An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

National Guard Athletes Finish Strong at Lincoln Marathon

  • Published
  • By Spc. Lauren Behn,
  • Joint Force Headquarters - Nebraska National Guard

LINCOLN, Neb. - Twenty-one of the National Guard’s best athletes from the All Guard Marathon Team, representing 17 states and territories, competed in the 47th annual Lincoln Marathon May 5. 

The Lincoln Marathon is familiar territory to these athletes who all ran the same course last year during the time trials to secure their spot on the All Guard Marathon Team. 

Hundreds of National Guard runners from all 54 states and territories come to Nebraska to complete the 26.2-mile distance every two years. Since this year was not a qualifying year, the 21 All Guard Marathon Team runners were primarily competing against themselves and the field of other participants for top honors.

For the first time, the Lincoln Track Club presented awards specifically to the top National Guard competitors in the Lincoln Marathon.

This year’s top National Guard Marathon winners and times:

National Guard Men - Full Marathon:
Sgt. Chad Terry (Kentucky) 2:55:06
Capt. Travis Kirchner (Nebraska) 2:57:09
Spc. Jack Vogel (Nebraska) 3:37:55

National Guard Women - Full Marathon:
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tracy Dooley (Arkansas) 3:48:37
Master Sgt. Phoebe Begay (New Mexico) 4:00:44
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Sarah Barnes (Michigan) 4:07:30

National Guard Men - Half Marathon:
Warrant Officer Andrew Merrill (Florida) 1:15:22
Maj. Valentine Roberts (Hawaii) 1:21:34
Maj. Lex Grimley (Utah) 1:22:36

National Guard Women - Half Marathon:
1st Lt. Chiara Warner (Montana) 1:22:54
Maj. Amanda Schmid (Nebraska) 1:37:16
Capt. Amy Mireles (Oregon) 1:43:50

The Lincoln National Guard Marathon will return in 2025 when all 54 states and territories will again compete for coveted positions on the All Guard Marathon Team. The All Guard Marathon and Endurance Teams exist to promote physical fitness, self-discipline and esprit de corps among National Guard members while assisting recruiting and retention efforts at each community where they compete.