N35-39: Spencer Baker Owns It Solo

• Sole finisher: Spencer Baker, 38, of Akron, OH, claimed 1st in the N35-39 age group in 5:26:30 (12:27/mi avg).
• Late-race highlight: Baker posted the 7th-fastest women's split on the 19.1M→22.5M segment — a standout stretch in a tough final third.
• Conditions: Race day brought 75°F temps and 68% humidity to Cleveland, making every mile a grind.

Spencer Baker had the N35-39 age group all to herself on Sunday in Cleveland, and she made it count. Crossing the line in 5:26:30 at a 12:27/mi average, the 38-year-old Akron native earned a solo victory — but the story isn't just about an uncontested win. On a warm, humid morning that tested every marathoner on the course, simply finishing 26.2 miles demanded real resolve.

The most telling number came in the back half of the race. On the 19.1-to-22.5-mile stretch — a segment where many runners are deep into survival mode — Baker ran the 7th-fastest women's split in the field. That's not a runner coasting to the tape; that's someone holding form and finding another gear when the miles get hardest. With 75°F heat and 68% humidity pressing down, that late surge deserves genuine recognition.

Baker's gender place hovered steadily around 8th–9th among the women through most of the race, ticking up to 8th briefly before settling at 9th at the finish. Consistent, controlled, and strong where it mattered most — that 19.1M→22.5M split tells the real story of her day in Cleveland.