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Top Headlines

For Immediate Release
August 1, 2005

Contact:
Larry Barthlow, Elite Athlete Coordinator
(617) 438-8098
E-mail: jason@wolfenews.com

Jason Wolfe
(207) 883-6083

Web Site: http://www.beach2beacon.org

MEDIA KIT - Elite Athlete Bios - 2005 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K

ELITE RUNNER BIOS

2005 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race

The following list of elite runners competing in the 2005 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race includes bib number and bio info. (complete thru 8/4/05):

Elite Men

Gilbert Okari
Bib #: 1
Age: 26
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: West Chester, Pa.
Best 10K: 27:28
Of note: Has recorded the fastest 10K time in the world for each of the past two years while winning the 2003 and 2004 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon races. Currently ranked 4th in the world by Running Times. His blazing time of 27:28 in 2003 race shattered the course record. The long-legged Kenyan won with a 27:35 last year. Followed with a win at the Falmouth Road Race a week later. Back on top again in 2005 with wins in July at Peachtree 10K (28:19), Utica Boilermaker 15K (43:22), and the Bix 7 Miler. In 2004, also finished third at 10,000m in the competitive Kenyan National Championships. Finished the 2004 season as the 4th-ranked road racer in the world. During banner 2003 season, won the Rite Aid Cleveland 10K and the Nairobi 10K, and took second at the Crescent City 10K.

John Korir
Bib #: 2
Age: 32
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: (not reported)
Best 10K: 27:47
Of note: Perhaps the most consistently dominant road racer in the world, he has won 27 major races over the past six years. Currently sitting atop the world rankings, he missed the 2004 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon due to injury and is anxious to challenge Okari this year. Collected wins in three major road races so far in 2005: World’s Best 10K, Cherry Blossom 10 Mile and the Lilac Bloomsday 12K. Finished 2nd behind Okari at Bix last weekend. In 2004, won the World’s Best 10K with a personal best 27:47 and also finished first in the Utica 15K, the Crazy 8’s 8K and the Bix 7M. In addition, placed second at the Peachtree 10K and third at Falmouth. Strong season elevated him to 2nd in the 2004 world rankings. Named the world’s top road racer for 2003 season that included wins in seven major races and a 2nd place finish behind Okari at the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon.

James Koskei
Bib #: 3
Age: 36
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Eldoret, Kenya
Best 10K: 27:35 (track)
Of note: A familiar face, he is a former TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon champ who is back in the race after a one-year absence. Won in dramatic fashion in 2002 (28:11), edging Henrick Ramaala of South Africa at the tape. Also finished third in 2003 (28:08) and second at the 2001 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon. Win in Maine in 2002 was one of six victories in major road races that season. Won the 2003 Bay to Breakers 12K (35:11). Finished second in 2004 at a pair of top 12K’s – Bloomsday (35:31) and Bay to Breakers (35:01).

Reuben Cheryiout
Bib#: 4
Age: 31
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Kenya
Best 10K: 27:38
Of note: Currently ranked 39th in the world, he has run under 28 on the roads and competed in the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon before. Suffered a slight injury at the Bix 7M last weekend, but is believed to be back at 100 percent. Has finished at or near the top of a number of major road races in recent years. Two-time winner of the Cherry Blossom 10 M (2002 & 2000), and also finished 2nd there in 2003 and 2001. Also has won Bloomsday, the Bay to Breakers and Utica.

William Chebon Chebor
Bib#: 5
Age:
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence:
Best 10K:
Of note: Ready to make a serious challenge after placing third at the 2005 Peachtree Road Race (28:28) and fourth at the Utica Boilermaker 15K last month. Currently ranked 28th in the world by Running Times.

Thomas Nyariki
Bib #: 7
Age: 33
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Nakuru, Kenya
Best 10K: 27:30
Of note: Former Olympian, took fifth in 5000m at 1996 Olympics. Career includes three wins in major 10K road races, including 2003 Cooper River Bridge 10K (27:41). Finished sixth in 2002 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon (28:27). Took third in the 1997 World Championships at 5000m, and also won the 1998 African Championship at 3000m.

Matt Lane
Bib #: 8
Age: 27
Citizen of: USA
Residence: Menlo Park, California
Best 10K: 28:28.97 (track)
Of note: A native of Yarmouth, Maine, he has developed into one of the best Americans on the road race circuit and should be a crowd favorite. Finished fourth at both the 2004 and 200 Olympic Trials at 5000m. Placed second at the 2002 U.S. Indoor Champs at 3000m, third at the 2002 U.S. Championships at 5000m and second in the same event at the 2000 NCAA Championships. Finished 8th at the 2002 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon (29:16).

Jeff Gaudette
Bib #: 9
Age: 22
Citizen of: USA
Residence:
Best 10K:
Of note: After successful Maine high school career in Biddeford, blossomed as a distance runner at Brown, earning All-American honors in track and cross country.

Michael Aish
Bib #: 10
Age: 29
Citizen of: New Zealand
Residence: Gunnison, Colorado
Best 10K: 27:53.28 (track)
Of note: A two-time Olympian for New Zealand, finished 17th in the 5000m at the 2004 Athens Games. Finished 10th at the 2004 Celestial Seasonings Bolder Boulder 10K and fourth at the 2004 Mt. SAC 5000m. Has won an NCAA championship at both 5000m and 10,000m.

Kim Gillard
Bib #: 11
Age: 34
Citizen of: Australia
Residence: Boulder, Colorado
Best 10K: 28:23 (track)
Of note: Won the 2003 Uptown 5-Miler in Dallas with a career best 23:06.9. Other wins in 2003 included the St. Paddy’s Day Run in Dallas, the Komen Race for the Cure 5K in Fort Worth and the Luzerner Stadlauf in Switzerland. Finished 4th at the 2003 U.S. 10K Classic (30:31). Member of the 2003 Australian World Championship Team.

Jon Brown
Bib #: 12
Age: 34
Citizen of: Great Britain
Residence: Canada
Best 10K: 27:18.14 (track)
Of note: Three-time Olympian, finished fourth in both the 2004 and 2000 Olympic marathons, including 2:12:26 in Athens. The top British distance runner, he finished third at the 2002 U.S. 10K Classic, fourth at the 2002 Run London 10K (28:40) and fifth at the 2002 Cherry Blossom 10M. Took sixth at the 2004 Great North Run Half Marathon (1:03:30) and sixth at the 2001 NYC Marathon.

Wilson Kiprotich
Bib #: 13
Age: 25
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Kenya
Best 10K: 27:48
Of note: One of four runners to complete 2004 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon with a sub 28. Also recorded one of the fastest 10Ks in the world last year, a 27:48 at the World’s Best 10K in San Juan. So far in 2005, he won the Stramilano Half Marathon with the second fastest half of the year (1:00:11). A definite contender for the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon crown.

Meshack Sang
Bib#: 14
Age: 27
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Eldoret, Kenya
Best 10K: 27:51
Of note: Trains at altitude with distance running legend Yobes Ondieki, the first man to run a sub 27:00 10K. Ran a personal best 5K (13:42) while finishing 6th earlier this year in the highly-competitive Carlsbad 5000. Could be a surprise in the field.

Mohammed Awol
Bib#: 16
Age:
Citizen of: Ethiopia
Residence: Addis Abeda
Best 10K: Not available
Of note: Not available

Samuel Ndereba
Bib#: 28
Age: 28
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Philadelphia
Best 10K: 28:31
Of note: The brother of five-time TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon champ Catherine Ndereba, he placed 9th at the 2004 Kenyon Championships at 10,000m. Also recorded a number of top finishes in road races in 2004, including seconds at the Cherry Blossom 10M and Clarksburg 10K, and thirds at the Providence Half Marathon and the Bix 7M.

Greg Bennett
Bib #: 29
Age:
Citizen of: Australia
Residence:
Best 10K:
Of note: The #1 triathlete in the world in 2002, 2003 and 2004, he placed 4th in the triathlon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.



Elite Women

Lornah Kipligat
Bib #: 61
Age: 31
Citizen of: Holland
Residence: Holland
Best 10K: 30:32
Of note: Currently ranked seventh in the world, she is the top runner on the U.S. roads so far this year with five 10K wins. Won the Peachtree 10K in July with a blistering 31:17. (For comparison, the course record at the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon is 31:34) Finished 5th at 10,000m in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Also in 2004, won the World’s Best 10K (30:41), the BAA Half Marathon (1:12:05) and finished 6th at the World Cross Country Championship 8K. Also won Peachtree in 2000, 2001 and 2002, when she set a course record (30:32). Marathon finishes include winning the 2002 Osaka Ladies and finishing 4th there in 2003, recording a personal best 2:22:22. This is her first TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon.

Alvetina Ivanova
Bib #: 62
Age: 30
Citizen of: Russia
Residence: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Best 10K: 31:56
Of note: Followed up 3rd place finish at 2004 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon (personal best 31:56) with a huge win at Falmouth. A strong runner who is always in the hunt, she won the 2004 Third River Bank Run 25K (1:26:38), finished 2nd at the 2004 Bay to Breakers 12K (40:27) and the 2004 All Russian Cross Country Championships, and 3rd at the 2004 Lilac Bloomsday 12K (40:08).

Grace Momanyi
Bib #: 63
Age: 23
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Zacatecas, Mexico
Best 10K: 31:24
Of note: Another hot runner, she has run a pair of sub 32:00s so far this year, including 31:24 to win the MDS Nordion 10K in Ottawa – one of the fastest 10K times in the world so far this year. Developing quickly at young age, won a number of wins in Mexico last year, including the Oxxo Half Marathon (1:13.14), the Victoria 10K, the Leon Guanajuato 10K and the Monterrey 10K.

Margaret Okeyo
Bib #: 65
Age: 29
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Nairobi, Kenya
Best 10K: 32:23
Of note: One of the world’s top marathoners, she continues to hold the course record at both the BAA Boston Marathon (2:20:43), set in 2002, and the NYC Marathon (2:22:31), set in 2003. She won the 2004 London Marathon (2:22:35), the 2001 NYC Marathon and the 2001 and 2000 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons. Set her personal record in the half marathon (1:07:23) while winning the 2004 Udine Half. Also won the 2004 Portugal Half Marathon. Recorded her fastest 10K time (32:23) last year at the BUPA Great Manchester 10K.

Luminita Talpos
Bib #: 66
Age: 32
Citizen of: Romania
Residence: Boulder, Colorado
Best 10K: 31:54
Of note: Finished a close 2nd in the 2003 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon while recording a personal best 31:54. Also placed 5th in 2001, so is experienced on the course. She is a member of the Romanian National Team and one of the premier road racers on the U.S. circuit. Finished 4th at 2005 Peachtree 10K (32:32) and 7th at Utica Boilermaker 15K. Her 2004 season included a 7th at the Crescent City Classic 10K and 9th at Peachtree.

Sally Barsosio
Bib #: 67
Age: 27
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Nairobi, Kenya
Best 10K: 31:41
Of note: Coming off a big win at Utica Boilermaker 15K and second place finishes at Peachtree (31:52) and at Bix, so should contend for title. Also won the 2005 Kenyan Championship at 5,000m. A former 10,000m World Champion, she finished 17th at the 2004 Olympics at 10,000m. Has finished at or near the top of a number of major road races in her career, including wins at the 2004 Cooper River 10K (32:28) and 2nd at the Vancouver Sun Run 10K (32:14). Also won the 2004 Cardinal Invitational 10,000m (31:18.72).

Nicole Jefferson Aish
Bib#: 68
Age: 29
Citizen: USA
Residence: Gunnison, Colorado
Best 10K: 32:09 (track)
Of note: A three-time U.S. Olympic Trials finalist at 10,000m, she is a top American road racer. Earned a bronze medal at 5,000m in the 2003 Pan Am Games. In 2004, finished 3rd with a personal best 15:20.51 at the Mt. SAC 5,000m, 5th at the U.S. Indoor Championships at 3,000m and 4th at Friehofer’s Run for Women 5K (15:56). Also was the U.S. champ at the 2004 Tufts 10K (33:45).

Zivilie Balciunaite
Bib #: 69
Age: 26
Citizen of: Lithuania
Residence: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Best 10K: 32:57
Of note: An Olympian, she finished 14th in the marathon in Athens. Has finished near the top in a number of major marathons and half marathons in recent years, including 5th at the 2004 Tokyo Ladies with a personal best 2:27:28 and 3rd at both the 2003 and 2004 Los Angeles Marathons. Set her personal best while finishing 9th at the 2003 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon. Also set the course record (26:04) at the 2003 Tom Ausherman 5M. Won the 2004 Lithuanian Olympic Trials 10,000m (32:47.47).

Miho Ichikawa
Bib #: 73
Age: 32
Citizen: Japan
Residence: Japan
Best 10K: 32:49.51 (track)
Of note: Coming off a 9th place finish at the 2004 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon (33:34). Set a pair of personal bests while finishing 4th at 5,000m (15:53.10) and 6th at 10,000m (32:49.51) at the the 2004 Japan Corporate Championships. Also took 5th at the 2004 Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon (1:14:25).

Jennifer Gillard
Bib#: 74
Age:
Citizen: Austrailia
Residence: Boulder, Colorado
Best 10K: NR
Of note: A top Australian marathoner, she is married to Kim Gillard.

Katsuko Kanno
Bib #: 75
Age:
Citizen: Japan
Residence:
Best 10K: not available
Of note: not available

Masters

Men
# 20 Mbarak Hussein, 40, Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of the top American marathoners (2:08:10 PR) and, after turning 40 in April, became the top U.S. masters runner. Top finishes include winning the 2002 Joong Ang Marathon and finding third there in 2004. Also took fourth at the 2002 Boston Marathon after finishing fifth in 2001. Won the 2002 AFC Half Marathon (1:03:00), and is a three-time winner – 2002, 2001, 1998 – of the Honolulu Marathon.

#21 Michael Payson, 42, Falmouth, Maine. The returning champ in the Master’s category (31:53), he also is a favorite among the Maine runners. Finished second at the LL Bean 10K and fifth at the Clam Festival 5 miler, Maine’s other most competitive road races. Michael Payson, 41, of Falmouth, finished third (31:53), but his time placed him first in the Master’s category.

Women
#70 Tatiania Titova, 40, Gainesville, Fla. Another top Russian marathoner, she turns 40 on race day and, with a personal best 33:17, is poised to break the master’s course record of 33:37. Won the 2004 Suzuki Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon with a personal best 2:29:36, finished 2nd (2:33:01) at the 2004 Los Angeles Marathon and 3rd at the 2004 Dublin City Marathon.

#71 Ramilia Burangulova, 44, Moscow, Russia. A top Russian marathoner and master’s runner, she has recorded a 33:09 10K time in her career. Recent marathon performances include a fourth place finish at the 2004 Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona; second at the 2004 Motorola Austin (2:32:43) and a ninth-place finish at the 2004 Boston Marathon. She also set a course record while winning the 2004 Baltimore Marathon (2:40:21).

#72 Carmen Ayala-Troncoso, 45, Austin, Texas. A top American master’s runner and one of the country’s all-time best cross country runners. Qualified for the Olympic Trials four times. The 2004 National Masters cross country champ at 6K and 8K. Has run a 33:21 10K on the track.




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