Gilbert Okari Shatters Course Record in Men's Race; Catherine Ndereba Reclaims Women's Crown at 2003 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K

16-Year-Old Eric Giddings Stuns Field in Maine Race

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - The course record fell in the men's race and a familiar name returned to the top of the women's field in the sixth edition of the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race on Saturday.

Gilbert Okari of Kenya (27:28) dominated a strong field from the start of the winding 6.2-mile course, shattering the four-year-old course record by 20 seconds. John Korir of Kenya (27:51), currently the top ranked road racer in the world, finished second and James Koskei of Kenya (28:08), the returning champion, came in third.

In the women's race, Kenya's Catherine Ndereba (31:53) held off a pair of Romanians, Luminita Talpos (31:54) and Constantina Tomescu-Dita (32:05), to reclaim her crown for a record fifth Peoples Beach to Beacon title. She finished third a year ago.

But perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came in the Maine men's race, where 16-year-old Eric Giddings of South Portland (31:18) shocked the field, besting two-time defending champion Andy Spaulding, 32, of Freeport (31:28) and Bob Winn, 44, of Ogunquit (31:49), another two-time champ. A changing of the guard of sorts also occurred in the women's race as Maggie Hanson, 23, of Bowdoinham (35:47) unseated two-time defending champion Christine Snow Reaser, 37, of Dayton, who finished fourth.

Saturday's race along the coast in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, again featured some of the top elite runners in the world as well as a field of 5,000 runners from 41 states and 16 countries. A steady, early morning rain did little to dampen the spirits of as many as 10,000 spectators who lined the course to cheer on the runners.

The race took on an added dimension this year with the selection of Seeds of Peace, which promotes tolerance and understanding through its internationally recognized conflict-resolution program at a camp in Otisfield, Maine, as the race beneficiary. In a poignant moment, Israeli and Palestinian campers held the finish line tape. A contingent of Seeds campers from the Mideast also ran in the race, and Maine Gov. John Baldacci (58:05) ran as a member of the Seeds team, marking the first time a sitting Maine governor has participated.

"This race receives the Governor's Physical Fitness Seal of Approval," Baldacci said. "It sends a strong message in our state and throughout the region to take an interest in your health."

Race founder Joan Benoit Samuelson, a Maine native who won the first Olympic women's marathon, wore a satisfied smile following the race. "I can't say enough about the effort put in by everyone; the lead sponsor Peoples Heritage Bank, the community, the 784 volunteers, all these tremendous athletes," Samuelson said. "This truly is the people's race."

A night of steady rain broke a five-year streak of sunny skies for the race. But like clockwork, the rain stopped and the cloudy sky brightened shortly before the gun went off. The damp, cool conditions made the course ripe for a course record.

Okari, celebrating his 25th birthday Saturday, did not disappoint. A third-place finisher at 10,000m in the recent Kenyan championships, Okari was considered one of the favorites in the race. But in a field that included the defending champion and three of the world's top ranked runners, nobody expected him to run away like he did.

Okari, tall and slender, broke from the lead pack by mile 3 and stretched his lead on Korir to 40 meters by mile 4, running a sub 4:20 mile. Following Korir, 27, and Koskei, 34, were two other Kenyans, Paul Koech, 34, (28:11) and Linus Maiyo, 20, (28:54). Scott Larson, 33, of Superior, Col., was the first American finisher (29:27), finishing ninth.

In the women's elite race, Ndereba, Talpos and Dita ran in the lead pack throughout the race, with Dita taking the early lead. Talpos also took a turn, but it was Ndereba, a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon, who pulled away at the end to win. American Jen Rhines (32:21) finished fourth.

Ndereba and Okari were awarded $7,500 each for winning.

Among Maine men, a 16-year-old entering his junior year at South Portland High School stood tallest. Eric Giddings is well known in Maine high school track and cross country circles, but nobody expected him to compete for the Maine title at the Peoples Beach to Beacon against the state's top road racers.

Other winners included: Masters Men - Andrew Masai, 43, Kenya (29:24); Masters Women - Carmen Ayala-Troncoso, Austin, Texas (35:11); Wheelchair Division, April Coughlin, Syracuse, N.Y. (33:32) and Kamel Ayari, New Rochelle, N.Y. (25:00).

A new record for participation was set with 4,273 runners finishing the race. 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 in excess 500 entrants.

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

Founded by Maine's largest bank, Peoples Heritage Bank, and Maine's most famous athlete, Joan Benoit Samuelson, the race benefits a different charity each year as part of the Peoples Shining the Light for Maine Youth program. Seeds of Peace received $30,000 in race proceeds.

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.

Samuelson added, "This is all about health and wellness. All about moving your feet and moving your hands to reach out in the community."

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Mike McNamara, president of Peoples Heritage Bank, presents a $30,000 check to Aaron Miller, president of Seeds of Peace, during the awards ceremony Saturday.