M70-74: Mitchell Commands the Age Group from Start to Finish

• Jeff Mitchell (Kingsburg, CA, age 73) won the M70-74 group in 1:18:09 — a 12:35/mi pace across the 10K.
• Salvador Ramirez (Madera, CA, age 71) took 2nd in 1:25:02, finishing 6:53 back.
• Kirby Schlotterback (Fresno, CA, age 70) rounded out the three-man group in 3rd, crossing in 1:43:47.
• The gap from 1st to 3rd spanned 25:38 — a wide spread across just three competitors.

Three men in their seventies toed the line in Fresno on a warm November morning — 74°F and clear skies made for a demanding backdrop — and Jeff Mitchell made sure there was no drama at the top. The 73-year-old from Kingsburg ran a composed 1:18:09, averaging 12:35 per mile to claim the M70-74 title by nearly seven minutes. He also moved steadily through the broader men's field as the race progressed, climbing from 281st to 274th in the men's standings over the final stretch.

Salvador Ramirez, 71, out of Madera, held second place throughout and finished in 1:25:02 at a 13:41/mi pace — a full minute per mile slower than Mitchell, which tells the story of the gap between them. Ramirez similarly worked his way up the men's field late in the race, moving from 302nd to 294th, and secured a comfortable cushion over third place.

Kirby Schlotterback, the youngest of the three at 70 and a local from Fresno, crossed in 1:43:47 at 16:42/mi. He found the final miles tougher, sliding from 316th to 329th in the men's field over the closing segment — a sign that the heat took its toll. Still, finishing a 10K at 70 years old on a warm afternoon is its own achievement, and Schlotterback completed the group. Mitchell was the clear class of this age group from wire to wire.