FAMILIAR FACES READY TO RUN AT BEACH TO BEACON 10-K
By: Chris Lotsbom
August 6, 2010
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE (06-Aug) -- The biggest race in the State of
Maine's history will take place tomorrow when as many as 7,000 runners
will take to the roads along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean here for
the 13th edition of the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10-K.
The men's field may be the strongest in the event's history, and three
men appear to stand a head above the rest. Kenya's Martin Lel, who is
coming off a stress fracture, will be competing in his first race since
February 28, when he beat Olympic Marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru at
the Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Half-Marathon in New Orleans. The two-time
Virgin London and ING New York City Marathon champion has been training
in northern Italy with compatriots Wanjiru, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot,
and James Kwambai under coach Claudio Beardelli.
"I am really happy to be here, because I know this is one of the fastest
races in the U.S. and a competitive race," said the 31 year-old Lel.
"I am here for the speed, for the endurance, in preparation for the
marathon."
Former IAAF World Cross Country Championships gold medallist Gebre
Gebremariam of Ethiopia is returning to the United States for the first
time since his win at the Peachtree Road Race on July 4. The tall --and
today uncharacteristically quiet-- Gebremariam said he will try his
best against the tough field, aiming to go three-for-three in American
10-K's this year.
Though his presence may be overshadowed by Lel and Gebremariam, two-time
defending champion Ed Muge should not be overlooked. Muge, the 2008
Kenyan 10,000m champion, aims to join Gilbert Okari as a three-time
winner of the event. Muge said he expects the race to be extremely
close, predicting that it will come down to the final 400 meters.
Making the trip nearly eleven years after his 1999 win is Khalid
Khannouchi, who is on the road to what he hopes is a resurrection of his
career. Plagued by injuries, most recently a bad foot, Khannouchi is
making his way back to competitive form, slowly. He's looking forward
to running hard and competing well.
"We are taking it one step at a time," said Khannouchi, 38. "I will
probably run a marathon next year, but this year will be a lot of short
races."
Khannouchi, who splits his time between Albuquerque, N.M.; Colorado
Springs, Colo.; and Ossining, N.Y.; hasn't counted out a run at the 2012
Olympics. But he says what is most important is to see what his health
brings, and make good decisions based on that.
The women's field is highlighted by four-time Beach to Beacon champion
Catherine Ndereba. The two-time Olympic silver medallist is also
looking to return to her previous form, as injuries have hampered her in
the last year. Training recently in Nairobi, Ndereba said she will use
the race to gauge her current fitness.
"I am glad that I am able to come back and have that feeling that I
enjoy [running]," Ndereba commented. "I just feel great that I am back
in my running career. I don't know how fast I am, but it will be good
for me to get a new headstart."
Ndereba, who hasn't competed since April, is grateful to be healthy
again. She is looking to run a fall marathon, yet is still unsure of
where it will take place.
Ndereba's training partner when in the United States is Irene Limika,
the defending champion here. Based near Philadelphia, Limika is excited
to return and see if she can improve on her 32:06 personal best set
last year. Limika has struggled in her recent races; she's finished
13th, 12th and 7th in her last three competitive outings.
The race was founded in 1998 by 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medallist
Joan Samuelson who grew up here and now lives in nearby Freeport.
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