AETC picks 2 Keesler runners for marathon Published Aug. 5, 2009 By Airman 1st Class David Salanitri 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Two Team Keesler members have been selected to represent Air Education and Training Command in the 2009 Air Force Marathon, Sept. 19 at Wright-Paterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The AETC representatives from Keesler are: Yekaterina Karpitskaya is an orthopedic surgeon from the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron. She started running in October 2004 and has done 17 full marathons since then including a marathon in Seattle June 27. "I feel fantastic about being selected," she said. "I will do my best to represent AETC and my unit and hopefully beat my personal record of 3:30 and qualify for Boston again." Karpitskaya is participating in the full marathon and has been preparing for the race by swimming and biking. Naomi Henigin is 81st Training Wing commander's executive officer. She began running shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, she's ran in four marathons, seven half marathons and numerous 5- and 10-kilometer races. Henigin competes in the 10-K race and has been preparing for the event by doing sprint workouts along with exercises geared toward developing fast-twitch muscles. "I'm honored to have been selected by AETC to run this year," said the six-year Air Force member. "I want to do our command proud by training hard and running my best race ever."