Masters Women at Napa Valley Marathon: Lozano Dominates While the Pack Surges Late

• Eva Lozano, 42, wins in 2:53:18 (6:37/mi) — the fastest Masters Women's finish of the day by more than 14 minutes, and within 21 seconds of the course's all-time women's record set in 2012.
• Shari Costanzo and Elissa Ballas posted the 10th- and 9th-fastest women's splits from mile 20 to the finish, climbing from 11th and 18th to seal 2nd (3:07:38) and 3rd (3:12:31) respectively.
• Belia Hernandez and Alicia Eno both cracked 3:17, finishing 4th (3:16:09) and 5th (3:16:51) — separated by just 42 seconds after 26.2 miles — with both women surging through the final 10K to move up six and four spots respectively.
• Lorenza Jimenez, 52, was the standout veteran in the field, finishing 7th in 3:21:02 — a decade older than most of her podium rivals.

In 39°F and clear skies along the Napa Valley course, Eva Lozano ran a wire-to-wire commanding race. She sat 5th among all women through the half, moved to 4th by mile 20 — where she posted the 4th-fastest women's split on that 13.1-to-20-mile stretch — and held position to the finish in 2:53:18. At 6:37 per mile for 26.2 miles, it was a performance that came within 21 seconds of the women's course record. No one in the Masters Women's field was close.

The real drama unfolded behind her. Costanzo, a local runner from Napa, was 18th among women at the half and steadily reeled in the field, running the 10th-fastest women's split from mile 20 to the finish to land on the podium in 3:07:38. Ballas was even more aggressive: starting 37th among women, she climbed all the way to 18th by the gun — the 9th-fastest closing split among women — to take 3rd in 3:12:31. These were genuine catch-up performances, not just steady running.

The battle for 4th and 5th was tight but not equal in effort. Hernandez moved from 30th to 22nd in the women's field with the 16th-fastest closing split, finishing in 3:16:09. Eno, who had slipped back to 36th at mile 20, came roaring back with the 19th-fastest closing split to finish 5th in 3:16:51 — 42 seconds back. Both women were surging; Hernandez simply surged harder. Among the 242 Masters Women finishers, the depth was real, with Xiangyang Song, 50, and Tami Pauly, 47, each clocking 3:23:35 and 3:23:59 to round out the top ten.