Stewart-Hunter Ten-Miler reps announced

By Sgt. Tanya Polk, 3rd Infantry Division Public AffairsAugust 8, 2008

FORT STEWART, GA -- "I tried to play soccer in high school, but the coach said I was too small," said Sgt. Timothy Insley. "So I took up cross country, and I have been running ever since."

At a mere 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 105 pounds, Insley - a 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Soldier - secured his slot in America's largest 10-mile race, July 26.

After placing first at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield's 10-miler tryouts with a time of 1.01.51,

Insley and five other Fort Stewart Soldiers will team up and compete in the men's category of the Army's 24th Ten-Miler held in Washington D.C. in October.

Last year Insley arrived to Fort Stewart too late to qualify for the team but proved himself as a stong competitor for the individual competition. On Oct. 7, 2007 Insley not only finished first for Stewart-Hunter with a time of 1:00:35, he also finished 14th in his division, 101st in the men's category and 106th overall out of more than 17,000 competitors.

The Army Ten-Miler is an annual Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation fundraiser, according to the official Web site at www.armytenmiler.com. The proceeds go toward programs that support Soldiers and their Families. But the event also provides a world-class competition.

The 10-mile race features more than 650 military and civilian teams striving for titles and trophies, such as the Commander's Cup and the International Army Competition, and has categories that include overall top male, female, master's male and female, wheelchair, among 24 other team awards.

Starting at the Pentagon, the runners are released in three waves, traveling along a course that winds through the capital city, passes several Washington, D.C. memorials including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capitol, then heads back to the Pentagon.

Insley said he has been training for the Army Ten-Miler almost every day, running each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for about six miles per day; every Tuesday and Thursday for three miles (speed training) and Saturdays 10 to 12 miles.

"Sundays, depending on how I feel, I'll take the day off," he said.

Striving to better himself for this year's competition, Insley said he's going to increase his training intensity as he plans on running eight to 12 miles per day until September, then return to his normal training regimen until race day.

"I didn't really train much last year," Insley said, adding that in addition to training harder this year, he's not going to go sight-seeing around the D.C. area the day before the event again.

"I'd like to be in the top 80 this year, and I'd like to break 58 minutes," Insley continued. "That's going to be tough, but I'm going to shoot for it anyway."

Joining Insley and representing Stewart-Hunter in the men's category are 1st Lt. Pablo Cercenia, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment who ran 1.02.57; Capt. Jake Karn, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team with a time of 1.03.57; Capt. Jason Schuerger, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team with 1.04.04; Sgt. Jason Greene, Company B, 2/7 Inf., 1.04.08; and Sgt. Michael Sizemore, HHC, 3rd Brigade Support Battalion with a time of 1.05.33.

Karn was the fastest Ten-Miler runner for Stewart-Hunter in 2006.

"We're all avid runners so we all have different training methods," Insley said of the Stewart-Hunter men's team.

"After bringing our training styles together we stand a great chance at finishing in the top three for our category."

Insley said his group plans to start training together for the big event next week.

The following are the remaining results of Saturday's 10-mile qualifications:

Pvt. Jacob Jeffcoat, Co. A, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 1.07.04; Sgt. Cesar Garcia, Medical Activity, 1.11.50; Capt. Steven Barr, MEDDAC, 1:17.26; Sgt. Georgia Pastor, 24th Finance, 1.24.30; Spc. Amy Davis, MEDDAC, 1.25.07; Sgt. 1st Class Valerie Garza, 24th Finance, 1.27.32; Pfc. Kaleb Pulam, 90th Human Resource Company, 1.27.48; Spc. Stacey Williams, 24th Finance, 1.27.50; Sgt. 1st Class Roy Kidwell, Headquarters, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1.31.26; Spc. David Crew, 24th Finance, 1.44.25; Spc. Cullen Grinnan, 24th Finance, 1.44.40 and 1st Lt. Bryan French, 24th Finance, 1.45.31.

Stewart-Hunter is looking for active duty women who wish to field a team for this year's event. A qualifier race will be conducted 6 a.m., Friday at Donovan Field Track. For more information, call 767-8238.

Editor's Note: Contributing information provided by Pat Young, The Frontline managing editor, and the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Directorate of Morale, Welfare and Recreation Sports Office.