The World's Largest Ten-Mile Race
The 18th Annual Army Ten-Miler, with more than 18,400 registered runners, expects to have a record number of finishers for the 2002 event. Taking place Sunday, October 20 at 8:00 a.m. at the Pentagon, thousands of military and civilian runners from around the world will compete in the U.S. Army's premier running event and America's largest ten-mile road race.

Runners can expect increased security. No bags or backpacks will be allowed. Only registered runners will be allowed on the course. All runners and spectators must pass through a security checkpoint to access the Start Line. This year's scenic course offers runners a picturesque tour of the nation's capital passing by many national monuments including the Arlington Memorial Bridge, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian and the Capitol. With a relatively flat course, Army Ten-Miler participants can expect the ten-mile jaunt to be challenging, albeit an achievable goal.

This traditional Army event has grown from 1,600 to 18,000 runners over the past eighteen years. While there is no prize money, the spirited competition consistently attracts local elite athletes along with some of the U.S. Army's top runners. Sgt. Sammy Ngatia, U.S. Army soldier based in Fort Carson, CO, will return to this year to defend his 2000 Overall Male winning title. Ngatia, at age forty-one, won with a time of 48:50 and also set the Army Ten-Miler male masters division record.

Other Army runners to watch include SGT Phillip Castillo, SPC Christopher D. England, 1LT Scott R. Goff and 1LT Ryan M. Kirkpatrick, all members of the Army's World Class Athlete Program's Track & Field team. Local runners who will challenge the Army's elite include Darrell General of Mitchellville, MD, who is a three-time Army Ten-Miler winner, Peter Sherry of Great Falls, VA, and Nigusu Urge, originally from Ethiopia now residing in Washington, DC.

For the female competition, Elizabeth Scanlon of Alexandria, VA, is likely to be one of the leaders in this competition. However, with more than seventy teams competing in the Active Duty Military Open Women's competition, expect to see some unknown females walk away with the some of the day's top performances. Betty Blank of Falls Church, VA, is returning to defend her title as the female winner in the masters division in 2000 with a time of 1:08:12.

Abdi Bile to Speak at Army Ten-Miler Running Clinic
Former Olympic athlete and local running expert Abdi Bile will share his running expertise with Army Ten-Miler participants at the Army Ten-Miler Running Clinic Saturday, October 19 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. He will instruct runners about the proper way to train, how to improve conditioning, speed, form, and techniques in order to get better running results, regardless of the athletes' goals. A passionate life-long runner, Bile will inspire runners to take their dreams about running and turn them into a reality.

Abdi Bile, the 1987 former 1500m world champion and a four- time Olympian (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996), has more than fifteen years of experience competing on the world-class level and truly dominated his event in the mid and late '80s. Bile was ranked first in the world in the one-mile with a best time of 3:47.55. He was world cup champion in the 1500m in 1989 and two-time world grand prix final champion. Bile is a graduate of George Mason University with a BS in marketing management. At George Mason, Bile was the team captain and won two NCAA Division One titles, many conference titles and held the inter-collegian 1500m record for more than ten years. Bile has traveled the whole world and has inspired many young people and helped several humanitarian organizations: Co-founder and Head Coach of the Savannah International Training Center in Savannah, GA, an Olympic Solidarity program, sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, to help national Olympic committees in developing countries to receive scholarships for their male and female athletes. Bile has assisted many young athletes from twenty-five in Africa, South America, and Asia to obtain scholarships that would further their education and sports training. Bile has gained great experience and a global network of fans and friends. He currently resides in Annandale, VA.

The Army Ten-Miler is produced by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. For more information about the Running Clinic, Abdi Bile, or other race weekend events go to the race web site.