Cadets Compete in the Athens Marathon

The Army West Point Marathon Team was invited to compete in the Athens Marathon by the Hellenic Army Academy (HAA) to build a relationship and increase understanding between the two nations. The route of the Athens Marathon closely mirrors the route of the original marathon which was run by a foot soldier named Pheidippides during the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Holding off Persian invaders and achieving an unlikely victory, the Athenian Army sent Pheidippides to run to Athens to deliver the message of their victory. After running the full distance between Marathon and Athens, and directly after announcing their victory, Pheidippides collapsed dead. The marathon has become one of the world's most widespread and popular events for people to compete in. The race was tough with much of the first twenty miles being uphill. The team's top male and female finishers were Cadet Aaqib Syed '18 and Cadet Stephanie McDermott '18. Each finisher from the Army West Point Marathon Team was presented an olive branch wreath by MG Charlampos Lalouis, the superintendent of the HAA. Cadet Murray Johnston '20 said "It was an incredible opportunity to run a one of a kind race and meet our brothers and sisters at the Hellenic Army Academy that we will all remember."