Kenyan Gilbert Okari Seeking Four-Peat at TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K on August 5

Top elite field taking shape as prestigious Cape Elizabeth, Maine, road race draws near

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - A stellar elite field is taking shape for the upcoming TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race, headed by three-time reigning champ Gilbert Okari and Susan Chepkemei, the 2004 women’s champ who missed last year’s race because of immigration issues.

The pair of Kenyans top the list of world-class road racers already set to compete in the race set for Saturday, August 5 along the coast of Maine. They will be joined by others as Larry Barthlow, the race’s elite athlete coordinator, continues to assemble what will eventually be a group of 30 of the world’s finest runners.

“When all is said and done, we’re going to have another deep and talented field,” Barthlow said. “Gilbert has been challenged every year of his amazing run of titles here, and this will be no exception. And Susan has something to prove. She didn’t get a chance to defend her title last year, so she can’t wait to get back to Maine.”

Okari is seeking a four-peat after three consecutive sub-28:00 winning times, including a course record 27:28 in 2003. If he can win again, he will join Catherine Ndereba and wheelchair athlete Laurie Stephens as the only athletes to win four straight titles at the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon.

But Okari might not be the favorite heading into the race. Fellow Kenyan Wilson Kiprotich, who finished second to Okari in last year’s race, is in top form right now. He beat runner-up Okari to win the World’s Best 10K in San Juan earlier this year with a blazing 27:44, and finished second at the Peachtree 10K earlier this month with a 27:49 – two places ahead of Okari. Another Kenyan, John Korir, also is back and will contend.
On the women’s side, Chepkemei is anxious to compete again in the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon after narrowly missing the course record in 2004 with a 31:35. She was set to return in 2005, but immigration problems forced her to drop out.

Chepkemei will face strong competition from Russia’s Alevtina Ivanova, a familiar face who finished third at the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon in 2004 and second in 2005. Luminita Talpos of Romania and Kayoko Obata of Japan also are entered, adding depth to the field.

Barthlow said he is hoping to round out the field with as many as eight of the best American road racers on the circuit.

The elite athletes will toe the line with 5,500 runners from Maine, New England and around the world on Saturday, August 5, for the 9th running of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K.

Begun in 1998, the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon is one of the marquee events on the international road race circuit. The ocean-hugging course begins at Crescent Beach along Route 77 and ends 6.2 miles later in Fort Williams Park at Portland Head, the most photographed lighthouse in the world.

Prize money for the winner of the men’s and women’s races is $10,000. In all, nearly $60,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women. A $2,500 bonus also is available for any runner who breaks an open course record.

TD Banknorth sponsors the race founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, the Olympic gold medallist and Maine’s most recognizable athlete.

The race director is Dave McGillivray, president of DMSE, Inc., a nationally recognized event management company. McGillivray also serves as the race director of the BAA Boston Marathon.

In recognition of the support shown by the Town of Cape Elizabeth and in keeping with a focus on youth, the race beneficiary for this year’s race is the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation (CEEF), a non-profit organization that enriches learning for Cape youth by funding innovative projects. CEEF also works to serve as a resource in helping other Maine towns interested in starting education foundations. TD Banknorth, through the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation, will provide a cash donation of $30,000. For more information about CEEF, visit www.capeeducationfoundation.org.

In addition to TD Banknorth, other major corporate partners include Nike, Hannaford, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine, Poland Spring, WCSH TV-6, Maine Health and Northeast Delta Dental. For additional info about the race, visit www.beach2beacon.org or call the race hotline at (888) 480-6940.

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