The starting gun for the 2015 JBM-HH Commanders Race Series season has been fired and over 100 walkers and runners took part in Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall's annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk the morning of March 13 at the Fort Myer Fitness Center.
The race also served as the Army Emergency Relief (AER) kickoff as the Military District of Washington Sergeant Audie Murphy Club partnered with JBM-HH's Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation to host the run and walk.
The club was at the event to raise awareness of their volunteer efforts and to recruit and support the runners and walkers.
"Building our NCO corps is one of the most important things we do," said Murphy Club spokesman Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Martinez, who also posted a top-20 finish in the 5K race. "We had huge support this morning. This is an outstanding event with outstanding participation with outstanding runners out there."
The overall male winner was Michael Finn with a time of 17 minutes and 58 seconds. The top female time was posted by Yuko Whitestone in 20:45. Other age division winners included Quinn Plummer, Neil Chia, Trisha Chia, Bradley Nabong, Samantha Hernandez, Michael Magee, Lauren Wheeler, Ryan Bocka, Karen Guerra, John Camarillo, Vanessa Bonner, Brian Robinson, Judy Anderson, Michael Creadon, Patty Collins, Bill Ward, Annette Engum and Jeffrey Woods.
The largest participating unit award went to HHC 1/3 IN BN.
The top walkers were Kevin Stuart, Tsgereda Habtemariam and Roman Kebede.
The pre-St. Patrick's Day shuffle was also the first race of the JBM-HH Spring Race Coin Challenge. To be eligible for the JBM-HH Spring Race Coin Challenge, participants had to register online and complete all three spring races.
The next two races for the 2015 JBM-HH Spring Race Coin Challenge include the Cherry Blossom Race Along the River at Fort McNair in Washington on April 10 and the Rockin' & Reelin Sock Hop 5K on May 1, which will start and finish at the Fort Myer Fitness Center.
The AER campaign runs through May 15 with the goal of creating greater awareness of the benefits of AER as well as providing Soldiers the opportunity to donate to their fellow Soldiers. Its theme this year is Army Emergency Relief-Making a Difference. For more information on this year's AER campaign, call 703-325-1692 or go to www.aerhq.org.
The MDW SAMC will also conduct a March 28 Easter Egg Hunt on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, and club information is available by clicking http://mdwhome.mdw.army.mil/audim/index.htm.
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