Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Tony Merritt #12759 Race: 2025 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles Weather: Perfect running conditions at 63°F, partly cloudy skies, and a slight breeze from the east in Mesa, AZ.

Consistent Effort with Opportunities at Splits Tony Merritt completed the 2025 Mesa Marathon in 4:57:38, maintaining an average pace of 11:21 min/mile, placing 84th in the M55-59 division. His early splits showed strong consistency, with paces between 9:55 and 10:11 min/mile up until mile 11, showcasing a steady start. Notably, Tony improved his pace during mile 7 with a quick 9:08 min/mile, reflecting a capacity for acceleration and strength at different points of the race. While overall performance was commendable for maintaining a steady race pace, attention could be directed towards mile 19 and 21, where there were instances of deceleration with splits at 13:39 and 14:27 min/mile respectively. By focusing on sustaining a steady pace in these later stages, especially after mile 18, Tony could potentially enhance his overall marathon time. Participation as part of the Black Chicago Runners team provides a strong support network which can be leveraged to refine pacing strategies.