Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Jennifer Ysassi #569 Race: 2026 Habanero 10K Distance: 6.2 miles

Masters Title Claimed With a Strong Closing Kick Jennifer Ysassi turned in a 1:37:53 performance over the 10K distance (6.1 miles) at the 2026 Habanero Hundred, finishing 12th overall out of 49 participants, 4th among all women, and 1st in the Female Masters division. Her average pace of 16:02 per mile came on a course billed as Texas' hottest trail race, run on a single 10km loop under a deliberately brutal high-noon start with real-feel temperatures reported above 100 degrees. Ysassi's race showed a pattern of surges and recoveries. She opened with back-to-back miles near 15:00 (15:04 and 15:09), then slowed through miles 3 and 4 (16:56 and 17:39) as the heat and terrain took their toll mile 4 was her slowest split and briefly cost her ground, dropping to 16th overall. She responded with her fastest mile of the day at mile 5 (14:57), reclaiming 12th overall and the Masters lead, then held that position through the finish with a 17:00 closing mile. Notably, she took over the Female Masters lead as early as mile 3 and never relinquished it again. The overall arc fast start, a rough patch in the middle miles, and a strong rebound to close suggests good resilience but an opportunity to smooth out the middle-mile fade. Tightening the pacing between miles 3 and 4, where the biggest time loss occurred, could translate into an even stronger overall finish next time. The finishing surge in mile 5 shows the physical capability is there; harnessing it earlier and more consistently will be the next step forward.