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Tola, Masai Win Falmouth Road Race; Keflezighi Finishes 2nd With Strong Performance

Posted August 10th, 2008 at 4:07 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

Tadesse Tola Edith Masai 2008 Falmouth Road Race Champions The first time was a charm for both the men’s and women’s winners of the 2008 CIGNA Falmouth Road Race. In addition, this year marked the first time that a Masters runner topped the women’s field, following her wins in consecutive weekends at the Bix 7-Mile in Davenport, Iowa and the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Edith Masai, age 41, of Kenya crossed the finish line in 37:02 followed by Lyudmila Bitkasheva, age 34, of Russia three seconds later in 37:05.

On the men’s side, Tadese Tola, age 20, finished in 32:01, which broke the nine-year Kenyan winning streak and marked the first win by an Ethiopian. The 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezghi, 33, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. finished second in 32:09. That time bettered his 2007 Falmouth second place finish by four seconds. Boaz Cheboiywo of Kenya placed third in 32:12. Both winning times were off the course records of 31:08 set by Gilbert Okari in 2004 and 35:02 set Lornah Kiplagat in 2000.

Azure blue skies and temperatures in the high 60’s greeted the field at the Woods Hole starting line. By the time the runners reached the finish line of the seven-mile course at Falmouth Heights, temperatures had only risen to the mid-70’s, however the lack of ocean breezes eliminated any cooling effect for the nearly 11,000 participants.

The men’s pack sprinted off the start line, and at the Nobska Light one mile split a group of 18 – 20 men clocked 4:32. Leaders included Tola, Keflezghi, Beach to Beacon winner Edward Muge, Boaz Cheboiywo, Dennis Ndiso and Dereje Tadese. The leaders kept a clockwork pace, with the pack of 12 passing two miles in 9:05 for a 4:33 split. The group thinned to nine at three miles in 13:41 (4:36 mile split) and by the time the leaders reached four mile mark on scenic Surf Drive in 18:14 there were six including Tola, Cheboiywo, Keflezghi, Muge and Tadese. The pack dwindled to four as Keflezighi, Muge, Tola and Cheboiywo passed mile five in 22:44 and the 10K in 27:27. Muge’s attempt at back-to-back wins at Beach to Beacon and Falmouth was not to be when he pulled off the course at six and a half miles.

At the one-mile split, the women’s lead pack included Masai, Bitkasheva, eventual third place finisher Angelina Mutuku of Kenya and American Kate O’Neill. Having placed second to Masai in last week’s Beach to Beacon, Bitkasheva decided to push the pace from mile two. At the five-mile mark a confident Masai made her move and never relinquished her lead. Bitkasheva battled Mutuku finally passing her on the last hills leading to the Falmouth Heights finish to take second. Following Mutuku’s 37:07 were Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia in 37:15 and American Renee Metivier Baillie in 37:30.

Masai, collected prize money in both the Overall and Masters Women’s Divisions. Two-time Overall and two-time Masters Falmouth champion Colleen De Reuck of Boulder, Colo., took second in 38:19, fifth American and 13th overall. Moroccan Brahim Lahlafi, 40, won the Men’s Masters Division in 33:42. Sean Wade, 42, of Houston, Texas, finished second in 35:35.

Krige Schabort, 39, of Cedartown, Ga, shattered the Men’s Wheelchair record by 18 seconds with his 23:35 win. Four-time winner Tony Nogueira, finished second in 25:45. Jacqui Kapinowski for Point Pleasant, N. J. won the Women’s Wheelchair Division in 43:04.

Three-time Falmouth winner Bill Rodgers, age 60, of Sherborn, Mass., finished in a time of 49:23. Six-time Falmouth winner Joan Benoit Samuelson, age 51, of Freeport, Maine, who finished 25th overall in the Women’s Division with a time of 41:49, making her the fifth master and first senior finisher. Dick and Rick Hoyt finished in 58:36.

The 37th running of the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race will be held Sunday, August 9, 2009.

Courtesy of the Falmouth Road Race.