At the 2010 Beach to Beacon 10k on Saturday, August 7, Gebre Gebremariam became the first Ethiopian champion in the race's 13 year history, while Lineth Chepkurui made history herself by setting a stunning new course record. Gebremariam topped the men's results with a sprint to the finish 27:40.4, while Chepkurui of Kenya cruised to a 30:59.4 record result.
Over 5,500 elites and locals alike ran the 13th annual Beach to Beacon 10k on August 7 along the coast of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Absolutely perfect racing weather met the runners on the starting line (54 degrees with 29% humidity) and fast times shortly followed. A slew of international elites came to race for the overall win for 6.2-miles starting at Crescent Beach and ending at Portland Head Light, while awards were also given for the top local Maine finishers.
On the men's side, the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country champion Gebre Gebremariam won in a sprint to the finish and became the very first Ethiopian to win the Beach to Beacon 10k. A pack of Kenyans came in next as Alan Kiprono just missed the win in 27:41.7 during his very first race on American soil. Wilson Kibet ran 27:44.5 for third, Stephen Kibet ran 27:51.4 for fourth and defending champion Ed Muge ran 28:08.3 to round out the top five. Thus far, 2010 has been good to Gebremariam; he can now add his Beach to Beacon victory to wins at the UAE Healthy Kidney 10k in May and the Peachtree Road Race in July.
Ben True finished as the first American in the Beach to Beacon 10k, placing 12th overall in 29:00.4, while Patrick Tarpy of Yarmouth, Maine was close behind in 29:25.7, good for 15th place and the top local finisher from Maine. Khalid Khannouchi, the current American marathon record holder (2:05:38 London Marathon 2002), returned to the Beach to Beacon 10k for the first time since 2004, but finished a disappointing 58th place in 33:11.
The women's race was won in a more dominant fashion, as Lineth Chepkurui crushed a competitive field to take the win in a course record setting time of 30:59.4 (crushing the old record of 31:25.8 by Alventina Ivanova of Russia from 2006). Chepkurui also set the course record at the 2010 Bay to Breakers 12k back in May.
Chepkurui and Los Angeles Marathon winner Edna Kiplagat set out fast from the start, but Chepkurui went into cruise control mode for the win and Ethiopian Wude Ayalew Yimer came on strong in the second half to place second herself (31:06.9). Kiplagat took third in 31:33.1, defending champion Irene Limika followed far behind in 33:06.1 and five-time winner Catherine Ndereba placed sixth in 33:33.7.
Heidi Westover served as the top American woman in the 2010 Beach to Beacon 10k, as the Walpole, New Hampshire resident placed eighth overall in 34:11.2. In a near dead finish, Sheri Piers took the top Maine runner award over Kristin Barry as the locals ran 34:34.9 and 34:35.2, respectively.
Beach to Beacon 10k Men's Results:
1 27:40.4 4:28 Gebre Gebremariam 25 M 7 ETH
2 27:41.7 4:28 Alan Kiprono 20 M 17 KEN
3 27:44.5 4:28 Wilson Chebet 25 M 6 KEN
4 27:51.4 4:29 Stephen Kipkosgei-Kibet 23 M 12 KEN
5 28:08.3 4:32 Ed Muge 27 M 1 KEN
6 28:16.3 4:33 Shawn Forrest 27 M 14 AUS
7 28:38.4 4:37 Martin Lel 31 M 2 KEY
8 28:44.4 4:38 Boaz Cheboiywo 32 M 5 KEN
9 28:46.5 4:38 Martin Fagan 27 M 11 IRE
10 28:56.7 4:40 Joel Kemboi Kimurer 27 M 13 KEN
Beach to Beacon 10k Women's Results:
1 30:59.4 5:00 Lineth Chepkurui 22 F 103 KEN
New record. Old record 31:25.8 by Alventina Ivanova of Russia in 2006
2 31:06.9 5:01 Wude Ayalew 23 F 104 ETH
3 31:33.1 5:05 Edna Kipligat 30 F 102 KEN
4 33:06.1 5:20 Irene Limika 30 F 100 KEN
5 33:25.0 5:23 Leonora Joy-Petrina 28 F 112 NZL
6 33:33.7 5:25 Catherine Ndereba 38 F 101 KEN
7 33:39.6 5:26 Malika Mejdoub 28 F 113 MOR
8 34:11.2 5:31 Heidi Westover 29 F 116 Walpole NH
9 34:24.9 5:33 Allison Krol 26 F 117 Pittsfield MA
10 34:34.9 5:34 Kristin Barry 36 F 121 Scarborough ME
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