National Guard runners beat heat, pound ground to qualify for 2012-2013 All Guard Marathon Published May 12, 2012 By Air National Guard Master Sgt. Leisa Grant National Guard Bureau LINCOLN, Neb. -- Runners from throughout the Army and Air National Guard took part in the 35th Annual Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half-Marathon Sunday in order to earn spots on the 2012-1013 All Guard Marathon Team. A total of 216 Army and Air National Guard runners from 44 states and two territories competed for one of 55 slots on the marathon team. With a second consecutive win here, Army Capt. Robert Killian of the Colorado Army Guard came in with a time of 2:37:35 and Army Capt. Sara Day of the North Carolina Army Guard was the top Guard female runner with a time of 3:02:22. All who tried out put forth a top effort. "There wasn't a runner out there who didn't give 150 percent," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Mike Hagen, the All Guard Marathon Team coordinator. Runners faced many challenges along the route, including the weather. With an original weather forecast for temperatures in the 90s and potential rain, runners were spared a wet race start and were afforded cooler temperatures throughout the day. While the start of the race was mostly dry, the heat and humidity set in later on. Before the race, Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, sergeant major of the Army National Guard, anticipated the conditions might be challenging, rain or shine, but he encouraged the runners to give it their all. "You have to dig deep and stay committed," he said. "Always place the mission first. This marathon is your mission right now. Never accept defeat. And never quit." About ten new runners qualified for the team this year. "The new team members will bring talent and experience on a competitive and professional level," Hagen said, adding that this year's team is a good mix of Army and Air Guard members. To make the team, runners had to run the full marathon -- 26.2 miles. Army Maj. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, deputy director of the Army National Guard, asked runners not to focus on that number, but rather on the number .007. "This is the number of men and women serving in uniform," he said. "Seven tenths of 1 percent represent the best of America." Of this small percent, an even smaller number are distance runners. "Your presence here at this marathon is a testament to your commitment," Burch said. "That kind of commitment is what makes us professional Soldiers and Airmen." Members of the 2012-1013 All Guard Marathon Team include: Army Sgt. Courtney Webb, Florida Army Maj. Michelle Kiluk, Rhode Island Army Capt. Kelly Leugers, Ohio Air Force Staff. Sgt. Kristen Roles, West Virginia Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mei Van Gentry, Pennsylvania Army Spc. Rachel Walter, Maryland Army Cadet Kristen Conley, Maine Army Sgt. Rebecca Linder, South Dakota Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kristine Laughlin-Hall, Alaska Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sarah Bredthauer, Nebraska Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lisa Buckley, Texas Army Maj. Deanne Drauba, Utah Air Force Airman 1st Class Emily Shertzer, Pennsylvania Army Capt. Sara Day, North Carolina Army Warrant Officer 1 Darrick Coriz, New Mexico Army Capt. Aaron Bratka, Ohio Army Maj. James Proctor, Washington Air Force Lt. Col. Jesse Arnstein, New Jersey Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Bartnick, New Mexico Air Force Master Sgt. Michael White, Washington Army Sgt. 1st Class Trent Sinnett, Illinois Army Staff Sgt. Michael Embury, Kentucky Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Stern, Pennsylvania Air Force Col. Troy Frost, Montana Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Jones, Tennessee Air Force 1st Lt. Mark Traeger, Illinois Army Sgt. Valentine Roberts, Hawaii Army 1st Lt. Toby Angove, Pennsylvania Army Sgt. Eric Brown, Tennessee Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Streff, South Dakota Army Sgt. Teale Marchette, Georgia Army Maj. Michael Kjar, Utah Army 1st Lt. Nicholas Plocar, Wisconsin Army Spc. Chris Sinnett, Indiana Army Capt. Jerod Tufte, North Dakota Air Force Staff Sgt. James Munnis III, West Virginia Army Staff Sgt. Jason Kirch, Wisconsin Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Reed, Arkansas Army 1st Lt. Vikram Mittal, Massachusetts Army Spc. Wilfredo Turell, Puerto Rico Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Kysela, Pennsylvania Army Lt. Col. Jeff Olive, Georgia Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chase Duarte, Arizona Army Capt. Seth Kaste, Wisconsin Army Maj. James Thompson, Washington Army Staff Sgt. Mark Jones, Pennsylvania Army Spc. Aaron Edwards, Ohio Air Force Airman 1st Class Robert Miles, Wisconsin Army Sgt. 1st Class Tim Vandervlugt, Oregon Army Master Sgt. Seven Richmond, Oregon Air Force Maj. Michael Western, Wisconsin Army Sgt. 1st Class James Bresette, Arkansas Army Staff Sgt. Troy Harrison, Pennsylvania Army Capt. Robert Killian, Colorado Original content found here.