M40-49 Men: Badolato Owns the Age Group at Jed Smith

• Solo winner: Chris Badolato, 48, crossed in 2:02:05 at a 6:33/mi average — the only M40-49 finisher on the day.
• Consistent front-runner: Badolato held 1st among the men from the opening checkpoint through the finish, never relinquishing position.

Chris Badolato made the M40-49 result at the 2026 Jed Smith Ultra Classic 30K a straightforward one — he was the sole finisher in the group, and he ran like it. The Reno native covered the 30K course in 2:02:05, clicking off miles at a steady 6:33 pace through Sacramento's foggy, humid morning air.

What gives the performance some texture is where Badolato showed his sharpest running: he posted the fastest split among the men on the Out & Back into Lap 1 segment, a stretch where the 50°F fog and 93% humidity could easily blunt momentum. He didn't let it. He held 1st among the men at every checkpoint recorded, meaning there was no drama about position — just consistent, controlled racing from start to finish.

At 48, Badolato is about as deep into the M40-49 band as you can get, which makes a sub-2:03 finish and a standout segment split all the more worth noting. The field may have been thin, but the clock doesn't negotiate.