USMC’S (and Mountain Lake’s) Zachariah Fredericksen runs in Marine Corps Marathon
Some 30,000 runners participated in the 40th Marine Corps Marathon today (Sunday, October 25). Participants started out on the 26.2 mile course from Arlington National Cemetery at 7:55 a.m. on a cool morning, accompanied by a light drizzle. The finish line was at the Iwo Jima Memorial.
Semper fidelis is a Latin phrase that means “always faithful” or “always loyal, ” and in the United States it is best known as the motto of the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
One of the participants was Mountain Lake native now serving in the USMC, 19-year-old LCPL Zachariah Fredericksen. Fredericksen currently lives and serves in Washington, D. C., He is the son of Heather and Jeff Fredericksen of Mountain Lake and a 2014 graduate of Mountain Lake Public High School. The Marine lived out Corps motto by being faithful to the end of the race, running the 26.2 miles in 4:12:32, for a pace of 9:37 a mile. It was his first-ever marathon run.
There may not be a more patriotic marathon than the Marine Corps. Runners pass the National monuments and pay tribute to veterans, wounded warriors and fallen heroes. In addition, many of the runners are combat-injured. It is also the largest marathon in the country for wheelchair and hand-cycle. The youngest to run today’s marathon was 14-years-old; while the oldest was an 82-year-old
Known as “The People’s Marathon,” the Marine Corps offers no prize money, but it attracts an impressive field of dedicated racers.
The race is held each year shortly before the Marine Corps’ historic birthday on November 10. It is a day of pride for Corps and a celebration of general patriotism and inter-service camaraderie.
Army Second Lieutenant Trevor Lafontaine was first in the finish chute with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes.
Jenny Mendez Suanca of Costa Rica paced the women’s field, coming in at 2:45:55.
