Pa. Guard Marathon Team looking for runners to go the distance

Courtesy Photo | Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard Marathon Team with their awards and Command Sgt. Maj. Marty Baker, senior enlisted advisor for the Nebraska National Guard at the Lincoln Nebraska Marathon May 7, 2017. The Pennsylvania National Guard Marathon Team won several categories at the marathon in addition to having 100 percent make the All-Guard Marathon Team. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo)  

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, UNITED STATES

06.01.2017

Courtesy Story

Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa.-The Pennsylvania National Guard Marathon Team is looking for Soldiers and Airmen to join its ranks and compete in various races nationwide.

To qualify for the team, runners must be good-standing members in the Pennsylvania Army or Air National Guard, and have recorded running a full marathon within the past 18 months with a finish time of no more than between 3 hours, 30 minutes and 4 hours. The exact time is dependent on gender and age.

The team promotes fitness and enhances recruiting and retention efforts. “Joining this team allows you to promote physical fitness within your units, and network nationwide with other runners as well as those who are interested in joining the National Guard,” said Army Maj. Deborah Fisher, a 6-year veteran of the team. “We travel to marathons in various locations throughout the country, even as far away as Hawaii, as well as meet-up and compete in local marathons and other races to promote the National Guard and generate esprit-de-corp.”

All-Guard team events are done on duty status and travel and lodging is covered.

After making the Pennsylvania National Guard Marathon Team, runners may try-out for the elite All-Guard Marathon Team. Recently, the Pennsylvania Marathon nine-member team traveled to the 40th Annual Lincoln Marathon May 7, 2017 to do that. Team members competed against National Guard runners from 37 states and territories for the slots awarded to the top 40 male runners and top 15 female runners. All nine team members made the All-Guard Marathon Team. The team won several categories in addition to having 100 percent make the All-Guard Marathon Team.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Emily Shertzer (2:55), 193rd Special Operations Wing won first place overall female. Army Staff Sgt. Troy Harrison (2:52), 166th Regiment, and Army Maj. Deborah Fisher (3:44), Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, 28th Infantry Division, won the masters categories. Pennsylvania’s top 3 runners, Staff Sgt. Harrison, 1st Lt. Matthew Stern (2:54), and Staff Sgt. Shertzer brought home the team championship trophy for the fifth time in the past six years.

Other Pennsylvania National Guard members who made the All-Guard Marathon Team included:
•Army Capt. Toby Angove (3:10), Fort Indiantown Gap Training Center
•Army Capt. Lauren Connelly (3:54), 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion
•Army 2nd Lt. Matthew Groff (2:57), 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion
•Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Amanda Nesbitt (3:40), 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion
•Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Kysela (3:27), 1-110th Infantry.

Additionally while at the Lincoln Marathon, the team attended a recruiting and retention workshop, and heard from Dave McGillivray, longtime Boston Marathon Race Director who addressed the crowd. Also in attendance was Army Brig. Gen. Richard Dahlman, Assistant Adjutant General of Nebraska, and Army Maj. Gen. Timothy Reisch, Adjutant General of South Dakota.

For more information on the Pennsylvania National Guard Marathon Team, contact Army 1st Lt. Matthew M. Stern, team coordinator, at [e-mail] or 215-453-5032.

• Date Taken: 06.01.2017
• Date Posted: 06.01.2017 11:05
• Story ID: 235962
• Location: FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, US