Ndereba Wins 4th Straight Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K, Breaking Course Record; Rutto Wins Men's Race

Spaulding, Snow-Reaser Maine Champions

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, the world's top-ranked road racer, won her fourth straight Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K on Saturday, setting a course record 31:34 while holding off a strong challenge from fellow Kenyan Lornah Kiplagat in another exciting women's finish.

In the men's race, Evans Rutto of Kenya, a late addition to the race, surged ahead of the lead group near the finish to win in a time of 28:30. Returning champion Joseph Kimani of Kenya finished third in 28:35.

Saturday's race along the coast in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, featured some of the top elite runners in the world, including both returning champions and the world's top four ranked women. New champions also were crowned among Maine runners.

And true to form in the four-year history of the race, the women's race created the most excitement. Ndereba, 29, and Kiplagat, 27, the world's second-ranked woman, pulled away from the field midway through the 6.2-mile course. Ndereba, winner of the last two Boston Marathons, dominates longer distances, but Kiplagat has a history of success against her in shorter distances. On this day, Ndereba passed Kiplagat as they entered Fort Williams Park and held her off at the finish, trimming 31 seconds off her own course record from 1999. Kiplagat finished in 31:36.

Rutto, 23, pulled away from Kimani, 28, and James Koskei, 32, (28:32) also of Kenya, late in the race. The trio finished within five seconds off one another, well ahead of the rest of the field.

The Maine champions were Andy Spaulding of Freeport (31:29) and Christine Snow-Reaser of Dayton (36:13) who unseated three-time champion Julia Kirtland of Brunswick, who finished third at 37:59. Other winners included: Masters Men - Andrew Masai, Kenya (29:37); Masters Women - Judi St. Hilaire, U.S. (33:53); Wheelchair Division, Tony Nogueria, Glenn Ridge, N.J. (24:59) and Laurie Stephens, Wenham, Mass. (30:51). Each of them won last year as well. (For a list of race results, go to http://www.beach2beacon.org.)

More than 3,700 runners finished the race and an estimated 10,000 spectators lined the picturesque course and gathered at the finish. Now in its fourth year, the popular race again attracted some of the top elite road racers from around the world, including a number of former Olympians. The race also included a strong field of New England and Maine runners.

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 the Kids First Center, a program dedicated to supporting Maine parents and children who are going through the transition of divorce or separation. The center received $30,000 in race proceeds from the bank, and is anticipating an additional $20,000 in pledges from runners raising money on its behalf.

"It's just a great event, a world-class event, and the turn out again this year was a real show of support," said Joan Benoit Samuelson, who won the first woman's marathon in the 1984 Olympics and still holds the American marathon record she set in 1985.

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.

In addition to Peoples, other major race sponsors this year include Nike, Poland Spring, US Airways, MBNA and WCSH-6, the local NBC affiliate that airs a half hour special, "Bill Greene's Maine," statewide the night of the race.

More than $50,000 in prize money was awarded to the top 10 runners for the men and women, including $7,500 for the winner and $5,000 for the second-place finisher. Other cash awards went to the top men and women in the masters, Maine, and wheelchair categories. A 1K "Young Peoples Run" for kids 12 and under also saw some 400 entrants and a multitude of activities for children.

Other top finishers among the male elite runners included Abraham Chebii, Kenya (4th, 29:05), Shaun Creighton, Australia (5th, 29:19) and Scott Larson, Boulder, Co., the top American finisher at 29:40. Other top women finishers included Elana Meyer, South Africa (3rd, 32:19), and Eyrusalem Kuma, Ethiopia (4th, 32:44).

Other top Maine finishers included: Justin Easter of Jay (2nd, 31:45), Bob Winn of Ogunquit (3rd, 31:54), Byrne Decker of Yarmouth, (4th, 32:19) and Michael Payson of Falmouth (5th, 32:23). On the women's side, Maggie Hanson of Bowdoinham finished second with a 37:35.

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