Fort Ord 25K M40-49: Charmoz Runs Away With It

• Alex Charmoz, 41, wins the M40-49 group in 2:13:39 (8:36/mi), finishing more than seven minutes clear of runner-up Kris Kent.
• Kent (2:20:46) holds off Gino Signoracci (2:22:30) by 1:44 for second, with Signoracci posting the 4th-fastest split on the Skyline→Toro Creek segment among the women's field.
• Chas Christiansen's closing surge was the story of the back half — he posted the 10th-fastest Toro Creek→Finish split among the women's field and climbed from 51st to 25th in the men's standings on his way to 5th in M40-49 at 2:39:39.
• A tight cluster at 10th–14th: Adrian Rodriguez (2:59:08) and Chris Cardinal (2:59:11) were separated by just three seconds, with Christopher Filan, John Pinano, and Michael Fernandez all finishing within 1:19 of them.

Cool, damp Fort Ord conditions — 53°F and 91% humidity under overcast skies — made for heavy air on the trails, but Alex Charmoz was unfazed. The 41-year-old from Idyllwild ran a composed 8:36/mi pace from start to finish, and his 3rd-fastest Toro Creek→Finish split among the women's field confirmed he was still accelerating late in the race. His 2:13:39 wasn't just a win — it was a statement, leaving the rest of the M40-49 field well behind.

Behind Charmoz, the podium fight had real texture. Kris Kent, 46, moved steadily through the men's standings and backed it up with the 7th-fastest Toro Creek→Finish split in the women's field, finishing a solid 2:20:46 for second. Signoracci, 43, was the stronger climber — his 4th-fastest Skyline→Toro Creek split shows where he made his move — but Kent had the better close, and 1:44 was the final margin.

The most dramatic arc in the M40-49 group belonged to Chas Christiansen. Starting deep in the overall men's field, the 41-year-old from Oakland spent the entire race clawing forward, ultimately landing 5th in the age group at 2:39:39. Viktor Spalek rounded out the top four at 2:34:31, while Michael Rickels (2:48:45), Russell Hammersmith (2:50:30), and Dan Henderson (2:52:01) packed tightly through eighth. All 24 finishers in the M40-49 group crossed the line, with a logjam of four athletes all finishing within 1:19 of each other around the three-hour mark.