Results/Photos

Date: Aug. 22, 2026 Participant: Celso Sandoval #568 Race: 2026 Habanero 10K Distance: 6.2 miles

Early Speed Holds Firm for Age-Group Win Despite Late Fade Celso Sandoval opened his 10K at the 2026 Habanero Hundred with real speed, clocking a 7:48 opening mile that had him sitting in 3rd place overall. He maintained that position through the first three miles, holding a 9:21 split on mile three and an elapsed pace of 8:25 min/mile a strong showing on a course notorious for its punishing conditions, with organizers warning of real-feel temperatures exceeding 100 degrees under the event's signature high-noon start. The back half of the race told a different story, as the heat clearly took its toll. Mile four ballooned to an 11:07 split, dropping Celso to 4th overall, and while he rallied briefly with a 9:44 split on mile five, the final mile slowed to 13:27 nearly double his opening pace. Despite the fade, he crossed the line in 1:00:39, good for 4th overall out of 49 finishers and, notably, first place in the M20-29 division. The result highlights both Celso's raw early speed and an opportunity to work on pacing strategy for hot-weather races particularly building in a more conservative start to preserve energy for the closing miles. Given the race's reputation (only 198 finishers have completed the 100-mile distance across the event's entire history through 2025), managing effort against Texas heat is a skill every participant here has to develop. A more even-paced approach in the middle miles could help convert that strong early gear-shift into a stronger finish next time out. Still, the age-group victory is a clear signal of Celso's competitive ceiling on this demanding 7IL Ranch course.