M40-49: Jacob Rubin Dominates in the Rain

• Jacob Rubin won the M40-49 group in 2:02:43 (6:35/mi), posting the fastest splits on both laps.
• 35:32 separated Rubin from runner-up Scott Mann (2:38:15) — a commanding margin across a 30K.
• Scott Mann closed strong, recording the 6th-fastest Lap 2→Finish split among the men to secure 2nd in M40-49.
• Elijah Burkhart gained ground late, moving up in the men's field from 14th to 12th over the final stretch.

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Jacob Rubin turned in a performance that stood apart from the rest of the M40-49 group on a cold, wet morning in Sacramento. Running at 6:35 per mile — in 51°F temperatures with light rain and a 14 mph wind — the 41-year-old from Diablo posted the fastest splits on both Lap 1 and Lap 2, never relinquishing his position in the men's field. His 2:02:43 finish was a statement from the gun.

Scott Mann, at 49 the oldest in the group, held steady throughout and found another gear on the back half. His 6th-fastest Lap 2 split among the men helped him close in 2:38:15 to claim 2nd in M40-49, more than 8 minutes clear of Samir Kulkarni. Kulkarni, also 41, ran a consistent race from Folsom — his position in the men's field never wavered across all four checkpoints — finishing 3rd in 2:46:25.

Elijah Burkhart rounded out the four-man group, but he wasn't standing still. The 46-year-old from Woodland worked his way forward in the men's field as the race wore on, moving from 14th to 12th by the finish. His 11:13/mi average reflects a tough day on a wet course, but the late-race climb through the standings showed he kept pushing all the way to the line.