F65-69: Susan Toy Takes the Age Group in Chicago's Heat

• Susan Toy won the F65-69 age group in 2:11:17 (10:01/mi), finishing nearly five minutes clear of runner-up Karen Wood (2:16:07).
• Jane Manno made the most dramatic move of the race, climbing from deep in the women's field to 5th place in F65-69 with her strongest running coming in the final stretch (15K to finish).
• Jane Regalado steadily worked her way up through the women's field from start to finish, advancing continuously through every checkpoint to claim 3rd in 2:22:32.
• 4th and 5th were separated by just 11 seconds — Ruthie Maldonado-Delwiche (2:24:43) edging Jane Manno (2:24:54) — in the closest battle on the podium's edge.

Racing 13.1 miles through Chicago on a warm, breezy June morning — 79°F with a 20 mph wind — 27 women in the F65-69 age group lined up and got after it. Susan Toy of Greenville, MI made it look controlled: she ran 10:01 per mile on average and, despite dipping back in the women's standings mid-race, rallied strongly over the final segments to finish with a clear winning margin. Her 2:11:17 left no doubt at the line.

Behind Toy, Karen Wood — racing on home turf in Chicago — held a steady position through the women's field for most of the race before fading slightly in the closing miles, ultimately finishing 2nd in 2:16:07. Jane Regalado of Oak Lawn was the story of consistent progression: she advanced through the women's standings at every single checkpoint, from well back at the start to 3rd place in the age group by the finish in 2:22:32 — a rewarding payoff for patient, disciplined racing.

The fight for 4th and 5th was the tensest subplot of the day. Ruthie Maldonado-Delwiche held a relatively steady position throughout, while Jane Manno of Aurora came from much further back — she was deep in the women's field at the 5K mark — and ran her fastest segment of the race from 15K to the finish. That late charge was enough to close the gap dramatically, but Maldonado-Delwiche held on by 11 seconds. Two women, nearly identical finishing times, very different journeys to get there.