for Washington, D.C., and I will probably do great."

The following people earned a spot on the Fort Drum Army Ten-Miler Team:

Men's Team: Spc. Christopher Keegan, Capt. Lindsey Lalonde, Pfc. Edward Limo, 2nd Lt. Jose Moncada, 1st Lt. Daniel Nix and 1st Lt. Daniel Szilagyi.

Coed Team: 2nd Lt. Olivia Boyd, Staff Sgt. Shannon Corona, Capt. Michelle Kelly, 1st Lt. Brian Landry, Capt. Thad Pajak and 1st Lt. John Steger.

Women's Team: 1st Lt. Nina Barnhart, Sgt. Mariya Kristeva, 1st Lt. Ashley Murray, Maj. Adrian Sullivan, 1st Lt. Jacqueline Thompson and Capt. Sarah Wood.