Reservist wins race in Tillman's memory

MEL REISNER

Associated Press

TEMPE, Ariz. - An Army man inspired Pat's Run, and another one won it. Keith Walters, a first lieutenant in a Phoenix-based Army Reserve unit, beat more than 5,200 other competitors to the finish line of the inaugural race in Pat Tillman's memory on Saturday.

Tillman, who left a lucrative NFL contract to join the elite Army Rangers, died in a friendly-fire incident in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004.

Perry Edinger, Arizona State's head trainer during Tillman's spectacular college career, became the point man for attempts to organize a first anniversary salute to Tillman and simultaneously raise money for a foundation set up to extend the athlete's legacy.

The result was a 4.2-mile run - a distance picked because Tillman wore No. 42 in college, and a discipline chosen because of Tillman's interest in conditioning and self-challenge.

Walters, 28, finished in 21 minutes, 2 seconds, beating 17-year-old Dane Wood by 1:18 for the race title. Arizona State's Jessica Crate, 19, was the women's winner in 24:13. She was 24th overall.

Edinger, now a spinal-care specialist, said the foundation won as well, easily exceeding $100,000 in proceeds through sponsorships, entry fees and ancillary events.

"People were very generous at the silent auction," Edinger said. "There were tee shirts left over, and people were very generous buying those. My objectives were, No. 1, to establish a day for Pat, and No. 2, to help out the foundation. It was a great day."

The race began outside Sun Devil Stadium and ended on one of its 42-yard lines, allowing finishers to watch themselves sprint the last 68 yards on the scoreboard screen.

Other aspects of the run included 4-by-6 foot blowups of candid Tillman photos at the first three mile markers. Sticking out in the throng of runners wearing No. 42 jerseys were four Army Rangers, who completed the run carrying 50-pound packs and dummy rifles.

Tillman, 27, left the Arizona Cardinals and volunteered for combat in outrage over the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He died trying to rescue ambushed comrades, becoming the first NFL player killed in combat since Vietnam.