Marines James Migletz, Quantico’s Tyler Hubbard, Christopher Passmore, and Joshua Rogers splash through the mud during the 2008 All-Marine Cross Country Championship Jan. 12. at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
The Quantico Cross Country Team not only won, but set several new records at the 2008 All-Marine Cross Country Championship held at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 12.
This is Quantico’s third year participating in this competition and the second time winning, said Bret Schmidt, Quantico cross country coach. He added that the team set a new course record of 26:20 minutes.
After receiving rain the week prior to the championship race, the course was partially muddy. A coaches meeting was held the day before the race to discuss the possibly of changing the course, but ‘‘all the coaches decided this is cross country not a road race, so no changes were made,” Schmidt said.
According to Tyler Hubbard, three-time All-Marine Cross Country Championship runner, the mud was isolated to one part of the course, which was on top of the hill in the first mile.
‘‘The area was roped off so the runners had to go through the mud and some even lost their shoes on their trek through the mud,” he added.
Even with the muddy course, Hubbard said he ran faster than the year before.
Sean Barrett broke the course record, which was definitely testament to him, but I don’t think the mud in the course affected the team at all in our performance, said Hubbard.
With the team’s dedication to training, they were able to win the gold for the second time in three years.
All of the runners were presented with medals for their achievements on the course and the team won a trophy with Quantico engraved on it.
‘‘We are losing some runners because they will be graduating TBS and others may move units, so some of them won’t be able to run next year,” said Hubbard. ‘‘It could be a challenge to win the 2009 Cross Country Championships again next year.”
Back at Quantico, the coach and cross country team met with Base Commander Col. Charles A. Dallachie Friday, and presented the trophy to him.
Individuals interested in joining the Quantico Cross Country Team can contact Schmidt at (703)784-2720.
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