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Lead Stories: Sunday, November 23, 2008

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.
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Beach to Beacon 10-K Next Stop on U.S. Roads

Posted July 31st, 2008 at 10:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

Beach to Beacon 10-K logo One of American’s most scenic road races, the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10-K, is also one of its most competitive. The 11th edition of this coastal run in Cape Elizabeth, Me., is scheduled for Saturday and features a very strong, mostly African, elite field.

Kenyan Duncan Kibet, who was the first of 4839 finishers in last year’s race in a swift 27:51.7 personal best, returns to defend his title, organizers reported earlier this week. Once again, it will be his goal to snatch the $10,000 first prize, part of a total $60,000 prize money purse.

His biggest rivals will mostly be from his own nation, including Quad-City Times Bix 7 champion Edward Muge, 2006 Beach to Beacon champion Thomas Nyariki, and three time “B2B” winner Gilbert Okari. The Kenyans will have two very strong Ethiopians to contend with (no Ethiopian man has ever won the B2B), led by 2008 AJC Peachtree Road Race champion Terefe Maregu Zewdie, and 2004 Olympian Dejene Berhanu.
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Russell Hopes for Elusive Olympic Team Berth

Posted April 18th, 2008 at 5:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

Some four years ago on a warmish day in St. Louis, Blake Russell was competing in the biggest race of her life, the 2004 USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon. Right from the gun, she stepped on the gas, motoring through the first 10 km in a snappy 33:33. She quickly built a one minute lead on the field, including pre-race favorite Deena Kastor and eventual winner Colleen De Reuck.

“It was one of those things when I felt I was ready to really run fast,” Russell recalled today ahead of Sunday’s Marathon Trials where she is amongst the favorites for a podium finish and a spot on the U.S. Olympic marathon team in Beijing.
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Beach to Beacon Entries Sell Out in Just 26 Hours

Posted March 18th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Entries for the 11th TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10-K sold out in a head-spinning 26 hours, organizers announced yesterday evening. Maine’s most popular road race is scheduled for Saturday, August 2, in the seaside town of Cape Elizabeth, hometown of Olympic gold medalist Joan Samuelson who co-founded the race.

For the first time, the event eliminated paper entries entirely. Electronic entries began to pour in as soon as registration opened last Saturday. More than 5000 runners signed up in the first ten hours alone, and the 5500-runner limit was reached soon thereafter.
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Registration Begins for 2008 Beach to Beacon 10K

Posted March 15th, 2008 at 9:15 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

beach 2 beacon 10-k logo Earlier today registration officially opened for the 11th TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K. This year’s edition of race in Cape Elizabeth, ME is set for 8AM on August 2..

It should be noted that race organizers decided to eliminate paper applications this year because of financial and environmental concerns; making it the first road race in America to go completely “paperless”.

As a result, all athletes must register online at: http://www.beach2beacon.org/

Founded by U.S. marathon legend and women’s running pioneer Joan Benoit Samuelson, the Beach to Beacon 10K is a fan favorite that attracts runners from all parts of the U.S. and elite athletes from around the world. In 2007, the race featured over 5,000 runners and drew more than 10,000 spectators.

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Samuelson To Give Keynote Address At Napa Valley Marathon

Posted February 20th, 2008 at 8:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Joan Benoit-Samuelson Athletes participating in the 30th edition of the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon on Sunday, March 2, will be tackling the course after getting advice from 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist, Joan Samuelson, who will give the race’s keynote address the previous afternoon.

Amongst that group, organizers say, will be six to ten women who hope to qualify for the USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon on Sunday, April 20, in Boston. The minimum time to make the Trials is two hours and 47 minutes. According to USA Track & Field, 175 women had officially qualified through January 16, while RRW has noted two more qualifiers since then: Melanie Peters, 2:46:45, Tampa, Feb. 10, and Becki Michael, 2:43:43, Austin, Feb. 17.
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Charity Fundraising by Runners Now $714+ Million

Posted October 30th, 2007 at 8:00 PM by J. R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Marking a trend of continued growth, road runners and walkers raised $714 million for charity in 2006, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced Monday. The figure marks a nearly 9 percent increase over 2005 and shows continued, steady increases since USATF began its annual charity survey in 2002.

The Nike Women’s Marathon and Half-Marathon was named the 2006 USATF Charitable Race of the Year, while the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its GREAT STRIDES program was honored as 2006 Charitable Organization of the Year.
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