Barks & Brews 5K: Bella Almaraz leads the F70-74 field from start to finish

• Bella Almaraz won the F70-74 age group in 30:21 (9:46/mi), steadily climbing from 146th to 140th among all women across the race.
• June Montuori was a clear runner-up in 31:21 (10:06/mi) — a full minute back, but well clear of third.
• Karin Boston (3rd, 38:37) and Lisa Dewitt (4th, 39:54) ran the closest battle of the day, separated by just 1:17 at the finish — with Boston posting the stronger 1M→2M split to build that cushion.
• Fourteen women finished across a wide range, from Almaraz's 30:21 to Nancy Castaneda's 1:21:04 — every one of them out on a clear Sacramento morning.

Bella Almaraz, 73, of Sacramento, made her move look almost effortless. She entered the women's field at 146th place through the first mile, then ticked steadily forward — 144th, 141st, and ultimately 140th by the finish — never losing ground. Her 30:21 and 9:46/mi average were the class of the F70-74 age group, and the gap she opened on the field by the end was never seriously threatened.

June Montuori, 71, making the trip down from Auburn, was a comfortable second in 31:21. Her 10:06/mi pace was noticeably steadier through the early miles — she moved from 164th to 161st among women through the midpoint — before settling back slightly to 165th at the line. The minute she conceded to Almaraz is the real story; the gap to third was another seven-plus minutes.

The race's tightest contest played out between Karin Boston and Lisa Dewitt, both 72, both from the Sacramento area. Boston (3rd, 38:37) posted the stronger 1M→2M leg — the 281st-fastest women's split on that segment — and held Dewitt (4th, 39:54) at arm's length to the tape. Beverly Shimizu rounded out the top five in 47:23, with Kathy Kato (6th, 48:50), Carol Kudow (7th, 49:38), and Joyce Hirano (8th, 51:39) forming a tight cluster through the back half of the field.