Solinsky racing Falmouth

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RE: Solinsky racing Falmouth 7/31/2012 8:51AM - in reply to suburbanxcore

suburbanxcore wrote:

http://twitter.com/ChrisSolinsky/status/230158988522696704

My first "race" will be the Falmouth Road Race. Very excited to put the OTC singlet on again for 1st time in 13 months. #stepalongtheway.

Thanks for starting the thread. I say that because this morning when I got into the office, one of my first duties is to check the LetsRun.com inbox. It has an email with the Falmouth Press Release on this year's field.

I hadn't read it until I saw your post as it was entitled: "Elite Field Release: New Balance Falmouth Road Race." With the Olympics and all, it just wasn't up on the priority list.

If it had said, "Chris Solinsky to begin comeback in Falmouth" I would have read it before I even looked at letsrun.com itself.

I guess the people putting out the release don't get the Chris Solinsky is by a factor of 50 more popular than the defending champ, Lucas Rotich, in this country.

The sport definitely has a marketing problem. The masters and wheelchair races are promoted almost as equally as the main race itself. Imagine if the NBA promoted the wheelchair game at half-time almost as much as the game itself.

Press release appears below:

Fallmouth wrote:
Defending Champion Lucas Rotich, Alan Kiprono and 2010 Champion Wude Ayalew Yimer Headline Star-Studded New Balance Falmouth Road Race Field;

Wheelchair Division Defending Champion Krige Schabort to Battle 8-time Champion Craig Blanchette

Women’s Masters Showdown Expected Between Past Champions De Reuck and Ndereba

July 31, 2012, Falmouth, MA – Falmouth, Massachusetts will be host to a who’s who of distance running, past and present, with the celebration of the 40th running of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race. 2011 champion Lucas Rotich is back to defend his title with the hottest man on the circuit, Alan Kiprono, nipping at his heels. While 2010 women’s champion, Wude Ayalew Yimer is back to challenge the field, the best women’s battle may be in the masters division between past champions Catherine Ndereba and Colleen De Reuck. Wheelchair course record holder and defending champion, Krige Schabort returns to Falmouth to race for his fourth title.

The New Balance Falmouth Road Race will take place on Sunday, August 12, 2012, when 12,800 participants will line up on the newly dedicated “Tommy Leonard Start Line” in front of The Captain Kidd in Woods Hole, MA. Wheelchair participants will start at 9:40 a.m. and the elite field will go off at 10:00 a.m.

Rotich, 22, from Kenya has a 26:43.98 time from the Brussels Diamond League Meet last year as well as a second place finish at the TD Bank Beach to Beacon race last year. On his heels will be the 2012 Dick’s Sporting Goods Bolder Boulder champion, Alan Kiprono, 22, of Kenya with a personal best of 27:42 for the 10K. Kiprono is on a hot streak with wins at Lilac Bloomsday Run and The Bellin Run as well. This is his Falmouth debut. Ed Muge, 29, of Kenya was third at Falmouth in 2011, and is a two-time TD Bank Beach to Beacon champion. Muge will be a factor along with American Chris Solinsky, 27, the former American 10,000 meters record holder with a time of 26:59.60. Tim Nelson, 28, a fellow American, is also expected to be in the lead pack. He has a 27:28.19 10,000 meter time and was a member of the 2009 World Championship team in Berlin.

The women’s field is stacked behind 2010 champion, Yimer, 25, who was also the 2011 Crescent City Classic champion. She’ll be chased by Lineth Chepkirui, 25, of Kenya, who was second at the 2012 Peachtree 10K in 32:23. Margaret Wangari, 26, of Kenya, is making her Falmouth debut but was second at the African Cross Country Championships earlier this year and third in the 1500 meters at the African Championships. This group will be closely followed by Americans, Lindsey Scherf, 25, who was fourth at the Peachtree 10K in 33:22 and Neely Spence, 22, of the United States who is making her Falmouth debut where her father, Steve, finished second in 1988.

One of the most fierce battles on the course this year could come between two former champions in the Masters Division. Colleen De Reuck, 48, was overall champion in both 1993 and 1997. She hasn’t shown much slowing down, handily winning the Masters Division for several years at Falmouth, including last year with a time of 39:12 for sixteenth overall. Catherine Ndereba is a four-time overall champion who has just turned 40 this summer. She claimed the top spot in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2007. Catherine was third at Falmouth in 2011 with a time of 37:27. De Reuck and Ndereba are no strangers to competing together having finished 1-2 twice at Falmouth; both times the edge going to Ndereba. However, if they spend too much time on each other, Sheri Piers, 40, from Falmouth, Maine, could play the spoiler. She was tenth over all at this year’s Boston Marathon as a master.

Defending champion, course record holder and 2012 Paralympian, Krige Schabort, 48, leads the men’s wheelchair field. Challengers include eight-time champion Craig Blanchette, 44, who was second in 2011 and four-time champion Tony Nogueira, 44, who finished third last year. Two-time champion, Patrick Doak, 44, is also back and ready to race.

With six-time winner Jessica Galli concentrating on the Paralympic Games, the women’s race is wide open. Jill Moore, 19, from the University of Illinois who has a 32:45 10K time will be mixing it up with the 2011 TD Bank Beach to Beacon winner Christina Kouros, 17, from Maine.

Past champions who will return to Falmouth include: Bill Rodgers (1974, 1977, 1978), Frank Shorter (1975, 1976), Craig Virgin (1979), Rod Dixon (1980), Lucas Rotich (2011); Joan Samuelson (1976, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985), Colleen De Reuck (1993, 1997), Catherine Ndereba (1996, 1998, 1999, 2007), Wude Ayalew (2010); Craig Blanchette (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2010), Patrick Doak (2006, 2007), Tony Nogueira (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005), Krige Schabort (2008, 2009, 2011) and Candace Cable (1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999). Virgin and Cable will not be competing but will be part of many activities during race weekend.

Course records: Men’s Open: Gilbert Okari, Kenya, 2004 – 31:08; Women’s Open: Lornah Kiplagat, Kenya, 2000 – 35:02; Men’s Wheelchair: Krige Schabort, USA, 2008 – 23:35; Women’s Wheelchair: Candace Cable, USA, 1991 – 28:20.

The 40th running of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race is Sunday, August 12, 2012. For further information: www.falmouthroadrace, www.facebook.com/falmouthroadrace, www.twitter.com/runfalmouth

About Falmouth Road Race
The New Balance Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite and recreational runners out to enjoy the iconic 7-mile seaside course. The non-profit Falmouth Road Race organization is committed to promoting health and fitness through community programs and philanthropic giving.