MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Marines are known to have an affinity for speed. Beginning at recruit training, Marines are taught to move with a purpose and complete tasks fast.
Some of the fastest Marines in the Corps had the chance to show what they are made of during the All Marine Cross Country Championship held aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Jan. 10.
More than 70 Marines from various bases around the world participated in the five-mile race that started at the station fish pond and wound through the hills on the west side of the station.
“It was great, we had more people than we’ve ever had,” said Bob Stopp, the MCAS Miramar athletic director. “Last year we had about 55.”
Eight teams from bases like MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., competed in the event. Several independent Marines also participated.
The race is used to help select Leathernecks for the All-Marine Running Team. The twenty-man team competes in several races throughout the year, including the Marine Corps Marathon and the Armed Forces Cross Country Championship.
“Several Marines that are running are already on the program, and they’re running for their base today,” said Maj. Ron Kearse, the Marine Corps Semper Fit Program sports operations officer with MCB Quantico. “But we are definitely looking at some young prospects today. This is an area where we try to identify runners. We’re all runners in the Marine Corps, but there are some at a lot higher level than most.”
The overall winner for males was SSgt. Jeremy Brown, a member of the MCAS Miramar team, with a time of 27:35. Brown was followed by 2nd Lt. Adam Crandall, also a station team member, with a time of 27:44. In third place was Capt. Richard Jennings from Marine Logistics Base Albany, Ga., with a time of 28:05
The overall winner for female runners was 2nd Lt. Erin Demchko with the MCAS Yuma team with a time of 33:46. Capt. Maureen Carr and Capt. D’Arcy Spiese, both from MCB Quantico’s team, were close behind with times of 33:48 and 34:23 respectively.
The MCAS Miramar team walked away with its third win in the five year history of the race. The team from MCB Quantico came in second, with the MCAS Beaufort/Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island team taking third place.