California International Marathon F75-79: Frazier Wins a Hard-Fought Battle in the Rain

• Charlyn Frazier, 75, wins the F75-79 age group in 5:35:32 (12:48/mi), holding off JoAnn Hall by 3 minutes 19 seconds.
• JoAnn Hall, 78, ran the most dramatic race in the group — surging from 2,661st to 2,498th among women through the 15K-to-half stretch before fading to finish 2nd in 5:38:51.
• Anne Marie, 75, claimed 3rd in 5:57:21, while Carolyn Slavich, 78, rounded out the four-finisher field in 6:05:49.
• All four women completed a full 26.2 miles in cold, wet conditions — 56°F, light rain, and 9 mph wind — a feat worth noting at any age, let alone in the 75-79 bracket.

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In a four-woman F75-79 field at the 2019 California International Marathon, Sacramento's Charlyn Frazier, 75, crossed the line first in 5:35:32, averaging 12:48 per mile through the rain-soaked Sacramento streets. Her movement among the women's field tells a story of steady, disciplined execution — she worked her way from 2,955th to 2,842nd among women across the race, grinding out positions one by one rather than surging and fading.

The most compelling subplot belonged to JoAnn Hall, 78, of Redding. Hall was actually running stronger among the women's field than Frazier through the early miles, climbing from 2,661st all the way to 2,498th among women by the halfway point — her 15K-to-half split ranked 2,403rd among all women in the race. But the back half told a different story. Hall steadily dropped back through the field, eventually finishing 2nd in 5:38:51. The 3:19 gap to Frazier at the line reflects just how much the final miles cost her.

Anne Marie, 75, also of Sacramento, was consistent if not fast, finishing 3rd in 5:57:21 at 13:38/mi. Her best segment came late — her 35K-to-40K split ranked 2,787th among women, suggesting she held her form when others were tiring. Carolyn Slavich, 78, closed out the group in 6:05:49 (13:57/mi), her strongest relative showing coming early — her 5K-to-10K split ranked 3,006th among women. Four women aged 75 to 78, finishing a marathon in the rain. That's the whole story, and it's a good one.