Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Angel Torres #255 Race: 2026 Habanero 50K Distance: 31.0 miles

Blistering Start Holds Off Late Fade for Runner-Up Finish Angel Torres completed the 50K at the 2026 Habanero Hundred in 6:49:15, covering 30.69 miles and placing 7th overall and 6th among men out of 71 total participants. In the M20-29 division, Torres secured 2nd place, a strong result on a course built for punishment. The race splits tell a story of two distinct halves. Torres opened aggressively, holding the overall race lead through the first five miles at an 8:088:09 min/mile pace. That early speed couldn't be sustained as temperatures and terrain took their toll by mile 13, Torres had settled into 7th overall while still leading the M20-29 division. The back half of the race saw a steady pace decline, with splits stretching past 16 and even 31 minutes per mile in the later loops (miles 22 and 25), reflecting the demands of Texas' brutal August conditions. Torres closed the final five miles at a 13:18 min/mile elapsed pace, finishing with composure despite the fade from the blazing early tempo. Fittingly, the Habanero Hundred is designed around exactly this kind of test the race famously starts at HIGH NOON, intentionally exposing runners to peak heat while fresh rather than saving it for the final hours. With average real-feel temperatures above 100 degrees and deep sand underfoot, pacing discipline is arguably the meet's greatest challenge. Torres' data suggests real strength in raw speed off the line; the next step is finding a more even effort distribution across the full distance, banking less time early to preserve more in the closing miles. A methodical, negative-split approach could convert this runner-up divisional finish into an overall podium result at future TROT events.