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Air Force Marathon breaks another attendance record

By / Published September 15, 2012

Kristoffer Chacon, 25, of Lomita, Calif., launches a celebratory jump across the finish line to capture the 10k crown in the Air Force Marathon at 33:57. Chacon was also the Men's Active Duty winner for the 5k. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)
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Kristoffer Chacon, 25, of Lomita, Calif., launches a celebratory jump across the finish line to capture the 10k crown in the Air Force Marathon at 33:57. Chacon was also the Men's Active Duty winner for the 5k. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)

Runners leave the gate officially starting the 2012 Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. With 15,000 runners, this Marathon was the largest and quickest to sell out.
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Runners leave the gate officially starting the 2012 Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. With 15,000 runners, this Marathon was the largest and quickest to sell out.

Kory Kennedy, 22, of Kokomo, IN., crosses the finish line at 16:39 to take first place for the Men's 5k race in the 2012 Air Force Marathon. The 5k is always hosted on the grounds of Wright State University in partnership with the Air Force.
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Kory Kennedy, 22, of Kokomo, IN., crosses the finish line at 16:39 to take first place for the Men's 5k race in the 2012 Air Force Marathon. The 5k is always hosted on the grounds of Wright State University in partnership with the Air Force.

Heidi Hamilton, 29, of Trophy Club, Texas, wins the Women's Marathon with a time of 3:01:09. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)
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Heidi Hamilton, 29, of Trophy Club, Texas, wins the Women's Marathon with a time of 3:01:09. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)

Capt. Ben Payne crosses the finish line at the Air Force Marathon capturing the Half Marathon crown with an official time of 1:07:32. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)
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Capt. Ben Payne crosses the finish line at the Air Force Marathon capturing the Half Marathon crown with an official time of 1:07:32. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)

Senior Airman Emily Shertzer, 32, of Jonestown, PA., takes the Women's Half Marathon crown with a time of 1:24:52. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)
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Senior Airman Emily Shertzer, 32, of Jonestown, PA., takes the Women's Half Marathon crown with a time of 1:24:52. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)

Capt. Brian Dumm, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colo., wins the 2012 Air Force Marathon with a time of 2:28:58. Dumm also won the 2010 Air Force Marathon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)
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Capt. Brian Dumm, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colo., wins the 2012 Air Force Marathon with a time of 2:28:58. Dumm also won the 2010 Air Force Marathon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michelle Gigante)

Runners pass a patriotic-themed hydration station during the Air Force Marathon. Each year the Marathon gives an award to the best hydration station, which have various themes including Star Wars, Aliens and even Elvis.
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Runners pass a patriotic-themed hydration station during the Air Force Marathon. Each year the Marathon gives an award to the best hydration station, which have various themes including Star Wars, Aliens and even Elvis.

Runners traverse the entrance to Gate 1A on Wright-Patterson AFB during the 2012 Air Force Marathon. The course departs the base to travel through downtown Fairborn.
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Runners traverse the entrance to Gate 1A on Wright-Patterson AFB during the 2012 Air Force Marathon. The course departs the base to travel through downtown Fairborn.

The city of Fairborn annually sponsors "Mile 10" of the Air Force Marathon highlighting the city and its support of nearby Wright-Patterson AFB.
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The city of Fairborn annually sponsors "Mile 10" of the Air Force Marathon highlighting the city and its support of nearby Wright-Patterson AFB.

Registrants pick up bibs and goodie bags at the Air Force Marathon Expo. Hundreds of volunteers staff the two-day event is held each year in the Nutter Center.
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Registrants pick up bibs and goodie bags at the Air Force Marathon Expo. Hundreds of volunteers staff the two-day event is held each year in the Nutter Center.

Participants run during the Air Force Marathon at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 15, 2012. The participants were able to run a 10k, half- or full marathon race. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
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Participants run during the Air Force Marathon at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 15, 2012. The participants were able to run a 10k, half- or full marathon race. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)

Col. Corey Martin crosses the finish line carrying the Air Force flag during the U.S. Air Force Marathon at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzsatan, Sept. 15, 2012. Over 150 participants took part in one of three categories; 10K, half marathon and a 26.2 mile marathon. Martin serves as the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and was the first to finish the full marathon with a time of 3:28:08. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Vaught)
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Col. Corey Martin crosses the finish line carrying the Air Force flag during the U.S. Air Force Marathon at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzsatan, Sept. 15, 2012. Over 150 participants took part in one of three categories; 10K, half marathon and a 26.2 mile marathon. Martin serves as the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and was the first to finish the full marathon with a time of 3:28:08. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Vaught)

Service members from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coalition Partners participated in a satellite Air Force 10k and Half Marathon, held at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 15, 2012. The race was held to provide deployed service members an opportunity to remotely participate in the sold out Air Force Marathon held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. More than 500 people participated in the race held here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Captain Craig Carper)
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Service members from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coalition Partners participated in a satellite Air Force 10k and Half Marathon, held at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Sept. 15, 2012. The race was held to provide deployed service members an opportunity to remotely participate in the sold out Air Force Marathon held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. More than 500 people participated in the race held here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Captain Craig Carper)

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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- The 2012 running of the Air Force Marathon was the largest ever and sold out in record time.

The race has grown to a field of over 15,000 runners, doubling in size since 2008, representing all 50 states, 15 countries, all military services, and a diversity that included world-class marathoners, spirited amateurs and those running their first marathon ever.

Participants had the choice of competing in the full marathon, a half-marathon, 5K and 10K runs, as well as a wheeled division.

The 16th annual running event was opened by Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, Air Force Materiel Command commander.  The general reminded those gathered that the running of the 10K, half- and full marathon race is being run only 3 days before the U.S. Air Force's 65th birthday on 18 Sept.

"This course traverses historical sites that will take you over, around, and through more than 100 years of aviation of history," General Wolfenbarger said.  "These skies above you are truly sacred, so don't forget to look up".

Runners and spectators were treated to a B-2 fly-over to start the race. The bomber aircraft was designated the official plane of this year's race.

General Wolfenbarger concluded her remarks thanking "this year's 2100 plus volunteers whose efforts truly make this a world class event".

The three-day event started Sept 13 with a Sports and Fitness Expo held at the Ervin J. Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University. The expo hosted many exhibitors featuring the latest in sports, fitness, and nutrition.

The expo concluded with a 5K race held on the university's campus and a pre-marathon pasta dinner at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

This year's full marathon winner was Capt. Brian Dumm, an English instructor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.

"What a great crowd, volunteers and weather. Everything was just pitch perfect." said Captain Dumm "It was great to be out there representing the Air Force in a community that is so Air Force proud".

Captain Dumm is a repeat winner, having won the 2010 Air Force Marathon and plans to compete at the U.S. Military Championship next month at Quantico, VA..

The Air Force Marathon is sanctioned by the USA Track & Field Association and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Winners are listed below. All times are unofficial at the time of this release:

-- Men's full marathon: Capt. Brian Dumm, 29, U.S. Air Force, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2:28:58.

-- Men's full marathon overall active military winner: Capt. Brian Dumm

-- Women's full marathon: Heidi Hamilton, 29, Trophy Club, Texas, 3:01:09

-- Women's full marathon overall active military winner: Capt. Melissa Poole, 28, U.S. Air Force, Newport News, VA., 3:20:11

-- Men's Full Marathon, Crank Wheelchair Division: Bruce Chase, 61, Westerville, Ohio, 1:22:43

-- Women's Full Marathon, Crank Wheelchair Division: Holly Koester, 52, Westerville, Ohio, 2:32:37

-- Men's Full Marathon Rim Wheelchair Division: John Moore, 29, Centerville, Ohio, 2:55:23

-- Men's Half Marathon: Ben Payne, 30, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., 1:07:32

-- Men's Half Marathon overall active military winner: Ben Payne

-- Women's Half Marathon: Emily Shertzer, 32, Jonestown, PA., 1:24:52

-- Women's Half Marathon overall active military winner: Emily Shertzer

-- Men's 10K Individual: Kristoffer Chacon, 25, Lomita, Calif.. 33:57

-- Men's 10K overall active military winner: Kristoffer Chacon

-- Women's 10k Individual: Elizabeth Laselle, 31, Dayton, Ohio, 38:03

-- Women's 10K overall active military winner: Mary Fessner-Tarjanyi, 36, Dayton Ohio, 50:28

U.S. Air Force Marathon - Wright State University 5K race results from Friday, Sept. 17:

-- Men's 5K: Kory Kennedy, 22, Kokomo, IN., 16:39

-- Men's 5K overall active military winner: Krisstoffer Chacon, 25, Lomita, CA. 16:05

-- Men's 5K overall Wright State winner: Sean Magee, 19, Fairborn, OH. 18:21

-- Women's 5K: Carol Grate, 61, Greenfield, OH. 21:25

-- Women's 5K overall military winner: Rachel Leugers, 36, Dayton, OH. 28:06

-- Women's 5K overall Wright State winner: Brooke Mosier, 18, 23:48