San Francisco Half Marathon: Linda Star Rules the F65-69 Field

• Linda Star wins in 2:39:08 (12:08/mi), nearly five minutes clear of runner-up Sonia Sanchez (2:44:01).
• Sanchez and Bev Exposito both closed hard — Sanchez posted the 789th-fastest women's split on the 10.9M–Finish segment, Exposito the 720th-fastest, each clawing back significant ground in the final miles.
• Eight finishers completed the F65-69 race, spanning nearly 51 minutes from first to last.
• Laurie Winslow closed out the field in 3:29:57 (16:01/mi), finishing 50 minutes and 49 seconds behind the winner.

Linda Star ran a composed, controlled race from the front. She entered the women's standings around 910th through the first five miles, dipped briefly before rallying back to 939th by the finish — a steady hold through San Francisco's famously demanding course in cool, humid conditions. Her 12:08/mi average was the class of the F65-69 field, and no one came close to threatening her lead. The margin to second place — 4 minutes and 53 seconds — tells the story plainly.

The more dramatic action unfolded behind her. Sonia Sanchez (2:44:01, 2nd) and Bev Exposito (2:46:03, 3rd) both ran their best racing in the back half. Exposito's 720th-fastest women's split from 10.9M to the finish was actually stronger than Sanchez's 789th on that same segment, meaning Exposito was closing the gap in those final miles — but Sanchez had built enough of a cushion through the middle of the race to hold second by two minutes and two seconds. A genuine chase, just not quite enough road left.

Ismael Vargas (4th, 2:47:26) and Laura Donnelley (5th, 2:53:40) rounded out the middle of the field, separated by just over six minutes. Annette Elder (6th, 2:59:41) crossed just under the three-hour mark, while Margaret Petersen (7th, 3:11:41) and Laurie Winslow (8th, 3:29:57) completed all eight finishers on a course that demands respect at any age — and these eight delivered.