Fort Bliss Monitor

Bliss runners set for Army Ten Miler

Master Sgt. Steve Miller
Public Affairs Chief

Eric Newman of the Fort Bliss Army Ten Miler team competes earlier this year in the post duathlon. He will compete with Team Bliss in Sunday’s Army Ten Miler and will run the Oct. 31 Marine Corps Marathon, both in Washington, D.C.

Fort Bliss will take its men’s and women’s running teams to Washington, D.C., this weekend to represent the post in the 20th Army Ten Miler, scheduled for Sunday.

Team Bliss will be trying to improve on last year’s 8th place finish by the women and 9th place finish by the men, both of which were the best ever for Fort Bliss at the Army Ten Miler.

“The training has gone well. It has been hard and challenging – speed workouts twice a week, hill repeats at the (McKelligon) canyon and long runs,” said Rachel Rosenbaum, Team Bliss coach. “Most team members will shave time off their (10-mile) times from trials, especially the ones who worked extra hard.”

Rosenbaum cited Eric Newman of HHB Center and Maria Tristan of B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, as two team members who stood out because of how much they have improved since the trials in August. She said Newman has worked extra hard because he also plans to run the Marine Corps Marathon, set for Oct. 31, one week after Sunday’s Army Ten Miler. Rosenbaum said Tristan had never run long distances until this summer, has shown significant improvement and may even have the top time for the Bliss women.

“My PR (personal record) for my mile has gone from about a 6-minute mile to about a 5:35, and that can be attributed to the speed work and the distance work we’ve done,” Newman said.

Newman said his participation in the Marine Corps Marathon was confirmed in May, long before Team Bliss held its trials for the Army Ten Miler. He was surprised that he qualified for the Bliss Army Ten Miler Team and has really been training for both races.

“I applied and was selected through a lottery for the Marine Corps Marathon in May, not thinking I’d be remotely able to qualify for the Ten Miler team,” Newman said. “I’ve been adding between 9 and 11 miles more on the off days we’ve had (from the Army Ten Miler training to prepare for the Marine Corps Marathon). The consistency in mileage has helped to build a strong basis to build from for the longer race and allowed me to decrease my per-mile time.”

31st splashes way to swimming championship

Master Sgt. Steve Miller
Public Affairs Chief

FThe 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade rode the strength of 10 first-place finishes to compile 121 points and win the post swimming championships Friday at Replica Aquatic Center by a whopping 48 points.

Playing the bridesmaid role, with 73 points, was the 108th ADA Bde. William Beaumont Army Medical Center finished a distant third with 34 points, all but three of which were racked up by Wade Ennis, while Joint Task Force-North notched 12 points by placing third in four events.

Points were awarded on a sliding scale with seven points for finishing first in a given event, five for second and three for third.

The women won six of those 10 first-place finishes for 31st, led by Jill McCulley’s six medals, as she won the 50-meter freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly, swam on the winning relay teams in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay, and placed third in the 100 freestyle.

Bernie Springnel was the men’s star for 31st, also with six medals. He won the 100 and 800 freestyle and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams. He also finished second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 breaststroke.

Karen Clarke carried the banner for 108th with five medals – three seconds and two firsts, in the 100 breaststroke and the 800 freestyle.

Ennis, meanwhile almost single-handedly lifted the WBAMC team to third overall. He won four events – the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly – and placed third in the 100 freestyle, compiling 31 of WBAMC’s 34 points. Gates scored the other three for WBAMC by placing third in the women’s 800 freestyle.

For complete results of the post swimming championships, see the accompanying chart.

Sports briefs

Guest pickers sought
Some guest picker slots remain for the “Pigskin Pickers” feature The Monitor runs during the National Football League season. Military members, civilian employees, re-tirees and family members of all these groups are eligible.
Interested persons should stop by The Monitor office in Bldg, 15 on Slater Road or send an e-mail message to millers@bliss.army.mil. Provide your name, rank (if applicable), phone number and e-mail address (if applicable).

Halloween Hoop Classic
Fort Bliss hosts its annual Halloween Basketball Classic Oct. 22 through 24 at Logan Heights Gym. The double-elimination tournament is open to military and civilian teams, and the entry fee of $200 per team includes T-shirts. Teams are allowed 12 players and a non-playing coach. Entry deadline is Tuesday.
Trophies will go to the 1st through 3rd place teams, with the top two teams earning individual awards. For information call Nate LaCour at 568-5198 or Scott Carr at 568-5995.

Flag football playoffs
The single-elimination post flag football championships will take place Nov. 1 through 5 at Finney Field and Stout Field. The Echelons Above Corps League is hosting its league tournament this week, with the Independent League and Corps League to follow next week.
For information call Scott Carr at 568-5995.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	October 21, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Bliss runners set for Army Ten Miler Master Sgt. Steve Miller Public Affairs Chief Eric Newman of the Fort Bliss Army Ten Miler team competes earlier this year in the post duathlon. He will compete with Team Bliss in Sunday’s Army Ten Miler and will run the Oct. 31 Marine Corps Marathon, both in Washington, D.C. Fort Bliss will take its men’s and women’s running teams to Washington, D.C., this weekend to represent the post in the 20th Army Ten Miler, scheduled for Sunday. Team Bliss will be trying to improve on last year’s 8th place finish by the women and 9th place finish by the men, both of which were the best ever for Fort Bliss at the Army Ten Miler. “The training has gone well. It has been hard and challenging – speed workouts twice a week, hill repeats at the (McKelligon) canyon and long runs,” said Rachel Rosenbaum, Team Bliss coach. “Most team members will shave time off their (10-mile) times from trials, especially the ones who worked extra hard.” Rosenbaum cited Eric Newman of HHB Center and Maria Tristan of B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, as two team members who stood out because of how much they have improved since the trials in August. She said Newman has worked extra hard because he also plans to run the Marine Corps Marathon, set for Oct. 31, one week after Sunday’s Army Ten Miler. Rosenbaum said Tristan had never run long distances until this summer, has shown significant improvement and may even have the top time for the Bliss women. “My PR (personal record) for my mile has gone from about a 6-minute mile to about a 5:35, and that can be attributed to the speed work and the distance work we’ve done,” Newman said. Newman said his participation in the Marine Corps Marathon was confirmed in May, long before Team Bliss held its trials for the Army Ten Miler. He was surprised that he qualified for the Bliss Army Ten Miler Team and has really been training for both races. “I applied and was selected through a lottery for the Marine Corps Marathon in May, not thinking I’d be remotely able to qualify for the Ten Miler team,” Newman said. “I’ve been adding between 9 and 11 miles more on the off days we’ve had (from the Army Ten Miler training to prepare for the Marine Corps Marathon). The consistency in mileage has helped to build a strong basis to build from for the longer race and allowed me to decrease my per-mile time.” 31st splashes way to swimming championship Master Sgt. Steve Miller Public Affairs Chief FThe 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade rode the strength of 10 first-place finishes to compile 121 points and win the post swimming championships Friday at Replica Aquatic Center by a whopping 48 points. Playing the bridesmaid role, with 73 points, was the 108th ADA Bde. William Beaumont Army Medical Center finished a distant third with 34 points, all but three of which were racked up by Wade Ennis, while Joint Task Force-North notched 12 points by placing third in four events. Points were awarded on a sliding scale with seven points for finishing first in a given event, five for second and three for third. The women won six of those 10 first-place finishes for 31st, led by Jill McCulley’s six medals, as she won the 50-meter freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly, swam on the winning relay teams in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay, and placed third in the 100 freestyle. Bernie Springnel was the men’s star for 31st, also with six medals. He won the 100 and 800 freestyle and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams. He also finished second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 breaststroke. Karen Clarke carried the banner for 108th with five medals – three seconds and two firsts, in the 100 breaststroke and the 800 freestyle. Ennis, meanwhile almost single-handedly lifted the WBAMC team to third overall. He won four events – the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly – and placed third in the 100 freestyle, compiling 31 of WBAMC’s 34 points. Gates scored the other three for WBAMC by placing third in the women’s 800 freestyle. For complete results of the post swimming championships, see the accompanying chart. Sports briefs Guest pickers sought Some guest picker slots remain for the “Pigskin Pickers” feature The Monitor runs during the National Football League season. Military members, civilian employees, re-tirees and family members of all these groups are eligible. Interested persons should stop by The Monitor office in Bldg, 15 on Slater Road or send an e-mail message to millers@bliss.army.mil. Provide your name, rank (if applicable), phone number and e-mail address (if applicable). Halloween Hoop Classic Fort Bliss hosts its annual Halloween Basketball Classic Oct. 22 through 24 at Logan Heights Gym. The double-elimination tournament is open to military and civilian teams, and the entry fee of $200 per team includes T-shirts. Teams are allowed 12 players and a non-playing coach. Entry deadline is Tuesday. Trophies will go to the 1st through 3rd place teams, with the top two teams earning individual awards. For information call Nate LaCour at 568-5198 or Scott Carr at 568-5995. Flag football playoffs The single-elimination post flag football championships will take place Nov. 1 through 5 at Finney Field and Stout Field. The Echelons Above Corps League is hosting its league tournament this week, with the Independent League and Corps League to follow next week. For information call Scott Carr at 568-5995.