WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Nearly 10,000 runners — an almost 35 percent increase over last year — lined up at the starting line here for the 2009 U.S. Air Force Marathon.

The 13th annual running event started with remarks by Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Owen, commander of the Aeronautical Systems Center, and included a first-ever visit by an Air Force chief of staff, when Gen. Norton Schwartz arrived to present the awards.

Air Force 2nd Lt. White ran in the half marathon to prepare for the 2012 Olympics Trials which will be in Minnesota in October.

A special runner for the second year was Army Capt. Ivan Castro, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who was blinded during a mortar attack in Iraq in 2006. Last year the captain ran the full marathon but opted to run the half marathon this year.

Winners are listed below.

Men's full marathon: Dave Johnston from Xenia, Ohio – 2:30:42

Women's full marathon: Kate Papenberg from RAF Lakenheath, England – 3:08:55

Full Marathon, Wheeled Division: Michael Postell from Snellville, Ga – 1:23:13

Men's Half Marathon: Brent Martin from Gambier, Ohio – 1:08:44

Women's Half Marathon: Air Force 2nd Lt. Caroline White from Colorado Springs, Co – 1:22:17

Men's 10k Individual: Chacon Kristoffer from Tyndall AFB, Fla. — 33:11

Women's 10k Individual: Varinka Barbini from Lexington, Ky. — 39:55