HOUSTON (January 23, 2014) – On January 19, in coordination with the Houston Marathon Committee (HMC), Task Force White Eagle, a combined Polish and U.S. unit, staged its own event 8,000 miles away in the mountainous region of Afghanistan. Task Force White Eagle is led by the Polish 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade based out of Świętoszów and has deployed on missions to Kosovo, Iraq, Chad, and Afghanistan.

Aramco Houston Half Marathon runners gathered at FOB Ghazni, Afghanistan with more than 90 participants. Fifteen runners from the United States and 77 athletes from Poland completed the course. The race was a challenge for all runners with unfavorable weather conditions and terrain with ice, mud and gravel. Soldiers and civilian workers ran on a course over two miles long on FOB Ghazni about 7,000 feet above sea level in eastern Afghanistan, running six laps to complete the 13.1-mile race.

“This was the second time that the HMC has partnered with the soldiers at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ghazni in staging a remote run on race day” said Steven Karpas, HMC Managing Director, Business Development & Marketing. “In 2011, we provided the task force with custom race bibs, finisher shirts and finisher medals and were thrilled to assist once again. The Houston Marathon Committee is extremely proud to have played a part in boosting the spirits of these brave men and women.”

U.S. Major Bradley Bandera won the race with a time of 1 hour 29 minutes.  Only 22 seconds later, Polish Lieutenant Colonel Bogdan Rycerski finished in second place. The first-place finisher in the women’s field of six was Second Lieutenant Malgorzata Kochanska.

For more information on the 2014 Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and USA Half Marathon Championships, please visit

https://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/.