210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Story by Sgt. Gary Witte

TALLIL, Iraq – More than 250 servicemembers took part in an official Boston Marathon race held at Logistical Support Area Adder Saturday, April 14.

The 26.2-mile route took the runners past the Ziggurat of Ur, a 4,000-year-old monument within the boundaries of the base in southern Iraq. Nearly 100 volunteers helped with the race, which was hosted by the 82nd Sustainment Brigade.

A total of 273 runners completed the race, which included those who ran a half marathon and those who competed as part of teams.

The first place male finisher for the full distance was 1st Lt. Elias Gonzalez of Tampa, Fla., a supply officer with 1st Battalion, 111st Aviation Regiment, with a time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, 50 seconds.

Gonzales said he hoped to improve on his time by this November in order to qualify for the Olympics. It was only the second time he has competed in a marathon, although he said he doesn't count the last race because the course was too long.

"It's a good accomplishment," Gonzales said after the race. "(But) you always think you can do better."

The first place female finisher for the full distance was Staff Sgt. Jennifer Yurczyk of Holdingford, Minn., a dining facility supervisor with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 134th Brigade Support Battalion, with a time of 3 hours, 34 minutes, 49 seconds.

She too, is a newcomer to marathon competition, having previously only run a half-marathon. She said the location and conditions of the Saturday event made an impression, since it started at 5 a.m. under stiff winds and the threatening clouds of a lightning storm.

"I loved it. This was the best," she said, smiling. "You couldn't see how far you had to go. This is like history."

Yurczyk said she was running partly to represent her National Guard unit, which has endured an extension of its deployment in Iraq.

"I guess this whole deployment has been a marathon," she said.

The satellite run, officially sanctioned and supported by the stateside Boston Marathon, attracted runners from throughout coalition forces, including the Australian army's Overwatch Battle Group (West)-2 and the Romanian 495th Infantry Battalion.

The second place male finisher, 1st Lt. Anthony R. Calingo of Congers, N.Y., a platoon leader with the 368th Cargo Transfer Company, spent two days trying to get a flight from his base at Logistical Support Area Anaconda to take part in the Tallil run.

"I'm just happy to be here," he said. "I would say that getting down here was the toughest part."

Calingo finished at 2 hours, 51 minutes, 37 seconds, which would have been lower had he not missed a turn near the finish of the open course. He started running marathons in 2002 and had originally thought he would miss this year's Boston Marathon because of his deployment.

Several of the runners said the connection with the stateside event meant a lot to them, considering the location. 1st Sgt. Joseph Brown of Dallas, Texas, of Headquarters, Headquarters Company of the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, noted that participants in the normal event had to qualify to compete.

"This is obviously the godfather of marathons," Brown said. "It's history on it's own right here ... I definitely feel honored to do it."

It was the first marathon for Sgt. Russell James of Fayetteville, N.C., a truck driver for the 1451st Transportation Company. He said his only goal was to complete the race, which he accomplished.

"I think it will be neat when I get home to be able to say I ran 26 miles in the desert," James said.

Capt. Tom Tolman of Fayetteville, N.C., company commander of the 82nd Signal Company, finished third for the complete race with a time of 3 hours, 12 minutes, 10 seconds.

The second and third place female complete distance runners both serve with the Australian army's Overwatch Battle Group (West)-2. Capt. Sarah Hingston came in at 3 hours, 54 minutes, 50 seconds and Pvt. Michelle Theuerkauf had a time of 4 hours, 5 minutes, 15 seconds, organizers said.

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