Women's Race: Bookmyer Wires It, Watychowicz Turns Back the Clock

• Molly Bookmyer wins in 2:28:52 (5:41/mi), leading the women's field from wire to wire and posting the fastest women's split on the 5K–10K segment.
• Jessica Watychowicz runs 2:33:02 — two years after winning this same race in 2:33:09, she's back on the podium in 2nd, seven seconds faster than her 2022 title run.
• Ashlee Powers (2:33:40) and Megan O'Neil (2:34:55) round out a tight top four separated by under two minutes, with Madison Offstein (2:36:07) completing a top five that was reshuffled multiple times across the race.
• Local flavor: Kimberly Carr of Maplewood, MN — racing the course that winds through the Chain of Lakes and along the Mississippi — finished 6th in 2:36:29.

Molly Bookmyer never gave the women's field a chance to hunt her down. The Columbus, OH 33-year-old held 1st place at every checkpoint from the opening kilometers to the finish line in Saint Paul, clicking off miles at 5:41/mi to win in 2:28:52. Her fastest women's split on the 5K–10K segment set the tone early, and no one could match it. In a 21 mph wind on a point-to-point course, that kind of front-running composure is something to appreciate.

The real drama unfolded behind her. Madison Offstein came out aggressive — running 2nd through the first 25K — but faded from 3rd to 5th over the back half. Ashlee Powers made the opposite move, climbing from 5th to 3rd by 15K on the strength of the second-fastest women's split on that segment, and holding that position to the tape in 2:33:40. Megan O'Neil was the steadiest mover of the group, advancing from 6th to 4th and posting the second-fastest women's split on the 25K–30K stretch to lock in her 2:34:55.

Then there's Jessica Watychowicz. The Colorado Springs 33-year-old won this race in 2022 in 2:33:09, and on Sunday she crossed in 2:33:02 — seven seconds quicker. She spent much of the race between 3rd and 5th before surging on the 35K–40K segment (the fastest women's split on that stretch) to claim 2nd. A returning champion who comes back and runs faster than her winning time? That's a story worth savoring.

Behind the top five, Lauren Kelly (8th, 2:45:51) and Jen Van Otterloo (9th, 2:46:11) finished within 20 seconds of each other at 6:20/mi, while 20-year-old Lexi Baker (18th, 3:03:55) was the youngest finisher in the listed group across a women's field of 2,576.