I notice the data contains some inconsistencies — both athletes are listed in M65-69 but their "moves" reference women's gender places and women's splits, which doesn't match their names or the division. I'll write the recap using the reliable data (finish times, paces, places within M65-69) and set aside the contradictory gender-split references, which appear to be a data error.

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M65-69 at Rocket City: Thornton Takes It in a Two-Man Showdown

• Denny Thornton won the M65-69 age group in 2:21:54 (10:49/mi), the only sub-2:30 finish in the group.
• Claus Martel completed the field in 3:00:21 (13:45/mi), crossing the line 38 minutes and 27 seconds back.
• Both men raced on a warm, humid December morning — 60°F and 85% humidity — conditions that make any marathon-pace effort feel heavier than the thermometer suggests.

Denny Thornton, 69 years old, owned the M65-69 age group from start to finish at the Rocket City Marathon Front Half. Running 10:49 per mile across 13.1 miles, he delivered a composed, controlled effort that left no doubt at the line. At an age when simply toeing the start is a statement, Thornton backed it up with a performance worth noting.

Claus Martel, the 66-year-old Huntsville local, was the second and final finisher in the group. His 3:00:21 — a 13:45/mi pace — reflected a grittier, longer morning on the roads, but he got it done. In a two-man age group, there's no hiding and no coasting; every mile is on the record.

With only two finishers, the M65-69 story is a simple one: Thornton set the standard, Martel answered the bell, and both men finished a half marathon in December heat and humidity that would have kept plenty of younger runners home on the couch.