Parker Stinson and Aaron Gilliam lead the way in the Capitol 10,000

Parker Stinson, who is training with the Bat City Track Club after an eight-year stint in Boulder, CO, talked about breaking the course record in the Capitol 10,000 in the days before the race. But Eric Chirchir’s 29:24, set in 2013, remained out of reach.

Nonetheless, Stinson, the American record holder in the 25K, ran a gutsy race- Prefontaine style, going out hard to break away from the field of some 20,000 runners Sunday morning.

He hit three miles in 14:45, ahead of Aaron Gilliam, Kyle Johnson and Rene Ortiz Morales,  but his 5K split of 15:16 meant the record attempt wasn’t going to happen. Not that he didn’t push hard. He hit  four miles in 19:24, but knew the record was off when he passed five in 24:27. Under overcast 68 degree skies, Stinson averaged 5:54 per mile along the hilly course to break the tape on Riverside Drive in in 30:24, exactly a minute off Chirchir’s mark.

“I just kept trying to run harder and stick with it.  This is my first Cap 10, and you gotta be Texas tough. Like, that course is hard.  The downhills were hard, the uphills were hard. I’m super disappointed about the time, but happy to win, especially against Aaron.”

Gilliam, who ran for Tulane University, pulled up in second, clocking 30:57, while Johnson, who ran for Texas A&M, took third in 31:20.

Allie Kieffer is a world-class marathoner based in Austin, who wins just about every race she competed in here. She allowed Trica Terry take the early lead early on, waiting until just after the 5K mark to move ahead of Terry, Katie Watson, who won the 2024 3M Half Marathon in January, and Stevi Clark, who won the 2023 Run for the Water 10 Miler.

Katie Watson, Allie Kieffer and Stevi Clark took the top three spots

Kieffer broke the tape in 34:30— a 5:33 per mile pace. “Austin races are really fun. Living here and racing and having so many people cheering. It’s fun when you’re competing for the win and the whole town is out there. It’s really special,” she said.

Watson took second place with a 35:32, ahead of Clark’s 35:46. Terry hung on for fourth in 36:29.

Upcoming Races: Saturday, April 13, the Burnet Bluebonnet 5K/10K at 8:00 a.m. at the town square in Burnet. Saturday, April 13, the Longhorn 5K/10K at 8:00 a.m. at the University of Texas.