Sep 17, 2007 12:54 PM
Air Force Marathon Sets Records
Marathoners take off from the starting line during the 11th Annual U.S. Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. U.S. Air Force photo by Christy Webb.
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO -- The 11th annual U.S. Air Force Marathon set a new participation and course record last weekend. More than 6,300 runners participated in the marathon events, and more than 2,000 volunteers supported this year's five events. Besides the full and half marathon, the Air Force Marathon also offered four-person relay races, a 5K Race and a wheelchair race.
The marathon course started and finished at the National Museum of the Air Force, tracing a path around the historic Huffman Prairie Flying Field where the Wright-Brothers flew and trained the military's first aviators. During the marathons, Air Force aircraft frequently flew over the runners.
Josh Cox, overall winner in the men's full marathon, had a winning time of 2:20:54—a new record for the marathon. The time also qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Team trials in New York City this November.
Marathon organizers modified this year’s marathon course to allow the public to cheer on the runners through stretches of downtown Fairborn, OH, which is a town next to the base. Previously, the marathon course was on base and did not accommodate public spectators.
The marathon, which is an official Boston Marathon qualifier, is one of the capstone events to commemorate the Air Force's 60th anniversary as a separate military service.
