MEDIA KIT - Elite Athlete Bios - 2008 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race

Elite Men

Duncan Kibet
BIB #: 1
AGE: 30
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K: 27:57.1 OF NOTE: Defending champion whose winning time (27:51.7) was the sixth-fastest road 10K in the world last year. Currently ranked 90th in the world by Running Times magazine. Finished 4th at Quad-City Times Bix 7M (32:41) this past weekend, a race he won in 2007. Won the 2006 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon in 1:00:22, the second fastest half ever run on American soil. Also won the 2006 Oxxo21 Half (1:01:40) in Mexico.

Terefe Maregu
BIB #: 2
AGE: 25
CITIZEN OF: Ethiopia
RESIDENCE: Ethiopia
BEST 10K: 27:14.3 (track)
OF NOTE: A first-timer to Maine, Maregu is the #1 ranked road racer in the world by Running Times. He won last month’s Peachtree 10K on a muggy day in Atlanta in 28:30. Nine days later, he won the Utica (N.Y.) Boilermaker 15K before returning to train at altitude in Ethiopia. Was on way to third straight win at Bix 7M last weekend, but mistake at finish cost him race and he finished 2nd (32:25). In June Maregu placed third in the Prefontaine Classic 10K in Eugene, Ore. In April he won the Carlsbad (Calif.) 5K in 13:34.
Thomas Nyariki
BIB #: 4
AGE: 36
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Nakuru, Kenya
BEST 10K: 27:30
OF NOTE: The 2006 Beach to Beacon winner in 27:48, Nyariki placed a disappointing 8th last year. His third place finish (28:05) in 2005 marked his return to the international racing scene after a 2003 carjacking episode left him without sight in his right eye. Strong 2006 season also included a victory at the NYC Half Marathon (1:01.22) and 2nd at the Falmouth 7M (32:03). A former Olympian, he took 5th in 5000m at 1996 Olympics and 3rd at the 1997 World Championship at 5000m.

Luke Kipkosgei
BIB #: 7
AGE: 32
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Eldoret, Kenya
BEST 10K: 27:12 (track)
OF NOTE: Returns to Cape Elizabeth for the fourth time. Placed 5th in 2004 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon (28:11), 10th in 2006 and 11th in 2007. The 2004 Steamboat Classic 4-mile champion, Kipkosgei was leading that race in June when he took a wrong turn and wound up losing by one second, a mistake that cost him $1,500 in prize money. In May he place 15th at the Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, Wash.

Boaz Cheboiywo
BIB #: 8
AGE: 30
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Michigan
BEST 10K: 27:46 (track)
OF NOTE: The NCAA champion in cross country in 2001 and 10,000 meters in 2002 while running for Eastern Michigan University, he went on to coach at Concordia University in Ann Arbor. Placed third in 2006 Crescent City Classic (27:54).

Dejene Berhanu
BIB #: 9
AGE: 28
CITIZEN OF: Ethiopia
RESIDENCE: Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia
BEST 10K:
OF NOTE: Finished 5th at 5000m at the 2004 Olympics. Finished 7th at Bix 7M (33:05).

Kiplomo Kimutai
BIB #: 10
AGE: NA
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K: NA
OF NOTE: NA

Tekeste Kebede
BIB #:11
AGE: NA
CITIZEN OF: Ethiopia
RESIDENCE: Ethiopia
BEST 10K: NA
OF NOTE: A rising talent as a marathoner, he could be a surprise in the field. Finished 9th at Utica Boilermaker 12K.

Rod Korbosi
BIB #: 12
AGE: NA
CITIZEN OF: USA
RESIDENCE: USA
BEST 10K: 28:35.86 (track in college)
OF NOTE: An eight-time All-American and three-event school record holder, he ended his collegiate career in 2006 at one of the greatest distance runners in Georgetown history. Placed 7th at 10,000m at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Is not finding success in the professional ranks, setting PRs at 3,000m (7:48.4) and 5,000m (13:26.65) in Europe.

Ed Muge
BIB #: 13
AGE: 25
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K:
OF NOTE: The 2008 Kenyan National Champion at 10,000m, illness at Kenya’s Olympic Trials likely cost him a spot on the team. Now fit and healthy, he won the Quad-City Times Bix 7M (32:16) over the weekend and is a favorite in the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon.

Andrew Leatherby
Bib #: 14
AGE:
CITIZEN OF: Australia
RESIDENCE: Boulder, Colorado
BEST 10K:
OF NOTE: Late addition to race after getting left off Australian Olympic Team. He won a bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games at 5000m.

Richard Kiplagat
Bib #: 15
AGE: 27
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K: 28:06 (track)
OF NOTE: A 10-time All-American from Iona College, he won the 2007 Cooper River Bridge 10K (28:35), finished 4th at the 2007 U.S. 10K Classic and took 3rd at the 2006 Boston Half Marathon with a PR 1:03:13.



Elite Women

Edith Masai
BIB #: 101
AGE: 41
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K: 31:13
OF NOTE: This past weekend, she became the oldest runner and first master’s runner (age 40 or older) to win the Quad-City Times Bix 7M (37:20). A 2004 Olympian, she is a three-time world cross country champion since 2002. She earned a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships. A late bloomer in the running world, she first rose to prominence in Kenya in 1999 by winning the national cross country championship at the age of 33.

Lineth Chepkurui
BIB #: 102
AGE: 20
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K: 33:02
OF NOTE: Currently ranked 6th in the world by Running Times, she has won three major road races already this year – the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler (54:21), Bay to Breakers 12K (39:21) and the Bloomsday 12K. Burst on the road race scene in 2006 with big wins at the Sallie Mae 10K, U.S. 10K Classic and Philadelphia Half Marathon, as well as finishing 3rd at the Bolder to Boulder 10K. She joined the Armed Forces in 2007 and didn’t race until the end of the year, still managing to win a pair of major races.

Millicent Gathoni
BIB #: 103
AGE: 22
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K: 33:09
OF NOTE: Another favorite, she is currently ranked 19th in the world by Running Times. Enjoying a strong 2008 season with a huge win at the Bolder Boulder 10K (32:49), followed by wins at the Bellin Run 10K (32:51) and Moonlight Run 5K, where she set a course record 15:48.

Marina Ivanova
BIB #: 104
AGE: 26
CITIZEN OF Russia
RESIDENCE: Germantown, Maryland
BEST 10K: 32:34
OF NOTE: Finished 2nd at the 2004 Russian 10K Road Championships with PR 32:34. Won the 2005 Broad Street Run 10M, the 2004 LeBourge Half Marathon and the 2004 Marseille-Cassis 20K. An accomplished marathoner, she set a PR 2:39:50 at the highly competitive Osaka Ladies Marathon in 2005, finishing 17th.

Rose Koskei
BIB #: 105
AGE: 26
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K: 32:44
OF NOTE: Rarely disappoints, she is one of the most consistent road racers on the circuit. Won four road races in 2007, including the Deseret News 10K with a PR 32:44, and finished in the top five in five others.

Elva Dryer
BIB #: 106
AGE: 36
CITIZEN OF: USA
RESIDENCE: Albuquerque, New Mexico
BEST 10K: 31:22 (track)
OF NOTE: A former Olympian who finished 19th at 10,000m in 2004 Athens Games, she remains one of the U.S.’s top distance runners. Took 2nd at 2004 Olympic Trials to qualify. Set her PR at 10,000m in finishing 3rd at the 2005 Cardinal Invitational. Won the 2005 Bolder Boulder 10K (32:51), and the 2005 and 2004 Bellin 10K. Set a PR 2:31:48 while finishing 12th at the 2006 Chicago Marathon. So far this year, she placed 5th at the Steamboat Classic 4-Miler (20:44) and was the 2nd American finisher at the Bolder to Boulder 10K (34:39).

Nicole Jefferson Aish
BIB #: 107
AGE: 32
CITIZEN OF: 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 who is returning to the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon after a two-year absence. She won the 2005 Twin Cities Marathon (2:40:21). 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).:

Jane Gakunvi
BIB #: 108
AGE: 29
CITIZEN OF: Kenya
RESIDENCE: Kenya
BEST 10K: 31:04:34
OF NOTE: Placed 4th at the 2008 Freihofer’s Run for Women and 6th at the 2008 Steamboat Classic. Finished 3rd at the World Cross Country Championships 4K.

Yuri Kano
BIB #: 109
AGE: 29
CITIZEN OF: Japan
RESIDENCE: Tokyo
BEST 10K: 31:53:07 (track)
OF NOTE: Placed 3rd at last weekend’s NYC Half Marathon (1:10:31). Also recorded an impressive win at the Sapporo Half Marathon (1:08:57) in June. In 2007, she won the Hokkaido Marathon, finished 3rd in the Osaka Marathon (2:24:43) and placed 9th at the NYC Half-Marathon.

Kiyoko Shimahara
BIB #: 110
AGE: 31
CITIZEN OF: Japan
RESIDENCE: Tokyo
BEST 10K: 32:54:03 (track)
OF NOTE: An accomplished marathoner, she has finished near the top in a number of major events, including 6th at the 2007 IAAF World Championships (2:31:40), 2nd at the 2007 Shangai Marathon, 3rd at the 2006 Osaka Ladies, 5th at the 2006 Boston Marathon and 2nd at the 2005 Sapporo, where she recorded a PR 2:26:14. She placed 10th at last weekend’s NYC Half Marathon.

Andrea Pirtea
BIB #: 111
AGE: 28
CITIZEN OF: Romania
RESIDENCE: Romania
BEST 10K: 33:21
OF NOTE: Made splash on road racing scene with 2nd at 2007 Chicago Marathon (2:33:52). She also won the 2007 Romanian Championships at both 5000m and 10,000m. Career also includes winning the 2005 Ulrum Half Marathon (PR 1:09:58) and finishing 10th at the 2005 World Championships Half Marathon. So far in 2008, she finished 2nd behind Gathoni at the Bellin Run 10K (34:58).

Kathy Butler
BIB #: 112
AGE: 34
CITIZEN OF: Great Britain
RESIDENCE: Nederland, CO/Palo Alto, CA
BEST 10K: 31:36:90 (track)
OF NOTE: Finished 12th at the 2004 Olympics at 10,000m after setting a PR (31:36:90) in winning the British Olympic Trials 10,000m. Won the 2007 3M Half (1:11:12) and the 2007 West End 3K, and finished 4th (33:16) in the 2007 Heart of Summer 10K. Also finished 10th at the 2007 Chicago Marathon after 9th place finish at 2006 race with PR 2:28:39. Set PR in finishing 3rd at 2006 Philadelphia Half (1:11:05). A three-time NCAA Outdoor 3000m Champion, she also won the NCAA Cross Country title while attending the University of Wisconsin.