\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
For \u00a0<\/p>\n News \u00a0<\/p>\n Olympic Gold Medalist \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Celebrated Cape \u00a0<\/p>\n CAPE \u00a0<\/p>\n Samuelson, \u00a0<\/p>\n Samuelson \u00a0<\/p>\n This \n The beneficiary of this year\u0089\u00db\u00aas race is \u00a0<\/p>\n \u0089\u00db\u00cfIt\u0089\u00db\u00aas \u00a0<\/p>\n Rematch of \u00a0<\/p>\n The \u00a0<\/p>\n \u0089\u00db\u00cfI \u00a0<\/p>\n In \u00a0<\/p>\n Kenyan Ayalew, 25, finished right behind Chepkurai in 2010 in 31:07 \u0089\u00db\u00d2 the second \u00a0<\/p>\n The \u00a0<\/p>\n Margaret \u00a0<\/p>\n Two \u00a0<\/p>\n Other A strong contingent of American women also is entered, led by Julia Lucas<\/strong>, \u00a0<\/p>\n An injury to former Olympian and marathon One of the favorites is Atsedu Tsegay<\/strong>, 20, of Ethiopia, whose 58:47 in Lucas Rotich<\/strong>, 22, of Kenya, is back after finishing second at the 2011 Kenyan Stanley Biwott<\/strong>, 26, broke course records at both the Paris Silas Ed Muge<\/strong>, 29, of Kenya, who won the TD Beach to Beacon 10K in 2008 Other contenders include Lelisa Desisa<\/strong>, 22, who is an alternate on the The leading American entered is Sean Quigley<\/strong>, 27, a top U.S. distance \u0089\u00db\u00cfWith all the excitement surrounding the London Games, this field is \u00a0<\/p>\n (Unofficial) \u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n The \u00a0<\/p>\n In \u00a0<\/p>\n Erica \u00a0<\/p>\n A \u00a0<\/p>\n In \u00a0<\/p>\n He \u00a0<\/p>\n 15th \u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The \u00a0<\/p>\n A \u00a0<\/p>\n The The gorgeous The involvement \u00a0<\/p>\n \u0089\u00db\u00cfIt\u0089\u00db\u00aas \u00a0<\/p>\n Each \u00a0<\/p>\n About TD \u00a0<\/p>\n TD \u00a0<\/p>\n About The \u00a0 For Immediate Release: July 31, 2012 Contact: David Weatherbie, Race President dweatherbie@seafax.com; Jason\/Beryl Wolfe, Wolfe PR jason@wolfenews.com beryl@wolfenews.com (520) 399-5097\/5770 \u00a0 News Release \u00a0 Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson to Join Talented World-Class Field and Best in Maine on Saturday for Special 15th TD Beach to Beacon 10K \u00a0 Celebrated Cape Elizabeth, Maine … <\/p>\n
\nImmediate Release: <\/strong>July
\n31, 2012
\n<\/strong>Contact: <\/strong>David Weatherbie, Race President dweatherbie@seafax.com; <\/strong>Jason\/Beryl
\nWolfe, Wolfe PR jason@wolfenews.com beryl@wolfenews.com (520) 399-5097\/5770<\/p>\n
\nRelease<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nJoan Benoit Samuelson to Join Talented World-Class Field and Best in Maine on
\nSaturday for Special 15th TD Beach to Beacon 10K <\/strong><\/p>\n
\nElizabeth, Maine road race focusing attention on support for bereaved children
\nand families with race beneficiary Center for Grieving Children<\/em><\/p>\n
\nELIZABETH, Maine<\/strong>
\n(July 31, 2012)<\/em> \u0089\u00db\u00d2 Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson will
\njoin a field of talented world-class distance runners and the best in Maine and
\nacross New England in Cape Elizabeth on Saturday (Aug. 4) for the special 15th
\nTD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race. <\/p>\n
\nwinner of the first Olympic women\u0089\u00db\u00aas marathon in 1984, will toe the line
\nto commemorate the 15th running of the popular road race that she
\nfounded in 1998 as a way to give back to her state and community. The running
\nicon is expected to run a leisurely pace along the same picturesque roads that
\nshe trained on in her native Cape Elizabeth.<\/p>\n
\nwill share the coastal course with top elite athletes from East Africa, Europe
\nand the U.S., plus thousands of recreational runners who receive cheers from
\nencouraging spectators who line the route. The festive atmosphere, heavy
\ncommunity involvement and flawless organization is credited for the TD Beach to
\nBeacon 10K\u0089\u00db\u00aas (www.beach2beacon.org)
\nreputation as a world-class event with small-town charm.<\/p>\n
\nyear\u0089\u00db\u00aas expected race-day field of 6,000 will include runners from 16
\ncountries and 44 U.S. states. More than $60,000 in prize money is at stake,
\nincluding a $10,000 prize each to the top man and woman, $5,000 for the second
\nplace and cash prizes for the top 10 finishers. Also, a $2,500 bonus also is
\navailable for any runner who sets a new open course record ($500 in the Maine
\ncategory), providing added incentive in a race that consistently ranks among
\nthe fastest and most competitive 10Ks in the world. <\/p>\n
\nthe Center for Grieving Children (www.cgcmaine.org), a Portland, Maine-based nonprofit organization providing
\nsupport to bereaved children and families, which will receive a $30,000
\ndonation from the TD Charitable Foundation. The organization also will benefit
\nfrom fundraising activities and publicity through its association with the
\nrace. Additional information is posted under the press kit at www.wolfenews.com.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\nincredible to think about what the TD Beach to Beacon 10K has become over the
\nlast 15 years, and we are\u00a0honored to\u00a0continue to provide support to
\nan event so close to the hearts of so many people, including me,\u0089\u00db\u009d said
\nLarry Wold, TD Bank Market President for Maine who is one of fewer than 140
\nrunners who have taken part in every previous race (41:02 in 2011, 11th of 333
\nrunners in his 50-54 age group). \u0089\u00db\u00cfThis year’s beneficiary, the Center for
\nGrieving Children, is making such a difference in so many lives and we are
\nproud to support their efforts helping children, young adults and families
\nadjust to grief and loss.\u0089\u00db\u009d<\/p>\n
\nRecord-Setting 2010 in Women\u0089\u00db\u00aas Race, while Deep Men\u0089\u00db\u00aas Field
\nCombines Best on American Roads with Speedy East African Imports<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nworld-class fields assembled for both the men\u0089\u00db\u00aas and women\u0089\u00db\u00aas races
\nin 2012 will feature some of the\u00a0 best runners on the American road race
\ncircuit joined by a contingent of East African, Russian and U.S. track athletes
\nwho were strong contenders for spots on their Olympic teams.<\/p>\n
\nreally believe we\u0089\u00db\u00aave put together the deepest overall field we\u0089\u00db\u00aave
\never had, something special for the 15th running,\u0089\u00db\u009d said Larry Barthlow,
\nthe Elite Athlete Coordinator. \u0089\u00db\u00cfWe have runners who have been winning on
\nthe American roads this year, but also many new faces fresh off the tracks in
\nEurope who are determined to make some noise here. With the right conditions,
\nboth course records could fall.\u0089\u00db\u009d<\/p>\n
\nthe women\u0089\u00db\u00aas race, 2011 champ Aheza Kiros of Ethiopia has scratched, but
\nthe race remains star-studded with no less than five runners with sub 31:30
\n10Ks, including Lineth Chepkurai<\/strong> and Wude Ayalew, <\/strong>who ran the two
\nfastest times ever on the course in a 2010 duel.<\/p>\n
\nChepkurai, 24, is anxious to reclaim her TD Beach to Beacon \u00a0crown after a
\nrecord-setting performance two years ago. She shaved 26 seconds off the course
\nrecord with a blistering 30:59 \u0089\u00db\u00d2 the first sub 31:00 10K ever on Maine
\nsoil. Her PR for the 10K is 30:45.<\/p>\n
\nfastest time ever. She returned a week later to beat Chepkurai at the 2010
\nFalmouth Road Race. Ayalew, who has ran 30:11 at 10,000m, is in top form and
\nwill be in the mix, Barthlow said.<\/p>\n
\nLondon Olympics claimed one of the TD Beach to Beacon\u0089\u00db\u00aas other lead
\ncontenders in recent days as Aberu Kebede, an alternate on the Ethiopian team,
\nwas prevented from traveling to Maine in case she is needed for the Games.
\n\u0089\u00db\u00cfIn an Olympic year, that\u0089\u00db\u00aas one of the pitfalls with the caliber of
\nathlete we are attracting to this race,\u0089\u00db\u009d Barthlow said.<\/p>\n
\nWangari-Muriuki<\/strong>,
\n26, of Kenya, will arrive in Maine fresh off a win over the weekend (July 28)
\nat the Quad-City Bix 7 Mile in Iowa. She finished sixth at the 2010 World Cross
\nCountry Championships running barefoot and second at the African Cross Country
\nChampionships earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\ntop Russian distance athletes also are in the field. Valentina Galimova<\/strong>,
\n25, is a Russian 10,000m champion who finished a disappointing fifth at the
\n2012 Olympic qualifier while Kseniya Agafonova<\/strong>, 29, a Russian indoor
\nchamp who has a PR of 31:08 at 10,000m.<\/p>\n
\ncontenders include: Pauline Njeri-Kahenya<\/strong>, 27, of Kenya, who is on the
\nrise after recording a PR 31:25 in Paris in April; Rita Jeptoo<\/strong>, 31, of
\nKenya, the 2006 B.A.A Boston Marathon champ who has clocked 31:12 at 10K; and Jelliah
\nTinega<\/strong>, 26, of Kenya, who finished second at the 2011 TD Beach to Beacon
\nand has victories at the Bellin Run and Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run already in
\n2012.<\/p>\n
\n28, who missed the Olympics by .04 seconds in a heartbreaking, photo-finish
\nfourth-place finish at 5000m in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Her impressive
\nthird-place finish among a strong field at the Bix 7 over the weekend suggests
\nshe is taking out her disappointment on the roads.\u00a0 Others include Lindsey
\nScherf<\/strong>, 25, who took fourth at the 2012 USA 15K Championship and second at
\nthe USA 25K Championship; Rebecca Donaghue<\/strong>, 36, who finished in the top
\n20 in the U.S. Olympic trials for both the marathon and 10,000m and finished
\nfifth at the 2009 TD Beach to Beacon; and Katie McGregor<\/strong>, 34, who
\nfinished 11th at the U.S. Olympic marathon trials in Houston after narrowly
\nmissing the 2004 and 2008 Olympics with consecutive fourth place finishes at
\n10,000m.<\/p>\n
\nlegend Martin Lel and travel issues with a pair of young Ethiopians have
\nthinned the men\u0089\u00db\u00aas field since it was first announced earlier this month,
\nbut it still contains nine runners who have recorded sub 28:00 10Ks in their
\ncareers \u0089\u00db\u00d2 with even faster times on the track.<\/p>\n
\nPrague this spring remains the fastest half marathon in the world so far in
\n2012 and is only 24 seconds off the world record. He is an Olympic team
\nalternate for Ethiopia with a personal best (PR) of 27:46 at 10K. Tsegay will
\nbe making his American road racing debut.<\/p>\n
\nTD Beach to Beacon (27:56) and winning the Falmouth Road Race a week later. He
\nhas since recorded a blazing 26:43 on the track at 10,000m.<\/p>\n
\nMarathon (2:05:11) and Paris Half Marathon (59:04) already in 2012, and Gebretsadik
\nAbraha<\/strong>, 20, of Ethiopia earned silver at the 2010 World Junior
\nChampionships at 10,000m. <\/p>\n
\nKipruto<\/strong>,
\n27, of Kenya, won the Quad-City Bix 7 Mile over the weekend, outdueling fellow
\nKenyan Allan Kiprono<\/strong>, 22, who placed second in Iowa but already has
\nthree major wins on the American roads in 2012 and is returning to Cape
\nElizabeth after finishing fifth in 2011 and second in 2010.<\/p>\n
\n(setting a PR 27:52) and 2009, is back for his fifth consecutive race. He
\nfinished third last year and fifth in 2010.<\/p>\n
\nEthiopian Olympic team after recording a 27:12 earlier this summer; Lewis
\nNyariki<\/strong>, 23, of Kenya, who has run 27:22 at 10,000m. Kiplomo Kumatai<\/strong>,
\n30, of Kenya, who is returning to the TD Beach to Beacon for the first time
\nsince his third place finish (a PR of 27:59) in 2008 and has recorded 27:17 on
\nthe track; and Sammy Chelanga<\/strong>, 27, of Kenya, who was an NCAA Cross
\nCountry champion at Liberty University, where he set an NCAA record at 10,000m
\n(27:08.49), and is pursuing his U.S. citizenship. <\/p>\n
\nrunner and former NCAA champion at LaSalle.<\/p>\n
\ngoing to showcase a number of Olympic-caliber athletes right here in
\nMaine,\u0089\u00db\u009d said Race Founder Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first
\nOlympic women\u0089\u00db\u00aas marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.<\/p>\n
\nMaine Road Race Champions to be Crowned<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTD Beach to Beacon 10K attracts the state\u0089\u00db\u00aas top road racers who vie in
\nthe Maine Resident races each year for the unofficial title as Maine Road Race
\nChampion.<\/p>\n
\nthe women\u0089\u00db\u00aas race, defending champ Sheri Piers<\/strong>, 41, of Falmouth, is
\nthe prohibitive favorite after competing at a high level in major road races
\nacross the country this season. She won the masters title while finishing 13th
\noverall (34:38) at the famed Peachtree 10K in July and 15th overall
\nin an elite field at the Freihofer\u0089\u00db\u00aas Run for Women in June. Returning to
\nMaine, she recently won the Yarmouth Clam Festival 5 Mile. A two-time TD Beach
\nto Beacon Maine winner, Piers set the course record for Maine women in 2009
\n(34:17), which also placed her 10th overall.<\/p>\n
\nJesseman<\/strong>,
\n23, of Scarborough is continuing to recover from injury but will be in the mix.
\nShe finished second to Piers in 2011 and is having a strong 2012 with a win at
\nthe L.L. Bean 10K and a runner up finish behind Piers at the Yarmouth Clam
\nFestival 5 Mile. Kristin Barry<\/strong>, 38, of Scarborough, also a two-time
\nwinner and a former course record holder, will be looking for redemption this
\nyear after humid conditions caused her to struggle and stop along the course en
\nroute to a disappointing fifth-place finish.<\/p>\n
\nwild card in the race is Abbey Leonardi<\/strong>, 18, of Kennebunkport, the top
\nschoolgirl runner Maine has ever seen who will head to the University of Oregon
\nthis fall. Winner of four straight state cross country titles and holder of
\nnumerous course records across Maine, the Kennebunk High grad has clocked a
\n17:18 5K this summer and would be a contender if her college training program
\npermits her to run hard.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\nthe Maine men\u0089\u00db\u00aas race, 2011 champion Louie Luchini <\/strong>is attending the
\nLondon Olympics with friends and will not defend his title. That leaves the
\ndoor open for a number of talented Maine runners, led by \u00a0Jonny Wilson<\/strong>,
\n24, of Falmouth, who is in top form after notching wins at the L.L. Bean 10K,
\nYarmouth Clam Festival 5 Mile and Ocean Park 5K. <\/p>\n
\nwill be pushed by Ethan Shaw<\/strong>, 21, of Falmouth, a recent Dartmouth
\ngraduate who ran 29:17.89 on the track at 10,000m in April. Other contenders
\nwill include Robert Gomez<\/strong>, 28, of Westbrook, who finished just behind
\nWilson in the Ocean Park 5K, and Josh Zolla<\/strong>, 26, of Freeport, runner up
\nto Wilson in Freeport and Yarmouth.<\/p>\n
\nYear for Special Event<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n15th running of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K marks a significant milestone
\nfor a race that began with Joan Benoit Samuelson\u0089\u00db\u00aas dream to stage a major
\nroad race in her native Cape Elizabeth.<\/p>\n
\ntotal of 2,408 runners finished the first race \u0089\u00db\u00d2 this year the 6,000 mark
\ncould be eclipsed. In between, the race has earned a reputation as a
\nnot-to-be-missed event for both world-class athletes and recreational runners
\nfrom Maine and across New England. Online registration closed in five minutes
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
\nTD Beach to Beacon\u0089\u00db\u00aas growth in popularity and prestige can be traced back
\nto a range of factors, including:<\/p>\n
\n course that begins near the Crescent Beach State Park entrance on Route 77
\n in Cape Elizabeth and winds along tree-lined roads and past dramatic ocean
\n vistas before ending 6.2 miles later in Fort Williams Park near Portland
\n Head Light, the most photographer lighthouse in America.
\nThe tireless
\n volunteers, nearly 750 strong, who handle parking and registration and
\n provide water, first aid and security for the runners.
\nThe local
\n hospitality, including a \u0089\u00db\u00cfhome-stay\u0089\u00db\u009d program for the elite
\n athletes that rivals any in the sport.
\nThe flawless
\n operation under the direction of Dave McGillivray and his team at DMSE
\n Sports (www.dmsesports.com),
\n considered one of the best race management companies in the business.
\nThe generous
\n sponsors also give the race an edge, from title sponsor TD Bank,
\n America\u0089\u00db\u00aas Most Convenient Bank\u00ae, to the other major
\n corporate partners \u0089\u00db\u00d2 Hannaford, Poland Spring, MaineHealth,
\n Fairchild Semiconductor, IDEXX, Nike, Northeast Delta Dental and WCSH6-TV.<\/p>\n
\n of Joan Benoit Samuelson, an ambassador and legend in her sport who leaves
\n world-class athletes awestruck and continues to inspire recreational
\n runners.
\nSocial
\n awareness, as the race has a long history of commitment to the environment
\n with a focus on recycling, reuse and eco-friendly activities. The race is
\n applying this year for certification to the Council for Responsible Sport.
\nThe enthusiastic
\n commitment of the host community, as police, fire and municipal officials
\n serve with local residents on the 60-member, volunteer Organizing
\n Committee, headed by Race President David Weatherbie of Cape Elizabeth,
\n and residents turn out in huge numbers to support the runners along the
\n course.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\ntoo the credit of all involved, through all of their hard work and dedication
\nover the years, that the TD Beach to Beacon has become what it has,\u0089\u00db\u009d
\nSamuelson said. \u0089\u00db\u00cfNo one person is responsible for our success. It takes a
\ncommunity. And this is a special community.\u0089\u00db\u009d<\/p>\n
\nfinisher of Saturday\u0089\u00db\u00aas race will receive a special medal commemorating
\nthe 15th race. The wheelchair entrants begin at 7:55 a.m. and the
\nrunners start at 8:10. In addition to prize money for the world-class athletes,
\nother cash awards go to the top men and women master\u0089\u00db\u00aas finishers, men and
\nwomen M50 winners, men and women wheelchair entrants and men and women from
\nMaine. Also, age category winners will receive L.L. Bean gift certificates. For
\nmore information about the race, go to www.beach2beacon.org.\n<\/p>\n
\nTD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank\u00ae<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nBank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the
\nU.S., providing nearly 8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business
\nand commercial banking products and services at more than 1,280 convenient
\nlocations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and
\nFlorida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized wealth
\nmanagement services through TD Wealth, insurance products and services through
\nTD Insurance, Inc., and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services
\nthrough TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., and
\nPortland, Maine. To learn more, find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com\/TDMoneyLoungeUS, on Twitter at www.twitter.com\/TDBank_US, or visit www.tdbank.com.<\/p>\n
\nBank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a
\nsubsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial
\nservices company in North America and one of the few banks in the world rated Aaa
\nby Moody’s. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock
\nexchanges under the ticker symbol “TD.” To learn more, visit www.td.com. <\/p>\n
\nthe TD Charitable Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTD Charitable Foundation is funded by TD Bank N.A., which operates as TD Bank,
\nAmerica\u0089\u00db\u00aas Most Convenient Bank\u00ae, and is one of the 10
\nlargest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The Foundation’s
\nmission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the
\ncommunities where TD Bank operates, having made $89.2 million in charitable
\ndonations since its inception in 2002. The Foundation\u0089\u00db\u00aas areas of focus
\nare affordable housing, financial literacy and education, and the environment.
\nMore information on the TD Charita<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"