FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Aug. 10, 2018) -- Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (LI) had one last chance to earn a spot on the Fort Drum Army Ten-Miler Team during a 10K qualifier Aug. 8 outside Magrath Sports Complex.
Spc. Jeremiah Kipkemei, with 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, recorded the fastest time with a 35.39 finish.
“It’s good weather for running,” he said. “I really want to make the team, and practice with them again. I’m ready for more training.”
He ran on the Fort Drum team in 2016 and it was his first Army Ten-Miler experience. It was rainy and cold that day, but Kipkemei finished 93rd out of a pool of more than 35,000 runners with a 56.29 time.
He missed the Army Ten-Miler last year while he was deployed in the Republic of Korea with his unit, but he still had some opportunities to run. During this week’s qualifier, he wore a racing singlet he received at a race in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Now, Kipkemei said he is feeling confident about running his second Army Ten-Miler with his Fort Drum teammates.
“The group work and the teamwork that these guys provide is a good thing,” he said.
Staff Sgt. William Morgan, who ran on last year’s team, finished close behind Kipkemei at 35:57. Maj. Bridget Robshaw, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade personnel officer, was the fastest female runner at the qualifier with a time of 43:43.
“I love running, and this will be my fourth Army Ten-Miler with a team,” she said.
Robshaw ran twice with a team from Fort Riley, Kansas, and once on the team from Fort Polk, Louisiana.
“It’s a great experience,” she said. “It’s the camaraderie, and getting to run with fellow Soldiers and the retirees, veterans and anyone else who wants to come out.”
Robshaw said that she is ready to commit to the strength training and many miles of running in preparation for the Army Ten-Miler.
“You just try to work your whole body so that you are physically fit and mentally prepared for the race,” she said.
She recalled her 2013 Army Ten-Miler when she was struggling toward the end, and another runner provided the boost she needed to finish.
“I was almost at the finish, and I was hurting,” Robshaw said. “This guy comes over and said, ‘You got this, we’re almost there.’ He ran with me to the end and we finished together.”
Nearly 100 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers tried out for the Fort Drum Army Ten-Miler Team after two qualifying events. The final team roster should be determined within a week by this year’s team captain, 1st Lt. Sean Nestor, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. In addition to the men’s and women’s teams, an active-duty mixed team will also represent Fort Drum in Washington, D.C., on Oct 7.
Date Taken: | 08.10.2018 |
Date Posted: | 08.10.2018 08:54 |
Story ID: | 288172 |
Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
Web Views: | 50 |
Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Second qualifier narrows the field of runners to represent Fort Drum at Army Ten-Miler in October, by Michael Strasser, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.