Two Cities Marathon 5K — F45-49: Beaumont blazes to a dominant win

• Traci Beaumont, 24:37 (7:55/mi) — won the F45-49 age group by a commanding 4 minutes and 14 seconds over 2nd place.
• Serena Mendez, 28:51 (9:17/mi) — secured 2nd, finishing more than 2 minutes clear of the podium battle behind her.
• Jenny Gaasch (31:44) and Angela Esau (32:08) — traded 3rd and 4th, separated by just 24 seconds after 3.1 miles.
• 39 women finished in the F45-49 age group, with the top 20 spanning a range from 24:37 to 48:13.

Traci Beaumont of Hanford made her presence known from the start and never let up. Her 24:37 at a 7:55/mi clip wasn't just a win — it was a statement, putting more than four minutes of daylight between herself and every other woman in the F45-49 field. That's the kind of gap that speaks to a completely different gear on race day.

Serena Mendez of Kerman was a clear and comfortable 2nd in 28:51 (9:17/mi), crossing well ahead of the cluster fighting for the final podium spot. That battle belonged to Jenny Gaasch of Madera, who held on for 3rd in 31:44, fending off a close charge from Fresno's Angela Esau, who finished 4th in 32:08 — just 24 seconds back after 3.1 miles of racing.

The mid-field told its own story of tight competition. Falilatou Mwaipopo rounded out the top five in 33:18, while Tami Simpson (35:33) and Alma Beltran (35:44) finished 6th and 7th, separated by only 11 seconds. Further back, Simranjit Kaur (8th, 37:21), Lauren Sewell (9th, 37:41), and Angela Surgeon (10th, 37:44) finished within 23 seconds of each other — a genuine three-way sprint to the finish line in the back half of the top ten.