SF Marathon 10K: Mercedes Acosta Owns the F75-79 Field

• Mercedes Acosta, 78, finished in 1:32:24 — the only finisher in the F75-79 field, making her both the winner and the standard-setter for the category.
• Pace: 14:52/mi across the full 10K distance on a cool, humid San Francisco morning.

Mercedes Acosta showed up, toed the line, and got it done. The 78-year-old San Francisco local was the sole representative of the F75-79 field at the 2022 SF Marathon 10K, and she made every step count — crossing the finish line in 1:32:24 at a 14:52-per-mile pace.

Racing in your late 70s through San Francisco's streets — at 93% humidity, even if the temperature was a mild 55°F — demands a specific kind of grit. Acosta delivered it, navigating the course from start to finish and putting a time on the board that stands as the mark for the F75-79 field this year.

There's no podium battle to dissect here, no surges or fades to chart — just one athlete who made the decision to race and followed through. That's worth recognizing on its own terms.