Email   Print   Share By Staff Sgt. Daniel Wallace, III Corps Public Affairs

Facebook Digg Delicious October 25, 2012 | Sports

1st Lt. Nicholas Sterghos, 69th ADA Bde. executive officer, crosses the finish line with a time a 54:01, the first Soldier of the Fort Hood team, at the Army Ten-Miler course Sunday in Washington, D.C.. Staff Sgt Terrance Rhodes, III Corps Public Affairs

Sgt. Maj. Tim Wagley, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade operations sergeant major, crosses the finish line of the Army Ten-Miler course Sunday in Washington, D.C. Staff Sgt Terrance Rhodes, III Corps Public Affairs

More than 20 Soldiers from the Fort Hood Ten-Miler running team completed the 28th Annual Army Ten-Miler race Sunday in Washington, D.C.

With more than 30,000 registered participants, the Fort Hood running team had a respectable showing, winning both the Men’s Masters and Mixed Masters divisions. The Men’s Masters, which had 44 teams participating, finished with a time of 4 hours, 2 minutes, 50 seconds. The Mixed Masters, which had 25 teams participating, finished with a time of 4:23:48.

The first runner of the Fort Hood team to finish the course, which began at the Pentagon and ran through the nation’s capital, was 1st Lt. Nicolas Sterghos, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade executive officer, with a time of 54;01.

Sterghos said that he felt great to get to come participate in the race.

“It’s all the posts coming together to run this race to help our Soldiers that are injured,” Sterghos said. “It’s a really great feeling.”

Sterghos described the feeling as “humbling” to be the first competitor from the Fort Hood team to finish the race.

“It’s great to be able to represent our team,” Sterghos said. “I put a lot of hard work in, and I am glad I was able to come out and help the team.”

Sterghos said that because every race is different, a person should never expect anything, because anything can happen.

“You have to believe in yourself and believe in your training,” Sterghos said. “It’s got to be fun though.”

The first female runner to cross the finish line for the Fort Hood team was Sgt. Amy

Cuellar, 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat) supply sergeant, with a time of 1:07:27.

Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder, III Corps and Fort Hood command sergeant major, who also ran the Army Ten-Miler, said that though he doesn’t run 10 miles all the time, it was good for him to get to run will all the Soldiers in the nation’s capital.

“It’s great to run and to get to share that time with other

warriors,” Schroeder said.

Schroeder said that the Army Ten-Miler affects the Soldiers, not just in Fort Hood but Armywide, because they get to see how powerful the Army is and see Soldiers performing well in the race.

He continued on to say he felt Fort Hood had a few teams that he knew were going to come out on top during the competition.

“There’s a lot of pride to be felt when we see teams from our organizations and post excel,” Schroeder said. “When you compete, you want to win, and I am proud of how everyone from Fort Hood did. They did all the hard work and we are here to support them.”

Schroeder said when the Soldiers see the excellence coming out of Fort Hood organizations and the post, they’ll feel proud and want to aspire to excellence, as well. Schroeder only had a few words of advise to Soldiers who wish to participate in the Army Ten-Miler in the future.

“Train up,” Schroeder said. “Train up and come on out.”

Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army Chief of Staff, said he felt there was an incredible number of participants from across the Army and the civilian community helping to bring the Army together.

“I think it’s important for us on this day to show the viberance of the United States Army and what we represent,” Odierno said. “Physical fitness, enthusiasm and pride of who we are, that’s what today helps us do.”

Odierno said that days like that remind him of what a great Army the United States of America has.

“We have great people, we have people who are dedicated, who are excited to continue to excel and that’s what continues to make our Army great,” Odierno said.

Also, the Fort Hood Hooah Tent won the 2012 Hooah Tent Zone competition and was presented with the “Hank” – the Hooah Bird award.