M30-34: Albertson Reclaims Sacramento, George Pushes Him All the Way

• CJ Albertson wins in 2:14:55 (5:09/mi) — a year after finishing 2nd among men here in 2024 (2:10:06), he returns to take the M30-34 title.
• Thomas George runs 2:15:45 (5:10/mi) — just 45 seconds back in 2nd, with the 10th-fastest 5K→10K split in the men's field signaling early aggression.
• Michael Babinec (2:20:07) and Kevin O'Sullivan (2:20:59) trade blows for 3rd and 4th, separated by only 52 seconds in a strong middle-of-the-pack battle.
• 977 finishers completed the M30-34 race under cool, overcast Sacramento skies — 46°F and light wind making for reasonable marathon conditions.

CJ Albertson came back to California International with unfinished business. A year ago he crossed the line 2nd among men in 2:10:06; this time he returned to claim the M30-34 crown outright in 2:14:55. His race unfolded with characteristic patience — his men's place actually slipped from 46th to 51st through the middle miles before he reeled in runners over the final stretch, moving up to 38th among men by the finish and posting the 32nd-fastest 40K→Finish split in the men's field. The win was earned in the closing miles, not gifted early.

Thomas George made him work for it. Running out of Salt Lake City, George was electric through the opening segment — sitting 3rd among men at 5K and 2nd at 10K, with the 10th-fastest 5K→10K split in the men's field. That kind of early pace rarely holds over 26.2 miles, and indeed George faded through the second half, sliding to 52nd among men by the finish. But his 2:15:40 (5:10/mi) was still good enough for 2nd in M30-34 — a 45-second gap to Albertson that reflects how much time George had built before the late fade caught up with him. The contrast between their races couldn't be sharper: one man surging early and holding on, the other patient and closing.

Behind the top two, the race for the podium was its own contest. Michael Babinec of Durham, NC ran a steady 2:20:07 (5:21/mi), climbing steadily through the men's field all day and posting the 58th-fastest 35K→40K split in the men's field to secure 3rd. Kevin O'Sullivan (Washington, DC) was right behind in 2:20:59 (5:23/mi), with John Vodacek (2:21:33, 5:24/mi) rounding out the top five. Places 6 and 7 were as tight as it gets: Sam McGee (Phoenix) clocked 2:22:22 and Brian Wyatt (San Diego) crossed in 2:22:23 — one second separating them after 26.2 miles.