Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Jennifer McCain #16281 Race: 2026 Mesa Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles

Consistent Start with a Tactical Finish Jennifer McCain from Santa Fe, NM, showcased a steady performance at the 2026 Mesa Marathon Half Marathon. She maintained an average pace of 9:42 min/mile at the start, gradually improving to a 9:09 min/mile pace by mile 3. Her fastest split occurred between miles 4 and 5 with an 8:54 min/mile pace, significantly boosting her positions in all categories. This segment of the race stands out as an exceptional effort, providing insight into her potential for similar-paced stretches in future races. Despite slowing in the latter half, Jennifer finished the half marathon with an overall elapsed time of 2:12:03, achieving an overall pace of 10:04 min/mile. Her ability to stay within the top third in her division until the mid-race marks a balanced approach to pacing. A potential area to refine for future races could be maintaining the strong momentum from the fifth mile throughout subsequent miles. Continue leveraging those strong mid-race splits for even better placements.