SPOKANE, WA – (May 7, 2026) – On a spectacular sunny Sunday morning on May 3 at the 50th Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K, the fourth stop on the 2025-26 PRRO Circuit, Americans Reid Buchanan and Kasandra Parker used different displays of running prowess to win their respective races in 34 minutes, 30 seconds and 39:21. Their victories represent the first American sweep at Bloomsday since 1980 as well as the first American male winner since 1986 (Jon Sinclair) and the first American female winner since 2002 (Colleen De Reuck). The golden edition champions also earned automatic eligibility to compete for the $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus at the 29th PRRO Championship presented by the Quad-City Times Bix 7 on Saturday, July 25, 2026 in Davenport, IA. In the men’s race, like many past Bloomsdays, the aptly named Doomsday Hill on mile 5 decided the final contenders as Buchanan, William Amponsah of Ghana and recent Gonzaga graduate James Mwaura pulled away from the field. With a half-mile left, Buchanan, 33, from Kansas City, MO, struck hard to the finish line because in 2022 he was nipped at the line by Charles Wanjiku, and this year, he didn’t want the race to come down to a final sprint again. His gambit worked as Mwaura couldn’t make up the gap and finished runner-up, 3 seconds back in 34:33. Amponsah held on for third (34:35). For the women, Parker, 26, from Guttenberg, Iowa, who finished 7th last year, took the lead after the first mile and was never challenged as she cruised to an 18-second win over runner-up Rachael Rudel who ran 39:39. Kenyan Betty Chepkwony took third in 41:05. Overall, the race awarded $81,000 in prize money, including $20,000 U.S. prize money. For their winning efforts, Buchanan and Parker pocketed $12,000 each ($7000 as Open race champion and $5000 as first American). In addition, the 2-10 finishers at Bloomsday earned PRRO Super Bonus points with the top 5 scorers overall before the PRRO Championship also qualifying to compete for the Super Bonus. The current points leaderboard is: for men, Mezgebu Sime (ETH), James Mwaura (USA), Wesley Kiptoo (KEN), Graydon Morris (USA), Getinet Gedamu (ETH) & William Amponsah (GHA), and for women, Everlyn Kemboi (KEN), Molly Born (USA), Fiona O’Keeffe (USA), Rachael Rudel (USA) & Cynthia Limo (KEN). Complete point standings can be found HERE. “Racing at the 50th Bloomsday did not disappoint,” said PRRO President and Bloomsday founder Don Kardong. “Congratulations to Reid Buchanan and Kasandra Parker for their wins and automatic PRRO Super Bonus qualification at Bix 7, and valuable points in the Super Bonus standings were also secured by the 2-10 Bloomsday finishers.” At the annual spring 7.46 mile road race, which fosters health, fitness and the community spirit of the Lilac City, 38,339 runners and walkers, the highest total since 2018, completed the iconic course that weaves across the Spokane River gorge before finishing above awe-inspiring falls in downtown Spokane. For complete 2026 race results, go to: bloomsdayrun.org
The next PRRO Circuit stop is the Steamboat Classic 4 Mile in Peoria, IL on Saturday, June 6. The PRRO Circuit showcases world class competition at six of America’s Classic Road Races™, the Gate River Run 15K in Jacksonville, FL, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in Washington, DC, the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K in Spokane, WA, the Steamboat Classic 4 Mile in Peoria, IL, the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY and the Quad-City Times Bix 7 in Davenport, IA. The 2025-26 PRRO Circuit offers more than $440,000 in guaranteed prize money overall with $148,100 for U.S. athletes. The PRRO Circuit, a nationwide series of premier non-marathon road racing events, is organized and promoted by the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO), an alliance of race directors. Schedule and PRRO Super Bonus event qualifiers below: THE PRRO CIRCUIT 2025-26 SCHEDULE Quad-City Times Bix 7, July 26, 2025, Davenport, IA $50,000 in prize money WINNERS: Alex Maier*, USA, 32:02 and Vibian Chepkirui*, Kenya, 36:41 Gate River Run 15K, March 7, 2026, Jacksonville, FL $72,000 in prize money ($23,000 U.S. prize money) plus $5000 Equalizer gender race and World, U.S. & course record bonus money WINNERS: Mohammed El Youssfi*, Morocco, 43:26 and Chloe Herbiet*, Belgium, 47:58 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, April 12, 2026, Washington, DC $80,600 in prize money ($48,600 U.S. prize money) plus performance bonuses WINNERS: Mohammed El Youssfi*, Morocco, 46:17 and Asayech Ayichew*, Ethiopia, 50:37 50th Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K, May 3, 2026, Spokane, WA $81,000 in prize money ($20,000 U.S. prize money) WINNERS: Reid Buchanan*, USA, 34:30 and Kasandra Parker*, USA, 39:21 Steamboat Classic 4 Mile, June 6, 2026, Peoria, IL $43,200 in U.S. prize money Boilermaker 15K, July 12, 2026, Utica, NY $65,100 in prize money ($14,500 U.S. prize money) THE 29th PRRO CHAMPIONSHIP Quad-City Times Bix 7, July 25, 2026, Davenport, IA $50,000 in prize money as well as: $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus to male or female Bix winners who are either defending PRRO Champions, have won any of the PRRO Circuit 2025-26 races or finished top 5 in the points system (Super Bonus split if both eligible male and female win) $2500 to male or female Championship winners who have not won any races on the 2025-26 Circuit $1500 to eligible PRRO event champions, males and females, finishing in places 2-10 *Qualified to compete for the $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus at the 2026 PRRO Championship. With their 2025 PRRO Championship titles at Boilermaker, John Korir and Veronica Loleo were the first two athletes eligible to compete for the $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus at the 2026 PRRO Championship hosted by the Quad-City Times Bix 7 in July. In pursuit of the Super Bonus, the pair will join the winners of the 2025-26 Circuit events as well as the top 5 per gender in the PRRO Circuit points system (2-10 finishers score points at each current Circuit race; except, 2-5 finishers score at a U.S.-only Circuit race). To-date, PRRO Circuit events have produced 18 world and 24 U.S. road records, awarded more than $9.1 million in prize money and seen more than 2.8 million runners cross their finish lines. In addition, since 1996, the PRRO Championship race has paid out more than $2.2 million including $218,500 in PRRO Championship bonus money. PRRO Championship and Circuit Year The PRRO Circuit, launched in 1995, starts and finishes the Circuit Year at the same event that will also host the season-ending PRRO Championship race. The reigning titlists of the PRRO Championship, the event winners on the current Circuit and the top 5 in the PRRO points system are eligible to compete for the PRRO Super Bonus at the PRRO Championship. Visit PRRO.org for more information, including its history and past champions, as well as how to join the PRRO Circuit. |
