Fort Rucker is back with a top ten finish at the Army Ten-Miler

FORT RUCKER, Ala. — After learning just before the race how fast Fort Rucker’s last Army Ten-Miler was, eight runners set to beat that eight years later. They did more than meet their goal, finishing seventh in their division and establishing a new benchmark for future Rucker teams.

The team completed the 10-mile race in Washington, D.C., in 4 hours, 9 minutes and 6 seconds (combined score of the top 4 finishers on each team) placing seventh out of 36 teams in the Commander’s Cup Mixed Division. Their finish improved on the 4-hour, 13-minute time recorded by Fort Rucker’s last team in 2018.

“We found out just the day before what their time was, so we made a pact to beat that,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cornelius Green, the team captain and coach. “We finished in 4:09, so we were really happy about it.” The Army Ten-Miler is an annual race in Washington, D.C., that brings together military and civilian runners from across the country and around the world. The event features competitive divisions for military installations and teams, giving Soldiers an opportunity to test their endurance while representing their units or installations.

Fort Rucker’s return began months before race day when Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) hosted a 10-mile kickoff race at Lake Tholocco in April, inviting Soldiers and civilians to participate. Several more organized practice runs and a final qualifying event in August solidified Team Rucker.

The eight-member team, made up of six men and two women, trained individually and together while balancing preparation with their regular military duties in uniform each day.

Bill Mattingly, Fort Rucker supervisory sports specialist, helped organize the team and bring the runners to the nation’s capital. He said the process was about more than selecting the fastest runners.

“Building this team wasn't just about finding the fastest individual runners,” Mattingly said. “It was about creating a culture of discipline, accountability and mutual support. From our first qualifying run through race morning at the Pentagon, these Soldiers put in the hard miles on top of their operational duties.”

The team’s results were a perfect display of that commitment. Three runners finished in less than an hour, while 2nd Lt. Melissa Esswein placed among the top 1.6% of female competitors.

Green led the team with a time of 58 minutes, 32 seconds, placing 112th overall among 19,232 finishers. Second Lt. Ryan Morgan followed in 58:47, placing 122nd, while Warrant Officer 1 Brendan McCauley finished in 59:51, placing 160th.

Esswein completed the course in 1:11:56, placing 120th among 7,592 female competitors and 1,019th overall.

For Green, watching his teammates cross the finish line was one of the most rewarding parts of the race.

“Seeing my next two runners come through under 60 minutes, that was my favorite part of it,” Green said. “We’d been talking about the sub-60 the entire time.”

He also praised Esswein’s performance, noting that the 10-mile distance presented a different challenge for a runner accustomed to shorter races.

“We were just so happy, because she’s really fast in the 5K,” Green said. “This was a longer distance for her, and she did really great.”

The team’s journey to the starting line presented its own challenges. As Hurricane Isaias approached, the team’s scheduled flight from Dothan was canceled, forcing members to travel by van to Atlanta to catch new flights. Green was delayed when there were not enough seats for the entire group, but he arrived shortly after his teammates. After arriving, the team picked up its race packets, completed a shakeout run and attended a pasta dinner. Race-day rain, wind and cool temperatures added another challenge, but the team remained focused on its goal.

For Green, who has been stationed at Fort Rucker since December 2024, the race also marked a personal milestone. Although he had participated in local races, he only began running seriously in October 2025.

“I guess I’ve always been an athlete, and I’m very competitive as well,” Green said. “Once I started running and winning races, I was like, I probably can do this for real.”

His growing passion for distance running led him to take on marathon training and show interest in qualifying for Fort Benning’s Ten-Miler team before learning Fort Rucker would create its own tnstead.

Now, as he finally trains for his first full marathon, the California International Marathon in Sacramento, California, Green hopes to return to the Army Ten-Miler with Fort Rucker next year.

“I want to do it again next year, but without the rain,” he joked. “But I definitely look forward to doing it again if they have a team, and I would like to actually beat my time.”

For the team, the seventh-place finish was more than a strong race result. The runners returned Fort Rucker to the competition for the first time since 2018, beat the previous team’s time and set a new standard for future competitors.

Mattingly said the outcome demonstrated what the team could accomplish through preparation and shared commitment.

“Finishing seventh in the Commander’s Cup Mixed Division against the best teams in the Armed Forces reflects the grit and drive that defines Fort Rucker,” Mattingly said.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.