Napa Valley Marathon F18-20: Meredith Olenec Owns the Field

• Sole finisher: Meredith Olenec, 19, crossed in 4:59:19 — the only F18-20 competitor to toe the line and finish.
• Consistent presence: She held 333rd among women through the halfway point before settling to 425th by the finish.
• Mid-race split: Her 10K-to-half-marathon leg ranked 332nd among women on that segment.
• Conditions: A cold, clear morning — 39°F with near-calm winds — greeted every runner on the Napa Valley course.

There's something to be said for showing up when no one else does. Meredith Olenec, 19, from Lyme, was the only athlete to represent the F18-20 field at the 2022 Napa Valley Marathon, and she saw it through to the finish line in 4:59:19 — averaging 11:25 per mile across all 26.2 miles.

Olenec ran steadily through the first half, holding 333rd among women at both the 10K and the halfway mark. The back half of the race proved tougher, as her position among the women's field slipped to 425th by the finish — a natural reflection of the grind that is the second half of any marathon, especially in 39°F humidity that, while cool, can sap legs over the long haul.

Her 10K-to-half split ranked 332nd among the women in the field — a data point that captures a mid-race stretch where she was running within herself, holding her rhythm. The finish came, the tape (figuratively) was crossed, and Olenec walked away as the uncontested F18-20 champion. Sometimes the bravest thing in racing is simply being the one who shows up.