Fernandez Pulls Upset in Women's Race; Koskei Wins in Dogfight at 2002 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K

Spaulding, Snow-Reaser Repeat as Maine Champions

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - The special 5th anniversary edition of the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K attained another set of "firsts" on Saturday. For the first time, someone not named Catherine Ndereba won the woman's race. And for the first time, the men's race provided the more exciting finish.

Adriana Fernandez of Mexico (31:56) upset the reigning and four-time champion Ndereba of Kenya. Leading throughout the winding 6.2-mile course, she held off Kenyan Esther Kiplagat (31:58) to win. Ndereba, one of the world's top distance runners, finished third at 32:07.

In the men's race, Kenya's James Koskei (28:11), last year's runner up, narrowly edged Henrick Ramaala of South Africa (28:12) in a dramatic sprint for the finish tape. Last year's champion, Evans Rutto of Kenya, took third at 28:19.

Saturday's race along the coast in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, again featured some of the top elite runners in the world as well as an expanded field of 5,000 runners as part of the anniversary celebration. Among Maine runners, defending champions Andy Spaulding and Christine Snow-Reaser held on to their crowns.

The 10,000 or so spectators who lined the course also were treated to watching race founder and running legend Joan Benoit Samuelson participate in the race for the first time. Samuelson ran a leisurely pace alongside a New York City firefighter.

"It was nice to be on the course and see all of the great fans who come out and cheer on these athletes," said Samuelson, who won the first woman's marathon at the 1984 Olympics and still holds the American record set in 1985. "I can't say enough about the people involved in this race - the volunteers, the athletes, the sponsors, the town of Cape Elizabeth. It truly is the people's race."

Also, for the first time, the Peoples Beach to Beacon featured a Corporate Challenge pitting teams of athletes from a number of New England corporations and businesses. In the mixed division, UnumProvident won first place, while Bath Iron Works won in the men's division and Maine Medical Center in the women's division.

In the women's elite race, Fernandez, an Olympic marathoner and winner of the 1999 NYC Marathon who returned to the race circuit this year after a maternity leave, took an early lead and never looked back. Known as a strong finisher, Ndereba, a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon, could not keep up the pace to make a push at the end. Yarmouth native and Waynflete grad Susannah Beck (33:47), now living in Oregon, finished seventh in her first Peoples Beach to Beacon.

On the men's side, a lead pack of seven runners took over the race midway through and, as expected, it was anyone's race. A mere 22 seconds separated the top seven place winners. Koskei, more experienced on the course, pulled away with Ramaala, setting up their fight to the finish. Matt Lane (29:16), another Yarmouth native now living and training in California, finished eighth in his first Peoples Beach to Beacon running with the strongest group of Americans ever in the race.

Fernandez and Koskei, awarded $7,500 each for winning, also won an additional $500 for being the first runners to cross the 5K mark - a special award as part of the fifth anniversary.

The Maine men's champion again was Andy Spaulding, 31, of Freeport (31:26), who shaved three seconds off his winning time from 2001. Bob Winn, 43, of Ogunquit (31:39) finished second while Ryan Fenton, 21, of Portland (31:51) took third. Christine Snow-Reaser, 36, of Dayton (36:30) repeated as the Maine women's champ, followed by Jenna Richardson, 22, of Palermo (36:58) and Marjorie Graff, 34, of South Portland (37:38). Other winners included: Masters Men - Eddy Hellybuck, 41, Albuquerque, N.M. (29:49); Masters Women - Elana Fidatof, 42, Romania (34:14); Wheelchair Division, Laurie Stephens, Wenham, Mass. (33:11) and Tony Nogueria, Glenn Ridge, N.J. (24:12, a new course record). As part of the 5th anniversary celebration, Nogueria received an additional $500 for setting a new record.

More than 4,100 runners finished the race - a new record for participation. And an estimated 10,000 spectators lined the picturesque course and gathered at the finish. A 1K "Young Peoples Run" for kids 12 and under also saw a record 500 entrants.

During an emotional awards ceremony following the race, the three New York City firefighters and one New York City police officer who participated were honored with a moment of silence, a colorful red, white and blue water display from a Portland fire boat in Casco Bay, and the singing of "America the Beautiful."

Founded by Maine's largest bank, Peoples Heritage Bank, and Maine's most famous athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, the race benefits a different charity each year as part of the Peoples Shining the Light for Maine Youth program. This year's race beneficiary is Opportunity Farm, a long-term, family-style facility in rural New Gloucester, Maine, for at-risk boys and girls.

The race course winds through the idyllic coastal town of Cape Elizabeth, starting near Crescent Beach State Park on Route 77 and ending at the Portland Head Light, the most photographed lighthouse in the world.

"We are just elated to see this kind of a field of top athletes, but also to see people from Maine and all over New England, the U.S., and the world come to Maine for this race," said Mike McNamara, president of Peoples Heritage Bank. The bank is also part of the Banknorth Group, which has banks in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and upstate New York.


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