PRESS KIT: Elite Runner Bios - 2002 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race

ELITE ATHLETE BIOS

2002 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race

The following list of elite runners competing in the 2002 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race includes bio information and bib numbers:

Elite Men

Evans Rutto
Bib #: 1
Age: 24
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Marakwet, Kenya
Best 10K: 27:21.32 (track)
Of note: Surged ahead of lead group near the finish to win the 2001 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K in 28:30, ahead of James Koskei (28:32) and defending champion Joseph Kimani (28:35). Finished sixth in the 2001 World Half (1:00.43) and at Falmouth. Won the 2001 Wharf to Wharf 6 mile and finished second in the Clarksburg 10K. Took third in the 2001 Cherry Blossom 10 mile (46:26) and the Lisbon Half Marathon (60:30), one of the fastest times in the world for the year. Ran the 8th fastest 10,000m in the world in 2000 (27:21.32), setting a personal record. Won the 2000 CVS Downtown 5K and finished second in the 2000 U.S. 10K Classic.

James Koskei
Bib #: 2
Age: 33
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Eldoret, Kenya
Best 10K: 27:36
Of note: Currently the 10th ranked road racer in the world, finished second in the 2001 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K in 28:32. In May, won the 2002 Lilac Bloomsday 12K and the Bay to Breakers 12K (defending champion). Won five major road races in 2001: Boulder, Clarkesburg, CVS-Cleveland 10K, Bay to Breakers and Crescent City 10K (defending champion). In 2000, won the Vancouver Sun Run 10K (27:36) and the Cooper River Bridge 10K, setting a course record 27:40. Finished fifth in the 1999 World Cross Country 4K and third in the 1998 Goodwill Games 10,000m.

John Korir
Bib #: 3
Age: 26
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Kenya
Best 10K: 28:01
Of note: A favorite in the Peoples Beach to Beacon, he is ranked 3rd in current world rankings. Placed 2nd at Utica Boilermaker 15K and 4th at Peachtree 10K earlier this month. won five major road races last year: Falmouth 10K, Bix 7-miler in Iowa, Utica, Peachtree and Cherry Blossom 10-miler.

Thomas Nyariki
Bib #: 4
Age: 30
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Nakuru, Kenya
Best 10K: 27:30
Of note: A top track talent and currently the 6th ranked road racer in the world, he is running well right now and is a legitimate threat to challenge for the Peoples Beach to Beacon title as a first-time entry. Won the Bolder Boulder 10K in May, and recently finished 5th at the Peachtree 10K and 4th at the Utica Boilermaker 15K. Took 5th in the 5,000m at the 1996 Olympics. He is a two-time medalist at the World Cross Country Championships. In 2001, won the Azalea Trail 10K and the Cooper River Bridge 10K.

Hendrik Ramaala
Bib #: 5
Age: 30
Citizen of: South Africa
Residence: Johannesburg, South Africa
Best 10K: 27:29.94 (track)
Of note: Currently ranked 8th in the world as a road racer, he holds national records in South Africa for the 10,000 meters (27:29.94) and the half marathon (59:20). Placed 3rd at recent Utica 15K. Finished first in 2001 and second in 2000 in the Lisbon Half Marathon. Placed second in 1998 and 1999 and fourth in 1997 and 2001 (1:00:15) in the world half-marathon championship. Took first in the 2001 national championship for 10K and 10,000 meters in South Africa. Finished fifth in the 2001 New York City Marathon.

Abdi Abdirahan
Bib #: 6
Age: 24
Citizen of: United States
Residence: Tucson, Ariz.
Best 10K: 27:42 (track)
Of note: Finished second at the 2002 U.S. Championship in the 10,000m with personal best 27:42. Won the 2001 U.S. Championship in the 10,000m. Somali-born, became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Tenth in 10K at 2000 Olympics.

Matt Lane
Bib #: 7
Age: 24
Citizen of: USA
Residence: Williamsburg, Virginia
Best 10K: 28:28.97 (track)
Of note: A Yarmouth native and 1996 graduate of Yarmouth High School, Lane is returning home for his first run in the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K. A seven-time collegiate All-American at William & Mary, he has made the transition to the top ranks of elite middle-distance running. Competed in Europe this summer, where he turned in some fine performances. Career highlights include a fourth-place finish in the 5,000m at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and second in the 5,000m at the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships. In 2002, finished second in the 3,000m at the USA Indoor Championships and fifth in the 4K at the USA Cross Country Championships. Has a personal-best of 13:25.38 for 5,000m.

Brad Hauser
Bib #: 8
Age: 25
Citizen of: United States
Residence: Palo Alto, Calif.
Best 10K: 28:08.16 (track)
Of note: At 2000 Olympic trials, finished second in the 5,000m (personal-best 13:27:31) and fifth in the 10,000m (28:36.53). The 2000 NCAA champ at 5,000m and 10,000m. Fourth in the 2002 USA 10,000m.

Peter Julian
Bib #: 9
Age: 31
Citizen of: United States
Residence: Atherton, Calif.
Best 10K: 28:05 (track)
Of note: A World Team member, placed 9th at inaugural Beach to Beacon, the first American finisher. Third in the 10,000m at the 1999 Pan-Am Games. Won the 1997 Carolina 10K and took 3rd at 1999 Azalea Trail 10K.

Chris Graff
Bib #: 10
Age: 26
Citizen of: United States
Residence: Palo Alto, Calif.
Best 10K: 28:07.17 (track)
Of note: Fifth in the 2002 USA 10,000m. Fastest American at 2001 Cherry Blossom 10 Mile.

John Kagwe
Bib #: 11
Age: 33
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Philadelphia
Best 10K: 27:37
Of note: Won the 2001 Suzuki Rock ÔnÕ Roll Marathon in San Diego. Three-time champ of NYC Marathon (2000, 1998, 1997). Two-time winner of the Old Kent 25K (2001, 1997). Won the Prague Int. Marathon and the New Haven 20K, both in 1997. Set a course record while winning the Pittsburgh Marathon in 1995.

John Thuo Itati
Bib #: 12
Age: 28
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Philadelphia
Best 10K: 27:58
Of note: Won the 2002 Azalea Trail Run 10K with a personal-record 27:58. Took first place in four races in 2001: the Subaru Buffalo 4 Mile (17:53), the New Times Phoenix 10K (29:45), the MedSpan 5K (13:57) and the Shamrock Sportsfest 8K (22:38). Finished second in the 2001 Chris Thater 5K, running a personal-record 13:30, and third in the 2001 CVS 10K (28:13).

Godfrey Koprotich
Bib #: 13
Citizen of: Kenya
Of note: Considered among the top pace-setters in the world. Well-known as a public speaker and known as a good teacher, he may be involved in running clinics while in Maine for the race.
Elite Women

Catherine Ndereba
Bib #: 50
Age: 29
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Philadelphia
Best 10K: 31:02
Of note: One of the top road racers in the world, currently ranked 5th. Recently won a 10K in London, the Half Marathon in Sapporo, Japan, and the Vytra WomenÕs Long Island 5K. Four-time defending champion of Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race ö the only elite woman to have won the race. Set a course record 31:34 in winning 2001 event. Two-time winner of the Boston Marathon. Ranked as the top women=s runner in 1996 and 1998 by Runner=s World and Running Times. Ran a worldÕs best 2:18:47 in winning 2001 Chicago Marathon. Also won in 2000.

Colleen De Reuck
Bib #: 52
Age: 38
Citizen of: USA
Residence: Boulder, Col.
Best 10K: 31:16

Of note: A two-time Olympian, won a bronze medal in the 2002 World Cross Country Championships, and recently won the Quad City Bix 7 Mile and Steamboat Classic 4 Mile. Finished 7th at 2002 Peachtree. Ranked as high as 8th in the world in 2002, currently ranked 19th. Won three major road races in 2001 ö the U.S. WomenÕs 8K, the Tufts 10K and the Barrios 10K. Won four major races in 2000 ö the Bix, Steamboat, Bay to Breakers and Crescent City. South Africa born, she obtained U.S. citizenship in late 2000. Ranked third in the world in 2000, and #1 ranked woman road racer in the world in 1997 and 1993. Won 1996 Berlin Marathon with PB 2:26:35. Holds worldÕs best time at 10 miles (51:16) at the 1998 Cherry Blossom and worldÕs best 20K (1:05:11) at the 1998 New Haven 20K. Marathon finishes include a 3rd (1997), 5th (1998) and 4th (1999) at Boston, a 2nd (1998) and 4th (1999) at Chicago and a 2nd (1997) at the NYC Marathon.

Milena Glusac
Bib #: 53
Age: 26
Citizen of: USA
Residence: Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
Best 10K: 32:18

Of note: 2001 U.S. champ at half marathon, 20K and 25K. Member of the 2002 World Cross County silver medal team. Second American at 2001 NYC Marathon. MasterÕs degree in psychology from the University of Oregon, where she also played tennis.

Adriana Fernandez
Bib #: 55
Age: 31
Citizen of: Mexico
Residence: Mexico City
Best 10K: 31:10.12 (track)
Of note: An accomplished marathoner, running well in 2002 following maternity leave. Finished strong in 5,000m at the Maine Distance Festival in Brunswick this summer. Won the 1999 New York City Marathon after second place finish in 1998. Finished second at 1999 London Marathon with a personal best 2:24.06. Finished 16th on the marathon at the 2000 Olympics. Won the 5,000m at the 1999 and 1995 Pan Am Games.

Esther Kiplagat
Bib #: 57
Age: 35
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Kenya
Best 10K: 31:43
Of note: Finished fifth with a personal best 2:26.15 at 2001 New York City Marathon. Set her 10K personal best at 2001 Peachtree, where she finished second. Other top finishes last year included Vytra WomenÕs Long Island 5K (second); Bix 7 Mile (second); and Utica 15K (third). Won the 1999 Dublin Marathon.

Edna Kiplagat
Bib #: 58
Age: 20
Citizen of: Kenya
Residence: Kenya
Best 10K: not available
Of note: not available

Susannah Beck
Bib #: 59
Age: 34
Citizen of: USA
Residence: Eugene, Oregon
Best 10K: 33:02.79 (track)
Of note: A Yarmouth, Maine native and a Waynflete graduate, Beck is an accomplished marathoner who finished fourth at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. She will be competing in her first Peoples Beach to Beacon. Other career highlights include a second at the 2001 U.S. WomenÕs 8K. She was a two-time Maine high school cross country champion and a 1986 Pan Am Games Junior 1,500-meter silver medalist.


Masters

Men
#20 Andrew Masai, 42, Kenya. Two-time Peoples Beach to Beacon winner. Defending champion.
#21 Paul Evans, 41, Great Britain. Won the 1996 Chicago Marathon. Person best in the marathon of 2:08.
#22 Gennady Temnikov, Russia. Ran a 29:29 10K this year as a master, 3rd at the Boston Marathon (2:20).
#23 Andrey Kuznetsov, 44, Russia. Two-time (1998-99) Boston Marathon masters champ.
#24 Eddy Hellebuyck, 41, U.S. Holds American masters 10K mark (29:27). 1996 Olympic marathoner.

Women
#60 Joan Benoit Samuelson, 45, Freeport, Maine. Making first appearance in Peoples Beach to Beacon. Won 1984 Olympic marathon, two-time winner of Boston Marathon.
#61 Elena Parmanova, 41, Russia. 2002 Sallie Mae overall champion.
#62 Elana Fidatof, 42, Romania. Won masters title at recent Peachtree 10K. 7th at Ô96 Olympic 5,000m.
# # #