Vessey Chapter running team

The Vessey Chapter Running Team is an elite All-Minnesota Female team that competes yearly in the Open Women Division of the Army Ten-Miler (ATM) and Bataan Memorial Death March and is sponsored by the General Vessey AUSA Chapter. 

The Army Ten-Miler is the largest ten-mile road race on the continent, if not in the world, and it takes place yearly in Washington, D.C., during Columbus Day weekend.  Teams and individuals participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March for personal challenges, the spirit of competition, or to foster esprit de corps in their unit. Some march in honor of a family member or a particular veteran who was in the Bataan Death March during WWII or was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in the Philippines. Many of these veterans were from New Mexico and the Minnesota National Guard Brainerd’s based 34th Tank Company.

The Open Women category team competition at the Army Ten-Miler and Bataan Memorial Death March/Marathon is fierce every year, but the Vessey AUSA Running Teams have a proud history of success at this race. For the past six years, the Vessey Team has placed first at both of the internationally recognized events. 

This year the Vessey AUSA Ten-Miler team placed first in the Open Women Division at the 40th Army Ten-Miler. Erin Wetzstein Placed third overall with an impressive time of 59:51.  Congratulations and thank you to Erin Wetzstein, Patty O'Brien, Haley Rasmussen, and Molly Wirtz for an amazing performance at the 40th Army Ten-Miler. 

We always seek individuals who can run at or under a 6:30-minute mile pace for this elite team.  Please contact Ms. Paulette Odenthal at pauletteodenthal@gmail.com or Mr. Alberto (DJ) DeJesus at adejesus@umn.edu if you are interested in trying out for the Vessey Running Team.  

Why the Vessey Running Team is Important to AUSA

• Helps build a positive Army image in the running community

• Presents numerous Chapter leadership opportunities

• Provides an opportunity Chapter for awards and recognition through the support of a local AUSA chapter

• Provides an opportunity for national recognition through national-level awards competitions which are presented at the Annual AUSA Meeting