Two Cities Marathon 5K — F25-29: Diaz Dominates the Central Valley

• Mercedes Diaz won the F25-29 age group in 29:10 (9:23/mi), finishing a full 1:37 ahead of runner-up Vanessa Medina.
• Vanessa Medina (30:47) and Karesa Hurst (31:07) were separated by just 20 seconds for the podium's second and third spots.
• Denise Martinez (32:07, 5th) edged Gabriela Pacheco (32:48, 6th) and Lisa Yang (33:01, 7th) in a tight mid-pack cluster spanning just 53 seconds across three runners.
• 34 women finished in the F25-29 age group, with the top 20 ranging from 29:10 to 42:49.

Mercedes Diaz of Clovis made the F25-29 age group her own from the start. Her 29:10 — a 9:23/mi clip — was the class of the field, and the 1:37 margin she built over second place tells you this wasn't a photo finish; it was a controlled, authoritative performance from wire to wire.

Behind her, Vanessa Medina and Karesa Hurst staged the race's most compelling battle. Medina, running in her home city of Fresno, crossed in 30:47 to claim second, while Hurst of Lemoore gave chase and finished in 31:07 — a 20-second gap that kept things interesting right to the end. Fourth place went to an anonymous participant in 31:57, followed closely by Denise Martinez of Hollister in 32:07, meaning four runners finished within a 57-second window just behind the winner.

The middle of the field offered its own storyline. Gabriela Pacheco (32:48, 6th) and Lisa Yang (33:01, 7th) ran within earshot of each other, and Deisy Fuentes of Madera wasn't far behind in 33:18 for 8th. From there the field spread out, with Hailey Millhollen (35:12, 9th) and Aracely Ramirez (35:44, 10th) leading a second wave through the finish. All told, 34 women completed the F25-29 age group — a strong showing from across the Central Valley and beyond.