WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO -- The 11th Annual U.S. Air Force Marathon set a new participation and course record last weekend. More than 6,300 runners participated in the marathon events, and more than 2,000 volunteers supported this year’s five events. Besides the full and half marathon, the Air Force Marathon included four-person relay races, a 5K race and a wheelchair race.
The marathon course began and ended at the National Museum of the Air Force, tracing a path around the historic Huffman Prairie Flying Field where the Wright Brothers flew and trained the military's first aviators. Air Force aircraft frequently flew during the races.
Josh Cox, the overall winner in the men’s full marathon, had a record time of 2 hours, 20 minutes, 54 seconds. The time also qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Team trials that will be held in November in New York City.
Marathon organizers modified this year’s course to allow the public to cheer on the runners through stretches of downtown Fairborn, OH, a town located not far from the base. Previously, the marathon course was on base and did not accommodate public spectators.
The marathon, which is an official Boston Marathon qualifier, is one of the capstone events to commemorate the Air Force’s 60th anniversary as a separate military service.