Allie Ostrander, 29, finishes in first place during the Deseret News women’s 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Melissa covers University of Utah gymnastics and high school sports, and has been a Deseret News contributor since 2004.
NEW: Try Article Audio
NEW: Try Article Audio
Audio quality:|
00:00
00:00
1.0x
00:00/00:00
-
+
Allie Ostrander scorched the course and field Friday to win the Deseret News women’s 10K race.
The former three-time NCAA steeplechase champion won the race in 30:57. Rounding out the top three were Lexie Thompson (32:16) and Hannah Branch (33:05).
All three of the top finishers were former collegiate athletes, with Ostrander competing at Boise State, Thompson at Weber State and Branch at Utah Valley.
Ostrander had two goals for Friday’s race. The first was to break the course record and the second was to run sub-31 minutes. It was a successful day on both ends for Ostrander.
“I’ve run two road 10Ks this year and I think it might be my favorite distance,” Ostrander said. “Before this I had run two other 10Ks in my entire life so I’m definitely, kind of moving more towards that distance, just something that I enjoy.
“Not saying I’m going to specialize in only the 10K but it’s definitely a distance that I feel suits me.”
Photo Gallery: 1 of 36
1 of 36
Elite runners take the lead during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 2 of 36
2 of 36
Dalton Mortensen, 23, makes his way down to the finish line during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 3 of 36
3 of 36
Jared Ward, 37, wins the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 4 of 36
4 of 36
Allie Ostrander, 29, finishes in first place during the Deseret News women’s 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 5 of 36
5 of 36
Travis Feeny, 27, runs toward the finish line during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 6 of 36
6 of 36
Jared Ward, 37, wins the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 7 of 36
7 of 36
Michael Ottesen, 31, takes second place during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 8 of 36
8 of 36
Michael Ottesen, 31, takes second place during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 9 of 36
9 of 36
Lexie Thompson, 29, comes in second place during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 10 of 36
10 of 36
Allie Ostrander, 29, finishes in first place during the Deseret News women’s 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 11 of 36
11 of 36
Spencer Brown, 39, takes third place during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 12 of 36
12 of 36
Kandi Rasmussen, 68, approaches the starting line with an American flag during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 13 of 36
13 of 36
A boy rests his head on a shoulder and holds a sign reading “Abi run faster” during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 14 of 36
14 of 36
Elite runners begin to separate from the rest of the field early during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 15 of 36
15 of 36
Cars drive alongside runners during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 16 of 36
16 of 36
Jared Ward, 37, right, leads the pack of elite runners during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 17 of 36
17 of 36
Allie Ostrander, 29, pulls ahead from the rest of the female runners during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 18 of 36
18 of 36
Allie Ostrander, 29, runs ahead from the rest of the female runners during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 19 of 36
19 of 36
Runners make their way down the course during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 20 of 36
20 of 36
Chad Berens, 30, during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 21 of 36
21 of 36
Michael Ottesen, 31, runs during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 22 of 36
22 of 36
A boy holds a sign reading “GO DADDY GO” during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 23 of 36
23 of 36
Allie Ostrander, 29, runs down the course during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 24 of 36
24 of 36
Jared Ward, 37, runs during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 25 of 36
25 of 36
Jared Ward, 37, runs past a group of spectators during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 26 of 36
26 of 36
Runners line up to start the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 27 of 36
27 of 36
Runners listen to the countdown and prepare to take off for the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 28 of 36
28 of 36
Runners burst from the starting line during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 29 of 36
29 of 36
Jared Ward, 37, runs during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 30 of 36
30 of 36
Spectators, many of which camped out for the upcoming parade, watch as Jared Ward, right, runs past them during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 31 of 36
31 of 36
Lexie Thompson, 29, greets her husband, Jared Thompson, and kisses their 17-month-old son Ryker after coming in second place during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 32 of 36
32 of 36
Tabetha Anderson, left, embraces Molly Memmott, right during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 33 of 36
33 of 36
Saydi Anderson, 26, receives her medal during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 34 of 36
34 of 36
Joe Hastings, 37, crosses the finish line with an American flag during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 35 of 36
35 of 36
Runners make their way to the finish line during the Deseret News 10K race in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 36 of 36
36 of 36
Two runners collapse on the grass after the Deseret News 10K in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
While Ostrander admits she isn’t going to call this race her 10K personal record because of its downhill format, she is happy to now hold the course record against a field full of runners she’s competed against for years as well as others who are new to the race.
“I love duking it out with anyone that’s in the race,” said Ostrander. “It’s so fun that we all get to be on the road at the same time. In this race for example, we were going back and forth. Someone would pass me, I’d pass someone. It’s just super engaging and fun.”
Ostrander also admits there is something special about road racing and having thousands of people on the start line with you, and then thousands of people lining the streets across the race to cheer you on.
“We’re all just in this together with this communal goal, and it’s super fun to be a part of that energy,” Ostrander said.
View Comments
Ostrander is a seasoned competitor, with this being her third race in as many weekends, but she admits it’s what she loves doing.
“It’s not that crazy. I did the US 6K champs, the US 8K champs and now this,” Ostrander said. “Racing is my favorite part and what we train for.
“I wanted to kind of see what I could do stacking a bunch of races and managed to make it through unscathed, and am pretty happy with the results.”
