Tinker Air Force Base runners take first place at Redbud Classic 10K

Published April 24, 2008
Tinker Running Club

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Runners from Tinker teamed up to run in the annual Redbud Classic 10 kilometer event held on April 4. The run begins at the Waterford Hotel in north Oklahoma City and snakes through the homes of Nichols Hills, finally ending 6.2 miles later at the Nichols Hills Plaza Shopping Center. The event is electronically timed. Electronic mats are placed across the ground at the start/finish line and runners are issued electronic chips to tie to their shoe. This was the first year that these electronic timing chips were disposable making timing of large events more efficient for race officials and runners.
   Runner's times are age graded for the team results. This system allows an older runner to compete with college age runners.
   The Tinker team finished in first place in the open division and a few of the runners enjoyed personal bests. Team Tinker has won the team event three of the last four years.
   Those from Tinker participating in the run include:
   Robert Yara, 540th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron, 39:50
   Danny Ponder, 557th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron, 40:15
   Shane Spencer, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, 41:35
   Douglas MacNeill, 420th SCM GUMBA, 44:27
   Derle Smith, 72nd Civil Engineer Squadron, 45:29
   Cuu Nguyen, 448th Combat Sustainment Group, 44:57
   Brian Yort, 554th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron, 45:58
   Robin Garretson, OC-ALC, 50:56
   Willie Kinchion, retired civilian, 1:15:50

Tinker runners