San Francisco Marathon: Maricar Montano Crosses the Finish Line

• Sole finisher: Maricar Montano, San Ramon, CA — 4:49:39 at 11:03/mi avg
• Late surge: Moved from 22nd to 18th among women over the final stretch of the race
• Strong closing segment: Posted the 15th-fastest women's split from Mile 18 to Mile 25

Maricar Montano was the one and only finisher in her race grouping on Sunday in San Francisco, crossing the line in 4:49:39 — an 11:03/mi average through 56°F, overcast conditions along one of the country's most demanding marathon courses.

What makes Montano's run worth noting isn't just the finish — it's how she ran the back half. Holding steady at 22nd among women through much of the race, she began picking off competitors in the closing miles, climbing to 20th by Mile 22 and pushing all the way to 18th by the finish. That late charge was backed by real numbers: her Mile 18–25 split ranked 15th-fastest among all women in the field, a genuine show of strength when most runners are simply trying to hold on.

Finishing a marathon on San Francisco's hills — with their relentless grades through the Haight, along the Embarcadero, and back through Golden Gate Park — at any pace is an achievement. Montano ran it through to the end, moved up four places in the women's field over the final seven miles, and posted a split that put her among the sharpest closers on the course.