M70-99: Bryan Henry Conquers American River's 25 Miles at 76

• Bryan Henry, 76, won the M70-99 age group in 6:25:37 (15:26/mi), finishing 37 minutes ahead of Lionel St Pierre.
• Lionel St Pierre, 74, closed in 7:02:47 (16:55/mi) to claim 2nd in M70-99.
• St Pierre posted the 23rd-fastest Last Gasp→Finish split among the men, a strong closing stretch that helped him gain ground in the men's field through the final miles.
• Henry recorded the 25th-fastest Rattlesnake Bar→Last Gasp split among the men, holding his position through that demanding mid-race stretch.

Only two men lined up in the M70-99 age group at American River's 25-miler on a warm April day — 73°F and clear skies in Auburn — and both of them finished, which at this level of competition is a story in itself. Bryan Henry, 76 years old and running out of Angwin, was the stronger force from the gun, building a lead that he never relinquished across 25 miles of Sierra Nevada foothills.

Henry's 6:25:37 translates to a 15:26-per-mile average, a pace that demands real discipline over a course this long in that kind of heat. He navigated the Rattlesnake Bar to Last Gasp segment — one of the race's more punishing stretches — with the 25th-fastest split among the men in the field, holding his composure where the course tests patience most.

Lionel St Pierre, 74, ran a measured race of his own. He actually moved through the men's field progressively over the final stages, climbing from 38th among the men early on to 31st by the finish — a quiet, steady advance. His Last Gasp to Finish split ranked 23rd among the men, meaning he saved something for the end. His 7:02:47 final time (16:55/mi) represents a genuine 25-mile effort on a hard day.

Two finishers, two septuagenarians, 25 miles in the California heat. Henry takes the age group title; St Pierre earns every bit of 2nd place.