On one hand, the 15 men and eight women who comprised the team, known variously as "Team Booz" and the "Booz Dream Team," placed second of 10 corporate teams in the category of firms up to 10,000 employees. The USCAA is a U.S.-based, not-for-profit organization that promotes fitness for corporate employees, and helps raise money for worthy causes in the process.

But don't think that anyone really won or lost at the 20th annual championships, held July 19 & 20 in La Jolla, CA. Team Booz has used the event to raise some $16,000 in the last two years for Special Olympics International, the most of any company in the competition.

"Doing that really brings home the meaning of athletics," says Michelle Mawicke, a Tampa-based Team Booz shot putter and discus thrower. "We're all lucky to have this opportunity to compete. I'm happy to help raise money for some very special athletes."

Charity Challenge

For its efforts, the Booz, Allen team took home the Charity Cup for the second straight year. The award, presented to the company whose staff are the event's top fund raisers, is a Booz, Allen-inspired idea, created in 1996, after the firm issued a "charity challenge" to fellow USCAA competitors to encourage teams to raise money for Special Olympics International.

The 23-member Booz, Allen team ran the gamut, representing staff from WTB and WCB; and 12 offices from throughout the U.S., as well as Mexico City, Munich and Sydney. And it included a veritable one-man organizing committee in Gordon Smith, a Vienna, Va.-based Associate, distance runner and USCAA Vice President, who did everything from designing the meet logo, program, medals and BA&H jerseys, to ordering the team trophies, securing sponsors and inviting elite athletes (U.S. Olympians Steve Scott, the U.S. indoor and outdoor mile record holder, and Ruth Wysocki) to the event.

Smith describes the make-up of the Booz, Allen team as a cadre of serious and recreational athletes. Winning BA&H athletes included Katlin Eddy (MD; 26.9-200m; 61.3-400m); Sarah Bunting (PA; 18:33-5K; 64.3-400m); Donna Hardeman (VA; 30.2-200m); Dave Kent (VA; 16:45-5K; 3:24-1200m); Shayne McKenzie (Sydney; 25.2-200m); Robert Forsythe (VA; 54.5-400m); Leon Brittain (VA; 23.3-200m); Marshall Contino (VA; 2:05-800m); and, Smith (VA; 2:08-800m). They were also part of winning Booz, Allen teams in the Women's 5K, Men's 5K, Sprint Relay and Pyramid Relay events.

Sense of Community

"These athletes bring new meaning to the term, 'triple crown,'" says McLean-based Director of Community Relations Kevin Casey. "In typical Booz, Allen fashion, they met the challenge by forming the strongest possible team, performed to the top of their ability and were the class of the field. And through development of the Charity Challenge Cup, they provided an important 'value-added' component that will make future USCAA championships successful."

The meet created other benefits as well, among them a sense of community spirit back home, says McKenzie, a Sydney-based Associate and a Team Booz sprinter and discus thrower.

"The staff in Sydney and Melbourne gave me lots of encouragement for competing and were very supportive in helping us raise funds for Special Olympics International," says McKenzie. "Besides, I formed some good friendships in what was a very enjoyable experience. I'll be training hard over the next 12 months to catch up with the team again next year."

- END -

(Want to join Team Booz? The 21st USCAA meet is July 25 & 26, 1998 in Santa Barbara, Calif. For more information, contact Smith.)

The championship consists mostly of track relays that require runners of certain ages (Submasters Sprint Relay), genders (Women's Relay), or executive levels (President's Relay). There is also a 5K road race as well as shot put, discus, and long jump field events, all scored on a gender/age basis. The scoring makes the competition equally competitive for everyone. Throughout the weekend, the Booz Dream Team swapped first and second place with two-time winner Pacific Enterprises. In the long run, Team Booz ran up 132 points, only nine points shy of first place.

For the second straight year Booz-Allen issued a Charity Cup Challenge to fellow competitors to raise money for Special Olympics International. And once again, Booz-Allen raised the highest amount. Over the past two years Booz-Allen has raised over $16,000.

The championship also includes a non-scoring Unified relay with Special Olympians and a Korporate Kids run. Honorary chairpersons included U.S. Olympians Steve Scott, the U.S. indoor and outdoor mile record holder, and Ruth Wysocki who is rewriting the master's record books.

The NST handsome foursome included: Donna Hardeman (Gallows; 200m & 400m), Todd Barborek (Allen; 200m), Jeff Madison (Linthicum; 400m, 800m), and Gordon Smith (Gallows; 1600m, 800m, and team captain). The remainder of the 23-member team included staff from throughout WTB and WCB; and 12 offices from throughout the U.S., as well as Sydney, Munich, Mexico City. The meet helps bring the firms various components together in true V2K teamwork, builds networking within the firm, and raises funds for a good cause in the process.

The team was chosen in June based on event requirements and submitted times from over 100 employees who responded to last springs e-mail announcements. "This is Booz-Allen's third and best team ever," says captain Grun, as he is known. "We just keep getting better, and this year's teamwork was outstanding."

Next year's USCAA National Corporate Track & Field Championship will be held in Santa Barbara, Calif. on July 25 & 26, 1998. For more information on this and Booz-Allen's other competitive running events, contact Gordon Smith at 703/808-5409 or on e-mail.

Over 1,000 athletes from twenty-two companies returned to UCSD campus in La Jolla, CA to complete in the 20th Annual USCAA Nationals. The battle between Division I powerhouses Lockheed Martin, General Electric (GE), Lucent Technologies, Exxon, and AT&T took off in full stride with the 5K.

By the end of Saturday's finals, General Electric(52 points) and its strong distance runners led Lockheed Martin(45), 1996 Division I winner. Lucent(36) rested comfortably in third place with Exxon(32) and AT&T(31) close behind.

Division II was more volatile. Pacific Enterprises was out to capture its third victory in 1997. Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Enron, Ruan, and Aerospace were out to dethrone them. Booz-Allen(50), Aerospace(45), and Pacific Enterprises(40) made strong showings on day 1.

On Sunday, Lockheed Martin missed the meet record in the Women's 800m team race by just half a second, clocking 4:26.4, with Exxon only a second behind. The win extended Lockheed Martin's(92) lead over General Electric(77).

The two leaders exchanged wins over the next three events with Exxon, Lucent and AT&T close behind. In the Men's Team Mile, General Electric's winning time of 8:48, shot GE(126) into a first-place tie with Lockheed Martin(126). The race for first in Division I was now at full speed.

In the Senior's relay, AT&T(115) proved once again that it is more than just a fast long distance company by lowering the meet record it set in 1996 by one tenth second. Appropriately enough, AT&T's former teammates Lucent(120), finished second in a previous-record time of 4:07.4.

In Division II, TRW(41) woke everyone up by winning the 4x100m relay in a record time of 51.1 seconds. Booz€Allen's anchor runner sprinted out of a shoe and finished hot-footed.

A record-breaking 1:42.7 win in the 4x200m relay put Pacific Enterprises(79) on top of Booz-Allen(78). Meanwhile, Ruan(71) found itself in a three-way tie for third with Aerospace and Enron.

Ruan's(97) win in the Women's relay brought them within six points of leader Pacific Enterprises(103) and Booz-Allen(101).

Exxon(124) increased the octane in the Women's Relay to power them from fifth straight into a third place tie with Lucent(124). This corporate track championship was still anyone's takeover bid.

In the final events, General Electric rolled to victory in Division I, while Pacific Enterprises and Booz-Allen exchanged win, but. Pacific Enterprises' field teams shot them to their third Division II title. Every other division crowned new champions.

Texaco sent a two-man team to compete only in the team throw, and walked away with second place in that event.

Division IA: (8 teams)
1. General Electric
2. Lockheed-Martin
3. Lucent Technologies

Division IAA: (7 teams)
1. Principal Financial Group
2. Texas Instruments
3. UNUM Corporation

Division IIA: (5 teams)
1. Pacific Enterprises
2. Booz€Allen & Hamilton
3. Enron Corporation

Division IIAA: (5 teams)
1. Ruan Transportaion
2. Aerospace
3. General Atomics