M85-89 at Peachtree: Eric Goode Runs Away with It

• Eric Goode, 87, wins in 1:18:49 — a 12:41/mi average that put more than 22 minutes between him and the rest of the M85-89 field.
• Three men separated by just 28 seconds — Charles Nelson (2nd, 1:41:00), Robert Ervin (3rd, 1:44:16), and Michael Kay (4th, 1:44:44) waged the tightest battle of the day in this group.
• Ronald Starker, John Howard, and David Ewert — all 89 — the oldest men in a 16-finisher field, each crossing the line between 2:00:59 and 2:38:55.
• 16 finishers, ages 85 to 89, completed a Fourth of July 10K in Atlanta's warm, humid morning air.

Eric Goode didn't just win the M85-89 race — he lapped the field on the clock. The 87-year-old from Marietta finished in 1:18:49, a pace of 12:41 per mile that was simply in a different gear from everyone behind him. His move data tells the story clearly: he was already pulling away from the broader men's field through the early miles and never looked back, building separation that ultimately stretched to 22 minutes and 11 seconds over runner-up Charles Nelson.

Behind Goode, the real drama unfolded between three Atlanta-area 86-year-olds. Nelson (Atlanta, 1:41:00) held second, but Ervin (Stone Mountain, 1:44:16) and Kay (Sandy Springs, 1:44:44) were right on his heels — or rather, 3 minutes and 16 seconds behind him, but locked in a fierce battle of their own. Ervin edged Kay by just 28 seconds for third. Notably, Ervin was moving through the men's field on the 4M-to-5M segment, while Kay was fading slightly during that same stretch — a catch-up that nearly erased the gap but fell just short.

Neil McCarthy (5th, 1:49:25) and Kenneth Crull (6th, 1:51:26) rounded out a competitive top half of the field, with Patrick Abbott (7th, 1:54:12) and Charles Logan (8th, 1:59:30) close behind. Ronald Starker, at 89 years old, crossed in 2:00:59 for 9th — a remarkable effort from the oldest cohort in the group. Fellow 89-year-olds John Howard (14th, 2:35:39) and David Ewert (15th, 2:38:55) also made it to the finish line on a warm Independence Day morning, a feat worth noting on its own terms. James Crawford closed out the field in 3:13:53.