Date: Sept. 12, 2026 Participant: Kayla Valdez #4448 Race: 2026 REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles

Strong Finish with Divisional Victory Kayla Valdez delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon, securing first place in the Female 45-49 division. Maintaining a consistent pace, she finished the 13.1-mile course in 1:21:06, with an overall pace of 6:11 min/mile. Remarkably, Kayla maintained a position within the top 5 for most of the race, ending 5th in her gender category and 19th overall among 2630 participants. Standout moments included a swift acceleration between miles 4 and 8, with split times progressively decreasing. Her swiftest split occurred between miles 7 and 8, clocking in at just 5:46 min/mile. Despite a slightly slower pace in the final mile, Kayla displayed remarkable endurance and consistency throughout the race. To refine performance, consider aiming for a steady pace in the concluding segments of the race to maintain momentum. Excellent work on leading the division!