MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Eight teams from different Marine Corps installations hit the dirt roads of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar during the 6th annual Cross Country Championship Jan. 9.
The Marine athletic department held the race to scout new talent for the All-Marine running team, which will travel to Spokane, Wash., for the Armed Forces Cross Country Championship in February.
Col. Frank Richie, the commanding officer of MCAS Miramar, presented trophies and awards to the winning teams and runners. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton’s team came in first, followed by MCB Quantico’s team in second and MCAS Miramar’s team in third.
Staff Sgt. Jeremy Brown, who ran individually, came in first for the male category with a time of 27:30. Capt. Rick Jennings, who also ran individually, came in second and Sgt. Ryan Elis, who ran with MCAS Miramar’s team, came in third.
1st Lt. Kaitlin Koplin, who competed with MCB Camp Pendleton’s team, came in first for the female category with a time of 32:06. Capt. Maureen Carr, who ran with Henderson Hall’s team, came in second and 1st Lt. Erin Demchko, who ran with MCAS Yuma’s team, came in third.
The Marine Corps has held the race at MCAS Miramar for the past five years for its central location to all competing installations and its race course.
“We’re very grateful to Miramar for hosting this event,” said Maj. Guillermo Canedo, the operations officer of Marine Corps Sports and Athletics. “There are a lot of back-office functions that go into this.”
The five-mile course consisted of two laps around the air station’s fish pond and surrounding area which had several hills for the runners to overcome.
“These Marines are passionate about running,” said Canedo. “It takes dedication to stay in the kind of shape they’re in. It’s a means for staying healthy and fit.”
The runners competed with a team or ran individually. Each team comprised of five males and three females. All the runners trained by running an average of 50-70 miles a week.
“It’s always tough,” said Demchko. “This is my third time doing this. Coming from a flat desert in Yuma makes it challenging.”
Although not every Marine can win the championship, each Marine showed their dedication and love of running by competing in the race.
“I just love running,” said Demchko. “It’s a challenge, it’s fun, it’s a release, it’s pretty much anything you want it to be. You’ve just got to hit the pavement and run.”