Three-time Defending Champ Catherine Ndereba Returning to Peoples Beach to Beacon Aug. 4

Ndereba is the only woman to win New England's premier road race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, winner of the first three Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Races, is returning to defend her title at New England's premier road race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, on August 4, Peoples Heritage Bank race organizers confirmed Tuesday.

Ndereba, who also has won the last two Boston Marathons, is among the world's top road racers. "Catherine's presence really raises this year's race to another level of excitement," said race founder and Peoples spokesperson Joan Benoit Samuelson, herself a running legend. "We now have both the men's and women's champions from 2000 back to defend against a strong elite field that will include some new faces. The 2001 race will be another showcase event."

Defending champion Joseph Kimani of Kenya, who overpowered a group of top elite runners last year with a time of 28:07, has already announced his return. Other elite men to commit so far include John Kagwe of Kenya, a three-time New York City Marathon champ; William Kiptum of Kenya, the third-place finisher in each of the three previous Peoples Beach to Beacons; and former Olympian German Silva of Mexico, a two-time winner of the New York City Marathon.

On the women's side, challengers to Ndereba include South Africa's Elana Meyer, a two-time Olympian who won a silver medal in the 10K at the Barcelona Games in 1992. She placed eighth in that event last year in the Sydney Games. Also, Colleen De Reuck, a native of South Africa who recently became a U.S. citizen, will be competing in her first Peoples Beach to Beacon. The winner of four major road races in 2000, she has been a top contender at the Boston and Chicago marathons.

Other top-name runners are expected to commit later this month, according to the race's elite athlete coordinator, Larry Barthlow of Global Athletics and Marketing in Boston.

Now in its fourth year, the race draws some 10,000 spectators and attracts elite runners worldwide as well as top runners locally and across New England. This year's field will again include its maximum of 4,000 runners. The race was founded by Peoples Heritage Bank and Samuelson, a Mainer and running legend whom in 1984 won the gold medal in the first Olympic marathon for women.

More than $50,000 in prize money is awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women. The event also features a children's 1K race. The scenic course will be the same as last year, beginning at Crescent Beach along Route 77 and ending 6.2 miles later at the Portland Head Light lighthouse at Fort Williams Park.

The race director is Dave McGillivray, who has organized the previous three years of the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race and has helped transform the event into New England's premier road race. He also serves as the race director of the BAA Boston Marathon.

In addition to Peoples, other major race sponsors this year include Nike, Poland Spring, US Airways, MBNA and WCSH TV-6, which will have live cut-ins of the start and finish and air a half hour show statewide on the night of the race.

The youth organization chosen by the bank to be the 2001 race beneficiary is the Kids First Center, a statewide program dedicated to supporting Maine parents and children who are going through the often-difficult transition of divorce or separation. The Kids First Center will receive $30,000 in race proceeds.

For additional information or to find out more about volunteer opportunities, persons may call the toll-free hotline at (888) 480-6940 or visit the race web site at http://www.beach2beacon.org or the bank's web site at http://www.peoplesheritage.com.
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