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BOULDER 鈥� Leonard Korir is from Iten, Kenya, a town that聽has produced more world-class runners than any other place on Earth, but he’s also an American citizen serving in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Carson. Fully mindful of what Memorial Day represents, Korir fought heroically to give the Bolder Boulder an inspiring finish.

Korir, a specialist who serves the Army as a driver and as a member of its World Class Athlete Program, came up just short Monday in a thrilling sprint to the finish of the men’s elite race. Gabriel Geay of Tanzania won in 29 minutes, 2.19 seconds, and Korir was just 0.62 seconds聽short of first place.

Nearly 40,000 spectators roared support for him over the last 200 meters, and Korir wanted to show them what America means to him.

“It would have been so nice for me as an immigrant to win,” Korir said. “I gave everything. In the Army, they say you don鈥檛 lose hope, you fight to the end. I tried my best. But at the same, I鈥檓 happy to represent the U.S. Army. I feel proud. It抖阴ap a privilege. I鈥檓 so thankful.”

Korir represented the U.S. in the Rio Olympics, finishing 14th in the 10,000 meters, and he hopes to wear the USA singlet again at the world championships this summer in London, but his Army service is no mere means to an end. He enlisted because he was grateful for the opportunity to run for Iona University and wanted to give back. He says he wants to remain in the Army for 20 years.

“Army comes first, running later,” Korir said. “We are ready at any time.”

The women’s elite race also provided an inspiring finish for a local runner. Natosha Rogers, a graduate of Dakota Ridge High School and Texas A&M, finished third behind two Ethiopians and was the top U.S female.

“I dug as deep as I could go,” Rogers said. “It was so hard, especially that last mile. But to compete as an American team is what made me dig that deep. To be the first American at a race like this is something I will always remember and hold in my heart.”

One runner was remembered for the way he ran last year’s Bolder Boulder and a tragically short life well lived. Brandon Reis collapsed and died at a high school cross country meet last fall, and on Monday, his Peak to Peak High School teammates ran in his memory wearing T-shirts with his picture and a Bible verse that said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Reis collapsed at the 6-mile mark of last year’s Bolder Boulder and was transported to a hospital. When he was released hours later, he insisted on finishing the race.

“Of 聽course, we didn鈥檛 know he had underlying heart issues, but he came back and went to the place where he collapsed and finished the race,” Peak to Peak coach Kim McConnell said. “We joked that his kick needed a lot of work because it took four hours.”

Reis wore bib number A044 last year. Bolder Boulder officials honored him Monday, announcing they will reserve that number from now on for the Peak to Peak runner who most exemplifies his spirit.

“He was the best of all young men,” McConnell said. “He had wisdom beyond his years in terms of taking life with joy. He鈥檚 beloved, truly beloved.”

The U.S. won the men’s team competition because another Kenya-born U.S. citizen, Sam Chelanga, joined Korir in the top three. But it also took a great finish by Diego Estrada, who finished ninth. Estrada, who trains in Arizona, immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico as an infant.

“For me, Memorial Day really means a lot because this country has given me so much,” said Estrada, . “As a team, this is an honor, but more than anything, as an American. I’m not a soldier like Lenny, I don’t serve this country in war, but I felt like I played a little part today just trying to bring a little more joy to the people of Boulder on Memorial Day.”

As part of the Memorial Day ceremonies that followed the elite races, skydivers dropped into Folsom Field carrying flags of the service branches and a POW/MIA flag. Members of the first Cuban team ever to race the Bolder Boulder took pictures and shot videos with their cellphones. Then, walking through the stands after the ceremonies concluded, Dailin Belmonte stooped to pick up a small American flag that someone left behind on the stadium concrete 鈥� a remembrance to take home from her first trip to the U.S.聽Belmonte ran the marathon for Cuba at the past two Summer Olympics.

“I picked it up because I want to put it together with a flag from Cuba,” Belmonte said. “Because as you know, sport is what joins us together.”