M75-79: Schoenfeld Claims Kaua'i Half in a Field of Seasoned Runners

• Michael Schoenfeld, 76, of Koloa, HI, won the M75-79 group in 3:12:24 (14:41/mi) — more than 28 minutes clear of second place.
• Terry Taylor (3:40:50) edged Joe Loschiavo (3:46:05) for the runner-up spot, with just over 5 minutes separating them.
• Charles Curran, the only finisher from the mainland, completed the four-man field in 4:01:19 — the group's only sub-18:30/mi average that still topped four hours.

Four men aged 75–78 toed the line in Poipu on a warm, humid Sunday morning — 77°F, 69% humidity, with only a light breeze to offer any relief. Michael Schoenfeld, running on home soil in Koloa, made the conditions look comparatively manageable. His 14:41/mi average was in a different gear from the rest of the field, and his gap of 28 minutes and 26 seconds over Terry Taylor wasn't a photo finish — it was a statement. Schoenfeld also steadily moved through the broader men's field across the final stretch, climbing from 570th to 560th among men between the early checkpoint and the finish.

Taylor and Loschiavo waged the race's most interesting internal battle. Taylor, of nearby Kalaheo, held a consistent line at 16:51/mi to finish second in 3:40:50. Loschiavo, 78 — the oldest finisher in the group — was right on his heels through much of the race but couldn't quite close the gap, crossing in 3:46:05 at 17:15/mi. Five minutes and fifteen seconds was the final margin, but the more compelling detail is that Loschiavo was gaining ground in the men's field over the final segment even as Taylor held him off on the clock.

Charles Curran made the trip from Sacramento to complete a tough course in 4:01:19, averaging 18:25/mi across 13.1 miles of Kaua'i heat and humidity. All four men finished — no small thing in these conditions at this age — and Schoenfeld's winning time of 3:12:24 stands as the clear benchmark for M75-79 on this course today.