JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD -- Back in January, Air Force Reservist Dominic Luka, with the 446th Force Support Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was able to make a trip to Africa to visit his family for the first time in 20 years. Born and raised in south Sudan, he was happy to be welcomed with open arms by his mother and the family.
The visit has given him plenty of inspiration since returning to JBLM in March — not only for his military career, but also as an athlete. It wasn’t long after Luka’s return that he learned about the JBLM Half-Marathon at Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Fest Tent on Lewis Main.
With about a month of training, he was the first half-marathon runner to cross the finish line with a time of one hour, 27 minutes and 17 seconds after the 13.1-mile run. Although it’s been a few years since Luka was a scholarship track and field athlete at Norfolk State University, in Virginia, he’s received the motivation to pursue running and dedicated the run to his mom.
“The course was pretty tough with a lot of hills and some gravel roads, but I was able to set up my mind and focus on my goal — fly, fight and win,” Luka said.
He was trailed by Evan Cain, who finished the run in 1:29:07, and Brandon Evans (1:34:00). Laura Hamish was the first female to complete the half-marathon course with a time of 1:40:53, followed by Carrie Wentzel (1:46:56) and Laura Stierwalt (1:47:37).
In addition to the 13.1-mile course, there was a 5K course available for more runners to increase the event’s total participation to about 450 total runners. Steven Prutell, of Madigan Army Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit, had the fastest time in the 5K with a time of 20:37 — minutes ahead of the rest of the pack.
Prutell said he wasn’t happy because his personal best time for a 5K course is 19 minutes flat. He’s said he’s usually running his best during physical training with a number of other service members in his group.
“I think I need somebody else to upset (and motivate) me,” Prutell said.
The run attracted several runners from the military community on JBLM, including units forming teams to tackle the race together. Able Reymundo was able to form a team of about four runners from 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division to run the half-marathon.
Reymundo said events like runs on JBLM can act as a way of building team cohesion within the unit.
“Outside of work, people tend to be more relaxed and you get to know them better,” he said. “These are the people who are going to have your back.”