Delaware National Guard

Capt. Holly Scott was the second overall female finisher in this year's Lincoln Marathon and was named to the All-Guard Marathon Team for the second year in a row.

By Capt. Len Gratteri

In May, the Delaware National Guard Marathon Team traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska to compete in the 18^th Annual National Guard Bureau Marathon Trials and Recruiting Workshop. The trails were held during the 24^th Annual Lincoln Marathon and more then 220 Guard members competed, representing nearly every state and U.S. territory. All five runners from the Delaware team completed the grueling 26.2-mile race and placed 22^nd in the team competition.

Individually, Army Capt. Holly Scott of the 72^nd Troop Command came into the race as the defending Female Overall Champion and again led the team with another strong showing. This year she took second place in the Female Overall category with a time of 3:18:55 and once again was named to the All-Guard Marathon Team.

Air Guard Sgt. Jocelyn Banks of the 166^th Aerial Port Flight, took third place in the Age 25-29 Female category. Banks, who also is a student at the University of Delaware, accomplished this feat while running in her first marathon.

Capt. Gerry Pennington didn't make it in time for the team photo, but did make the start time for the marathon. He finished with a time of 4:15:42
Our fastest male finisher was Sgt. Gregory Calloway, a percussionist with the 287^th Army Band, in a time of 3:21:23. Calloway is a consultant with Computer Sciences Corporation and lives in Wilmington.

Setting out to break the four-hour mark, Lt. Col. Dan Arena finished the race with an official time of 4:00:01. Arena is the Inspector General for the Delaware National Guard and vowed to hit his mark next year. A few minutes behind him was Dover resident Army Capt. Gerry Pennington of the 261^st Signal Brigade.

The goal of the Guard Marathon is to promote physical fitness. The All-Guard Team supports recruiting events around the country. As a member of the All-Guard Team, Capt. Scott is slated to run in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Marathon in Pensacola, Fla., and the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio.

The 2001 Delaware National Guard Marathon Team - (left to right) Capt. Holly Scott, Sgt. Gregory Calloway, Lt. Col. Dan Arena and Sgt. Jocelyn Banks. Missing is Capt. Gerry Pennington.