Press Release
☷Cadet Marathon team hosts half marathon honors fallen graduates
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Mar 19,2024
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The Army West Point Cadet Marathon Team put on the 2024 Fallen Comrades Half Marathon on March 17 at West Point . About 700 people joined in the run and ruck divisions , as well as a one - mile Kids Run . The race took place at Michie Stadium and went through various parts of the installation . The event aimed to promote physical fitness and honor West Point graduates who died in action . Mile markers along the route featured descriptions of the fallen graduates . The top three winners were Cadets Jack Mantell , Matthew Buck , and Mark Amori from the marathon team . The whole point of the half marathon is to encourage people to stay fit and remember West Point graduates who lost their lives during Vietnam or the Global War on Terrorism . There were easels with heartfelt descriptions of the fallen graduates at every mile marker , reminding everyone why we were there . The top three winners were Cadet Jack Mantell , Cadet Matthew Buck , and Cadet Mark Amori , all from the marathon team . The Army West Point Cadet Marathon Team organized the 2024 Fallen Comrades Half Marathon , which had around 700 participants in different divisions , including a Kids Run . The race started and ended at Michie Stadium and covered most of the installation . The main goal of the half marathon was to promote fitness and honor the West Point graduates who made the ultimate sacrifice . The U . S . Military Academy Cadet Marathon Team held their eighth annual Fallen Comrades Half Marathon on March 17 at West Point . Around 700 people participated in the different divisions , including a one - mile Kids Run . The race began and ended at Michie Stadium and went through various areas of the installation . The event aims to promote fitness and honor West Point graduates who lost their lives in combat . The top three winners were Cadets Jack Mantell , Matthew Buck , and Mark Amori , all from the marathon team . The whole point of the half marathon is to encourage people to stay fit and to remember West Point graduates who died fighting in the Global War on Terrorism . Along the route , there were easels with info about the graduates at each mile marker . The top three winners were Cadets Jack Mantell , Matthew Buck , and Mark Amori from the marathon team . This was the eighth year that the U . S . Military Academy Cadet Marathon Team organized the Fallen Comrades Half Marathon at West Point on March 17 . About 700 people joined in the race , including a kids ' run . The race started and ended at Michie Stadium and went through many parts of the base . Around 700 people joined in on the run division , ruck division , and a one - mile Kids Run at the Fallen Comrades Half Marathon hosted by the U . S . Military Academy Cadet Marathon Team . The race took place at West Point , starting and ending at Michie Stadium and passing through different parts of the area . The event aims to promote fitness and honor West Point graduates who died in the Global War on Terrorism . Mile markers featured info on the graduates , with the top three winners being Cadets Jack Mantell , Matthew Buck , and Mark Amori . The Army West Point Cadet Marathon team hosted the annual Fallen Comrades Half Marathon on March 17 , with around 700 participants taking part in run and ruck divisions , as well as a Kids Run . The event , now in its eighth year , aimed to promote physical fitness while honoring 13 fallen West Point graduates . Each mile marker featured descriptions of the honorees , and a touching message was delivered by a Gold Star widow before the race . Family members and friends of the fallen graduates were also in attendance to pay their respects . The run or ruck event included cadets from various military institutions and ROTC programs , as well as members of the West Point community and surrounding area . The event was a great opportunity to honor fallen service members . The top three finishers were members of the Army Marathon team , with Cadet Jack Mantell finishing first . Mantell credited his success to the support and competition from his teammates . The event was described as special and exciting by participants , who emphasized the importance of honoring the fallen graduates throughout the run . He added: "There was also the son of one of the graduates whom we got to know last year . " “He came back to watch the event again , not because he knew any of the other graduates , but because he was amazed to see how many young people cared about the sacrifices made by people like his father . ” Buck believes this is more than just a race and competition against others , but about "remembering these graduates who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country , which is very inspiring . " “Running through the mile markers with stickers recognizing these brave men and women reminds you that there is a greater meaning to this race and motivates you to keep going , ” Buck said . “I am truly pleased that we can hold this event not only for the families of fallen graduates , but also for the Corps of Cadets and the greater West Point community as a whole . ” Mantle ' s journey to West Point and victory in this year ' s Fallen Comrades Run began not by struggling to build miles in his legs and lungs over the years , but in 2013 at the Boston Marathon . “One of the reasons I came to West Point is because I was in the Boston Marathon in 2013 , the year of the bombings , ” Mantle said . “I saw the enormous risks and sacrifices made by first responders who ran toward the explosions instead of away from them . It ' s another level of power to commemorate bravery with the sport we love and find the intersection between them , ” he added . “Every time you pass a mile to commemorate an alumnus who . . . They fall , it raises the question: How can I come close to the level of courage and sacrifice that these men and women showed . " "It ' s a very humbling aspect , but it ' s also motivating for the race . " The next stop for these trainee runners , especially for Mantle , is the Boston Marathon in April . Mantle spoke “It ' s a great indicator for us and our teammates of how fit we are , ” Mantle said after climbing Mitchie Hill ( Stoney Lonesome Road ) . ) twice , I think it ' s safe to say we can handle anything Boston Stadium can throw at us . " Amory ' s thoughts were that "it ' s scary to think we ' re only halfway there today . " Amory said: "It ' s great to see Our training has paid off . ” “The Boston Marathon is not easy , but its hills are nothing compared to those crushed by the Legion today . ” Buck feels that this track is among the most challenging , due to changes made after last year ' s floods which necessitated a change in the track design and , therefore , challenging racers with more uphill distances compared to the previous track last year . “I feel more confident running the Boston Marathon next month , ” Buck said . “The team has worked hard and I think our performance today will be predictive of how the rest of the team is run in Boston . ” Here are the top three winners in some categories at the Fallen Comrades Half Marathon: Top three males overall: Mantel , Buck and Amory . Top three females overall: Melissa Colby ( 1:34:22 ) , Class of 2024 Cadet Lillian Richards ( 1:35:30 ) and Danielle Kays ( 1:37:40 ) . Top three cadets ( excluding team members ) : Class of 2027 Cadet Andrew Tran ( 1:21:44 ) , Class of 2026 Cadet Louis Perkins ( 1:24:25 ) and Class of 2024 Cadet Jack Livingston ( 1:24:37 ) . Top three cadets: Class of 2024 Cadet Carly Woelville ( 1:41:45 ) , Cadet Aline Liu ( Lehigh , 1:41:55 ) and Class of 2027 Cadet Emma Leisen ( 1:46:49 ) . The top three male runners: Class of 2027 Cadet Riddle ( 2:06:28 ) , Class of 2025 Cadet Allen Liu ( 2:06:53 ) and Class of 2027 Cadet Trent Williams ( 2:15:45 ) . Top three finishers: Class of 2027 Cadet Mercedes Rothrock ( 2:45:25 ) , Brian Connington ( 2:43:09 ) and Class of 2024 Cadet Elizabeth Ackie ( 2:43:35 ) . A full list of results to include age group winners is posted at https://www . Secondwindtiming . com/result - page/ id+282012 . For more race photos , please visit the West Point Flickr album 2024 West Point Fallen Comrades Half Marathon | Flickr .
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