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Every spring, top runners from all over Texas and beyond line up at the start of the Statesman Capitol 10,000, shooting to win the largest 10K in the state and the sixth largest in the country. And since the race’s inception in 1978, a handful of them have gone on to win the race more than once, but it’s been awhile.
Scott MacPherson notched his third victory back in 2014 and Allison Mendez Cleaver was a back-to-back women’s champ in 2015 and 2016.
On Sunday, Austin runners Allie Kieffer and Mitch Ammons are looking to add their names to the list of multi-time Cap10 winners. Kieffer, the 2024 women’s winner, is back to defend her title while Ammons, who won the race in 2023, is aiming to reclaim the top spot in the men’s race.
“I’d love to join the two-time Cap 10 club. Maybe even break the course record,” said Kieffer, 37, who certainly has the wheels to do it. She owns a 10,000-meter track best of 32:09 and a world-class 2:28:12 personal best in the marathon.
MORE:Former Longhorn Will Nation eyes Sunday's Statesman Capitol 10,000
“I felt really good last year when I raced it,” Kieffer said of her 34:31 win. “I felt like I should have gone for the course record. Natalie Nalepa Linam’s 1997 33:43 record is fast for this course. I’m not sure where I’m at this year, but I would like to break it. At the same time, I don’t want to jeopardize winning by going for the course record. I’ll run to win.”
Kieffer, a 2020 and 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, considers Austin’s Shannon Gaden, Sarah Jackson and Johanna Gretschel to be her toughest competition. Jackson has a 10K best of 35:08 while Gretschel’s is 35:18. And just last week, at Texas State’s Bobcat Invitational, Gaden won the 5,000-meter event in 16:43.
“I would expect Shannon, Sarah and Johanna to be up there in the lead pack,” said Kieffer, who won the 3M Half Marathon in 2023 and 2025, this year's race rebranded as the Austin International Half Marathon.
Ammons, 35, will face a tough field in his bid to reclaim the title. His 30:24 10K best is highly competitive, but Texas A&M’s Jonathan Chung and former Texas ace Will Nation are entered and have both run under 30-minutes for the 10K— Chung in 29:17 and Nation in 29:15. And Puerto Rico’s Alexander Torres has the fastest time of any entrant with a 28:46 10K best, and if he’s in top form he could run away with the race.
Ammons, a 2024 Olympic Marathon trials qualifier, is well aware he’ll need to bring his A game for the win. “I’ve heard that there’s some fast guys entered,” he said. “But I’ll go out with the leaders and just see what happens. Track times differ. Will (Nation) and I have our strength on the roads. Anyone in the field has the accolades to run a great race, but you never know what kind of shape anyone is in or how they’ll feel on race day.”
MORE:See what roads will be closed Sunday for the Cap10K
Kieffer concurs that anything can happen on race morning, especially on a challenging course like the Capitol 10,000.
“Hills create more drama,” she said. “The Cap 10’s hills are in the beginning of the race. Last year I stayed with the top women through the uphills, then hit the gas pedal on that downhill on Veterans Drive ahead of the four mile mark. No one caught up after that.”
Added Ammons who won the Austin Half Marathon in February: “I expect this field to go out fast. Knowing how competitive the field is, my real chance is to hang back and see if the front-runners start to drop off and then go for it.”
Win or not, both Ammons and Kieffer agree that the Capitol 10,000 has a lot of meaning for them.
“Austinites are really into their local races,” Kieffer said. “And the Cap 10 is one of my favorites.”
“As my hometown race, the Capitol 10,000 has a lot of sentimental value,” said Ammons. “Having all your friends and locals in the crowd watching … I get so much support from the community. The 10K is a really challenging distance and knowing that it’s the biggest 10K in Texas makes it extra special.”
8 a.m. Sunday; race starts at Congress Avenue Bridge and finishes at Auditorium Shores on Riverside Dr.; health & fitness expo at Palmer Events Center noon-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Past Statesman Cap 10 winners Ammons, Kieffer seek more titles
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Scott MacPherson notched his third victory back in 2014 and Allison Mendez Cleaver was a back-to-back women’s champ in 2015 and 2016.
On Sunday, Austin runners Allie Kieffer and Mitch Ammons are looking to add their names to the list of multi-time Cap10 winners. Kieffer, the 2024 women’s winner, is back to defend her title while Ammons, who won the race in 2023, is aiming to reclaim the top spot in the men’s race.
“I’d love to join the two-time Cap 10 club. Maybe even break the course record,” said Kieffer, 37, who certainly has the wheels to do it. She owns a 10,000-meter track best of 32:09 and a world-class 2:28:12 personal best in the marathon.
MORE:Former Longhorn Will Nation eyes Sunday's Statesman Capitol 10,000
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“I felt really good last year when I raced it,” Kieffer said of her 34:31 win. “I felt like I should have gone for the course record. Natalie Nalepa Linam’s 1997 33:43 record is fast for this course. I’m not sure where I’m at this year, but I would like to break it. At the same time, I don’t want to jeopardize winning by going for the course record. I’ll run to win.”
Kieffer, a 2020 and 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, considers Austin’s Shannon Gaden, Sarah Jackson and Johanna Gretschel to be her toughest competition. Jackson has a 10K best of 35:08 while Gretschel’s is 35:18. And just last week, at Texas State’s Bobcat Invitational, Gaden won the 5,000-meter event in 16:43.
“I would expect Shannon, Sarah and Johanna to be up there in the lead pack,” said Kieffer, who won the 3M Half Marathon in 2023 and 2025, this year's race rebranded as the Austin International Half Marathon.
You must be registered for see images attach
Ammons, 35, will face a tough field in his bid to reclaim the title. His 30:24 10K best is highly competitive, but Texas A&M’s Jonathan Chung and former Texas ace Will Nation are entered and have both run under 30-minutes for the 10K— Chung in 29:17 and Nation in 29:15. And Puerto Rico’s Alexander Torres has the fastest time of any entrant with a 28:46 10K best, and if he’s in top form he could run away with the race.
Ammons, a 2024 Olympic Marathon trials qualifier, is well aware he’ll need to bring his A game for the win. “I’ve heard that there’s some fast guys entered,” he said. “But I’ll go out with the leaders and just see what happens. Track times differ. Will (Nation) and I have our strength on the roads. Anyone in the field has the accolades to run a great race, but you never know what kind of shape anyone is in or how they’ll feel on race day.”
MORE:See what roads will be closed Sunday for the Cap10K
Kieffer concurs that anything can happen on race morning, especially on a challenging course like the Capitol 10,000.
“Hills create more drama,” she said. “The Cap 10’s hills are in the beginning of the race. Last year I stayed with the top women through the uphills, then hit the gas pedal on that downhill on Veterans Drive ahead of the four mile mark. No one caught up after that.”
Added Ammons who won the Austin Half Marathon in February: “I expect this field to go out fast. Knowing how competitive the field is, my real chance is to hang back and see if the front-runners start to drop off and then go for it.”
Win or not, both Ammons and Kieffer agree that the Capitol 10,000 has a lot of meaning for them.
“Austinites are really into their local races,” Kieffer said. “And the Cap 10 is one of my favorites.”
“As my hometown race, the Capitol 10,000 has a lot of sentimental value,” said Ammons. “Having all your friends and locals in the crowd watching … I get so much support from the community. The 10K is a really challenging distance and knowing that it’s the biggest 10K in Texas makes it extra special.”
Statesman Capitol 10,000
8 a.m. Sunday; race starts at Congress Avenue Bridge and finishes at Auditorium Shores on Riverside Dr.; health & fitness expo at Palmer Events Center noon-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Past Statesman Cap 10 winners Ammons, Kieffer seek more titles
Continue reading...
