FORT BENNING, GA - Fort Benning Soldiers and civilians, along with nearly 30,000 other runners, competed in the Army Ten-Miler in Washington Sunday.
The post's Army Ten-Miler team placed 17th overall and fifth in the men's active-duty division.
Both the men's and women's overall records were broken this year. Samia Akbar posted a time of 55 minutes, 25 seconds in the female event and Alene Reta's time for the new men's record was 46:59.
Fort Benning and Maneuver Center of Excellence Commanding General MG Michael Ferriter said the annual race, now in its 25th year, is a chance for Soldiers to inspire one another and others.
"The Army Ten-Miler signifies the coming together once a year of all leaders and all Soldiers ... and is a chance for Soldiers to demonstrate the warrior ethos," he said.
Eight active-duty Soldiers assigned to Fort Benning were chosen for the team after they participated in several races prior to the Ten-Miler.
"We take the best times in three qualifying races," said Lori Smith, Fort Benning fitness and recreation director.
Aaron Totten-Lancaster, Jason Horsager, David Reyes, Jason Mitchler, Jason Geiger, James Mahurin, Travis Bradley and Darren Riley made up the post team.
Riley, a Maneuver Captains Course student, was running in his fourth race. However, his girlfriend, Amanda Rivers, ran it for the first time.
Rivers said running the course this year was an eye-opener.
"I loved watching," said Rivers, who was running this year in honor of her sister's deployed husband and all for all deployed Soldiers. "However, being a runner and being cheered on is thrilling."
Every year, tens of thousands of runners and spectators head to Washington. to participate in the race, which starts and ends at the Pentagon, passing by the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and Capitol Building.
The 10-mile race promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports fitness goals and enhances community relations, according to the Army Ten-Miler Web site. More than 500 military and civilians teams competed this year to win the Commander's Cup, International Competition and USCAA Ten-Mile Championship.
For more information about the winners of this year's race, visit http://www.armytenmiler.com/index.cfm.
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