SPORTS News

MARINES VICTORIOUS IN PLYMOUTH

LCpl Thomas Kunish at the Finish Line

Plymouth, England - Nearly 400 years after the Mayflower departed the steps of Plymouth searching for new opportunities in the new world, the Marine Corps Running team defeated the British Royal Navy/Marines for their fourth consecutive victory of the Warriors from Across the Sea Challenge.

The Warriors from Across the Sea Challenge was held in conjunction with the Plymouth Half Marathon in Plymouth, England on 27 May 2007. The team of eight Marines faced their British counterparts scoring the top three male times and the top womans time. Leading the charge for the Marines was LCpl Thomas Kunish (Okinawa, Japan) with a time of 1:12:22. Shortly after, SSgt Jeremy Brown (MCAS Miramar) was the second of the Warrior's Challenge with a time of 1:14:11.

Twelve seconds after SSgt Brown crossed the finish line, four of the British Royal Navy/Marines crossed the finish line, completing the mens scoring portion. Reliable Marine Corps Running veteran, Maj Jeff Blackwell (MCAS Cherry Point) crossed the finish line at the 1:17:40. Holding on to a three minute and 13 second lead, the competition was left for the fighting women of the United States Marine Corps and the Royal Navy. As the tension mounted, Capt Jennifer Ledford (MCB Camp Pendleton), fighting an injured Achilles tendon, crossed the finish line 56 seconds ahead of the first Royal Navy/Marine women, securing the Marines' victory with a total time of 5:12:04 to 5:16:13.

The United States Marine Corps and the British Royal Navy/Marines share friendly competition at the Plymouth Half Marathon every Memorial Day weekend as well as the Marine Corps Marathon in October. During the Marine Corps Marathon, the men and women each compete for a separate challenge cup. In 2006, the All-Marine Women Runners defeated their counterparts, as the British Royal Navy/Marine Men claimed victory.

The competition between the U.S. Marines and the British Royal Navy/Marines foster great international relationships between allies and have offered additional challenges between the Marine Corps and the British Armed Services. In April 2007, the Marine Corps Boxing Team faced the British Army Air 13 Assault Regiment at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

The Marine Corps Running Team will next compete at the Marine Corps Marathon facing the British Royal Navy/Marines in the Challenge Cup, in addition to the other U.S. Armed Forces in the 2007 Armed Forces Marathon Championship. For more information regarding the Plymouth Half Marathon, visit www.plymouthhalfmarathon.co.uk. For additional information regarding the Marine Corps Running Program and the All-Marine Sports Program, contact Steven Dinote at 703-784-9542 or steven.dinote@usmc.mil.

Marine Corps Running Team

Complete Marine Corps results:

Overall	Division	Rank	First Name	Surname	Chip Time	Cat
Men
8	8	LCpl	Thomas	Kunish	1:12:22	MSEN
11	9	SSgt	Jeremy	Brown	1:14:11	MSEN
24	19	Maj	Thomas	Blackwell	1:17:40	MSEN
35	5	LtCol	Steven	Peterson	1:19:30	MVO40
47	33	Capt	Joseph	Galvin	1:20:54	MSEN
Women
6	6	Capt	Jennifer	Ledford	1:27:51	FSEN
12	4	Maj	Kristin	Mccann	1:32:06	FVO35
35	25	Capt	Lauren	Edwards	1:38:48	FSEN

Year-by-Year Results:

Year Event Cup winners

1995 London Marathon Royal Navy

1996 Fleet Half Marathon Royal Navy

1998 Grizzly Experience US Marine Corps

2000 Plymouth Half Marathon Royal Navy

2001 Torbay Half Marathon Royal Navy

2002 Plymouth Half Marathon US Marine Corps

2004 Plymouth Half Marathon US Marine Corps

2005 Plymouth Half Marathon US Marine Corps

2007 Plymouth Half Marathon US Marine Corps