Kasandra Parker shrugs off injury wins Fifth Season 8K

CEDAR RAPIDS — Kasandra Parker saw the Fifth Season Races as a training opportunity.

The Waverly resident and former Loras College distance-running national champion, 25, is easing back into the summer schedule after a May shoulder injury.

“I like the course a lot,” Parker said after she finished as the top overall female in the eight-kilometer race on a steamy Fourth of July morning in downtown Cedar Rapids. “It was just the heat and just kind of like goofed me up a little bit. Went out hard, got a little uncomfortable and then kind of went easy. And then went hard back on the downhill. This is good practice.”

In her first time competing at the Fifth Season Races — which celebrated their 40th anniversary this year — Parker bested the rest of the female 8K field with a time of 27:54, which equaled the top female time since 2019.

Parker’s victory arrives less than eight weeks since falling and breaking her right clavicle while jogging, one day after placing third at the USA Track and Field 25-kilometer championships in Grand Rapids, Mich.

“I think I just got tired legs,” said Parker, who needed a clavicle plate to help heal her shoulder. “I only had to take three weeks off and then I kind of got back into running. … I was actually very thankful it was an upper-body injury because I was still able to bike, I was still able to do some walking. A leg injury would take me out a little but longer, whereas I was able to get right back into it.”

A two-time state cross country qualifier at Clayton Ridge, Parker thrived at Loras College (2017-23). She earned multiple NCAA Division-III all-American honors, highlighted by back-to-back cross country national titles (2021-22), plus five more national championships in track (three outdoor, two indoor) in events such as the 3,000-kilometer run, the 5,000 and the 10,000 (twice).

“My coaches there helped develop me into a really good runner,” Parker said. “Kind of wanted to take my running to the next level.”

Parker has been competing for Crown Running of Dubuque for the past year. She will travel to Utica, N.Y. July 13 to run in the Boilermaker 15K, then return to Iowa for the Bix 7 Road Race in Davenport July 26.

“I am just kind of hoping to gain some shape and looking forward to a top-10 finish at the Bix,” Parker said.

ALLBAUGH WINS AFTER PLACING THIRD IN ‘24

Bettendorf’s Devin Allbaugh — the owner and race operator of Running Wild in Davenport — won the men’s 8K in 24:41, one year after he finished third in his 2024 debut at the Fifth Season Races.

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“It feels really good,” said Allbaugh, 35. “I came back. It was a little slower. I think the weather was a little tougher, but I knew I was in better shape than last year. I was kind of ready to run whatever, as far as trying to win anyways.”

Allbaugh finished just ahead of Des Moines’ Blake Whalen (24:52) and former Cedar Rapids Prairie standout Matt Lorenz (25:05), the 8K winner in both 2022 and 2023.

The somewhat unique 8K distance — a Cedar Rapids staple over the entire 40-year history of the Fifth Season Races — was a welcome option for a runner like Allbaugh.

“I love the distance,” Allbaugh said. “I am sick of 5Ks. Respectfully, they have their place. They’re great, but I love an 8K. I love a 10K. It’s refreshing. It’s really nice.”

Allbaugh won a cross country state title and two more in track (both in the 3,200 run) while at Pleasant Valley and then earned all-American honors at Minnesota State Mankato. Allbaugh met his wife, Kelsey, at Mankato and together they live in Bettendorf with their three children.

“She’s amazing,” Allbaugh said. “She’s a good runner herself. She is usually the top local at Bix.”

While Davenport’s Bix 7 Road Race at the end of July is the most-anticipated event of the summer running slate for the Allbaugh family, Devin will travel to Sacramento, Calif. in December to compete in the California International Marathon.

Three other runners from Running Wild also had strong 8K performances in Cedar Rapids.

Elliott Klauer (25:49), Dalton Rice (25:52) and Lucas Keifer (25:55) claimed spots five through seven.

“We had a really nice day,” Allbaugh said.

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