185th Airman Qualifies for NG Elite Marathon Team

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot
  • 185ARW
After a less than desirable performance at last years event, Senior Airman Melissa Knight was determined to overcome and she did in a big way. In May, Knight and three other members of the Iowa National Guard Marathon Team conquered the Lincoln National Guard Marathon in Lincoln, NE. The four member team included Sgt. 1st Class Dean Robbins and spouse Mona Robbins of Coralville, Iowa, Capt. Tim Mills of Altoona, Iowa and Senior Airman Melissa Knight of the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, IA.

The military members of the Iowa Marathon Team were competing in the National Guard Time Trials and all three hit a personal record at this year's event earning Iowa two spots on the 2008 - 2009 elite "All Guard Marathon Team." Out of the hundreds of military participants who compete, only 40 Males and 15 females are selected to become a part of the all Guard team.

Robbins ran a personal best of 3:28:22 knocking almost 13 minutes off his 2007 time. Mills ran a personal best of 3:02:01 and qualified for a spot on the 2008 - 2009 elite "All Guard Marathon Team" and Knight ran a personal best of 3:18:17, receiving a third place in the 20-24 age division, a trophy from the National Guard for finishing third out of all the female National Guard participants and earning a spot on the 2008 - 2009 elite "All Guard Marathon Team."

The Iowa Marathon team recently participated in the Dam to Dam 20K in Des Moines, IA as a team event. They also plan to run in the Des Moines Marathon in the fall. The marathon program is primarily a recruiting event to bolster the Iowa National Guard image through running and staying physically fit. The qualifications to be on the Iowa Marathon team are to have run a qualifying time in a marathon within the last year. Men's qualifying time must be within four hours and female's qualifying time must be within four and a half hours. If you are interested in finding out more about being a part of the National Guard marathon team you can contact Melissa Knight at melissa.knight@iasiou.ang.af.mil.

The "All Guard" athlete's elite talent level serves as a platform to promote the National Guard in a positive and professional manner and to enhance both Recruiting and Retention for the National Guard.

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