Right from the beginning Kasandra Parker set the pace for the tightly grouped pack including Emily Durgan, Betty Chepkwony, Hannah Branch, Rachael Rudel, Joyline Chemutai, and Clara Mayfield. Mile 1 5:04
After the large descent into Peaceful Valley Kassie Parker continued to push the pace as Joyline Chemutai stuck to her. Emily Durgan and Betty Chepkwony formed the first chase duo followed by a trio of women in pace group 3 including Hannah Branch, Rachel Rudel, and Clara Mayfield.
By the top cemetery hill the pace set by Kasandra Parker was too much and she had a 30meter lead.
Kasandra continued to grow her lead as the approached Doomsday hill.
She had not turned around all day and seemed unaware of the size of her lead. As she turned off of Government Way onto Doomsday Hill she saw the gap for the first time and smiled. Heading up Doomsday hill she offered encouragement to a young wheelchair racer struggling to top the hill.
The final 2.46 miles from the top of Doomsday hill to the finish line on Monroe appeared to be more of coronation than a race. Running the final 2 miles in even splits of 5:19 and 5:19 she raised her hands and waved to the fans on Monroe before breaking the tape in 39:21 averaging 5:17per mile on the hilly course.
Finishing 2nd 18seconds later was Rachel Rudel in a time of 39:39.
Betty Chepkwony, Emily Durgin, and Hannah Branch rounded out the top 5
Kassie is a 7-time division 2 national champion
Kassie is the first American female to win Bloomsday since Kim Jones in 1997ending a 29 year drought for American women.