The Fight for Air Corporate Cup took place Sept. 25 at Stinson Park with a small but mighty team from UNMC/Nebraska Medicine, with 47 enterprise participants in the two-mile and 10K events.
The Corporate Cup is the signature fundraising event for the American Lung Association of Nebraska to support research and lung health in the state. It also is one of the oldest running events in Omaha, beginning in 1981. The UNMC/Nebraska Medicine women’s team placed in the top 10, while the men’s team placed in the top 25.
Once again representing the men’s and women’s team were two longtime participants — Randy Lagrone, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, Nebraska Medicine, and Karen Stiles, state laboratory trainer in the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology.
Dr. Lagrone has been a part of the Corporate Cup team for 29 years. He moved here from El Paso, Texas, in 1988 and had read in “Runner’s World” magazine about the Corporate Cup in Omaha as one of the best running events in the United States. After arriving in Omaha, he signed up right away.
Dr. Lagrone has had many great memories of running the Corporate Cup over the years.
“My fondest memories involve fellow medical center runners and enthusiastic crowd support along the course, not to mention running for an incredible cause,” he said.
Stiles has participated since 1982, after seeing a news story about the upcoming race. She has continued to run and walk every year since. She also has an impressive collection of cups and other participation awards from Corporate Cups over the years.
“It’s such an exhilarating event — something I had never experienced before,” she said. “It’s so much fun!”
Corporate Cup Division AAA results are available here.
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