SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - The Hawaii Active Duty men's team captured its first-ever Commander's Cup at the 25th Annual Army Ten-Miler in Washington D.C., October 4th, placing first out of 50 teams in their division.
In addition to the men's team, the Hawaii Active Duty mixed team competed and came in 5th out of 38 in their division with a combined total time of 4:30:21.
The two teams of Soldiers raced against 500 other military and civilian teams, as well as individual runners. A total of 21,256 runners finished on race day, according to event officials.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Lancaster, team captain for the men's team, had completed seven previous Army Ten-Milers.
"I am so happy that we could bring Hawaii its first-ever Commander's Cup,"Aca,!E+Lancaster said, after the race. "I plan on bringing another one home next year. Also, thanks to the chain(s) of command. Without all the support we received, none of this would have been possible."
"I decided to join the Hawaii team just for something new, a challenge running with a new team," said Sgt. Sammy Ngatia, 540th Quartermaster Company, who won the Army Ten-Miler in 2000 and arrived in Hawaii in January 2009 from Fort Carson, Colo.
"This is the best team I have ever been on," said Capt. Shawn Dodge, Headquarters Operations Command, 715th Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion, who was chosen as the 2008 Army Male Athlete of the Year. The Ten-Miler is his fifth consecutive year representing the Army in D.C. for the race.
"It is an honor and a privilege to represent each of our units, Army Hawaii, as well as the best of (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) runner/athletes."
The Army Hawaii mixed team was equally proud of its accomplishment.
"This year was my first Army Ten-Miler and my first year in competitive running," said mixed team captain Capt. Deborah Stonerook, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 2nd Styker Brigade Combat Team. "I began running longer distances while deployed to Iraq last year and hope to keep it up on my next deployment."
Spc. Joseph Kendall said running with the team was something he had aspired to for some time.
"I ran cross-country in high school and track, and was MVP for the last year in both these sports." Kendall said.
Capt. Chris Calway attributes his involvement with the event to his wife, Capt. Kelly Calway, who is currently deployed. Because she was the 2008 Army Female Athlete of the Year, the Familiy and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command sponsored her to return to the U.S. to run in the event.
"I tried out for the team hoping that I could make it and get a trip to (Washington) D.C. while my wife was there,"Aca,!E+Calway explained. "I made it by the skin of my teeth, and my daughter and I got to go out to D.C. to run the race and see (her) for the first time since May."
A,ATeams & Times
Army Hawaii active duty men's team
-Team Captain, Sgt. 1st Class Paul Lancaster, A Company, 25th Special Troops Battalion, 56:12
-Capt. Shawn Dodge, Headquarters Operations Command, 715th Military Intelligence (MI) Bn., 58:00
-Capt. John Mozer, Orthopedic Services, Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), 55:51
-Lt. Col. Marty Muchow, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, 55:05
-Sgt. Sammy Ngatia, 540th Quartermaster Co., 56:11
Army Hawaii active duty mixed team
-Team Captain, Capt. Deborah Stonerook, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 1:16:32
-Capt. Christopher Calway, HHC, 2-25th Inf., 1:09:38
-2nd Lt. Ashley Gilbert, B Co., TAMC, 1:09:00
-Spc. Joseph Kendall, HHC, 1-27th Inf., 1:04:30
-Staff Sgt. Daniel Lopez, Orthopedic Services, TAMC, 1:07:14
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