PRESS KIT: World-Class Athlete Bios - 2013 TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race

Updated August 1

 

Elite Men

(Course Record: Gilbert Okari, Kenya, 27:28 - 2003)

Emmanuel Mutai, Kenya

Bib#: 2

Age: 29

Country: Kenya

Of Note: One of the world’s top marathoners, set a course record (2:04:40) in winning the 2011 London Marathon

 

Micah Kogo

Bib#: 3

Age: 27

Country: Kenya

Best 10K: 27:01

Of note: An Olympic bronze medalist who won the 2011 TD Beach to Beacon in 27:47, Kogo is ranked 13^th in the world. Drew attention in April by finishing second (2:10:27) at the B.A.A. Boston Marathon in his marathon debut.

 

 

 

 

Meb Keflezighi

Bib#: 4

Age: 38

Country: USA

Best 10K: 27:58

Of note: First time returning to Maine since recording his 10K PR while finishing fourth at 2007 TD Beach to Beacon - the highest ever placing for an American man. He won silver at the 2004 Olympics – the first American to medal in the marathon in 28 years – and finished fourth last summer in the London Games. Took third at Quad City Times Bix 7 Road Race over the weekend.

 

Ryan Hall

Bib#: 5

Age: 30

Country: USA

Best 10K: 28:08 (track)

Of note: A two-time Olympian who won the U.S. Olympic trials in 2008 and holds the American record in the half marathon, he will be making his TD Beach to Beacon debut. Recorded three top-four finishes at the B.A.A. Boston Marathon from 2009-2011 and won the Bay to Breakers 12K earlier this year.

 

Stephen Kipkosgei-Kibet

Bib#: 8

Age: 26

Best 10K: 27:56

Country: Kenya

Of note: Runner up (28:01) at 2012 TD Beach to Beacon.

 

Elliot Krause

Bib#: 9

Age: 23

Country: USA

Of note: An All-American middle distance runner at Wisconsin; 13:34 5,000m.

 

Silas Kipruto

Bib#: 10

Age: 28

Best 10K: 27:28

Country: Kenya

Of note: 6-foot-4 Kipruto glided over Quad City Bix 7 Road Race course over weekend to finish second, following two consecutive wins in Iowa.

 

Dino Sefir

Bib#: 12

Age: 25

Country: Ethiopia

Best 10K: 28:39

Of note: Ran 2:04:50 marathon to help qualify for 2012 Olympics as member of Ethiopian national team.

 

Atsedu Tsegay

Bib#:16

Age: 21

Best 10K: 27:46

Country: Ethiopia

Of note: An Olympic team alternate whose 58:47 half marathon in 2012 is the fifth fastest ever

 

Mykola Labovsky

Bib#: 17

Age: 30

Country: Ukraine

Of note:  Member of the 2012 Ukraine Olympic team who earlier this year placed fourth at the European 5,000m championships.

 

Elite Women

(Course Record: Lineth Chepkurai, Kenya, 30:59 - 2010)

 

Linet Masai

Bib#: 101

Age: 23

Country: Kenya

Best 10K: 30:48

Of note: Finished fourth at 10,000m in the 2008 Olympics. Won World Champs at 10,000m a year later and finished third in 2011.

 

Lineth Chepkurui
Bib#: 102
Age: 25

Country: Kenya
Best 10K: 30:45
Of note: Returning to Cape Elizabeth for the second time since shattering course record (30:59) in 2010 - the fastest 10K ever in Maine. So far in 2013, Chepkurui is the most dominant woman on the U.S. road race circuit with recent wins at Utica Boilermaker 12K and Peachtree 10K. She is presently ranked 14^th in the world by All-Athletics World Rankings.

 

 

 

 

Joyce Chepkirui

Bib#: 103

Age: 24

Country: Kenya

Best 10K: 30:38

Of note: An African Cross Country champ with track speed, taking silver in 1,500m at 2011 All-Africa Games.

 

Deena Kastor

Age: 40

Bib#: 104

Country:  USA

Of note: One of the most decorated American distance runners over the past decade, she is making TD Beach to Beacon debut after 2011 effort cut short by illness. Won bronze at the 2004 Olympics and holds the American record in the marathon and half marathon. She first broke Joan Benoit Samuelson’s 18-year-old American marathon record in 2003, and then lowered the mark to 2:19:36 in 2006. Will compete in marathon at upcoming World Championships in Moscow.

 

 

Aheza Kiros

Bib#: 106 

Age: 27

Country: Ethiopia

Best 10K: 31:57

Of note: In 2011, she became the first Ethiopian woman to win the TD Beach to Beacon 10K. That same year, finished runner up at the B.A.A. 10K, Boston Half Marathon and the New York Mini 10K. Made marathon debut at 2013 Dubai Marathon with fourth place 2:24:30.
 

Gemma Steel

Bib#: 108   

Age: 27

Country:  Great Britain

Best 10K: 32:06

Of note: Ranked 39^th in world, won bronze at the European Cross Country Championships in 2011.

 

Michelle Frey

Bib#: 109

Country: USA

Of note: Finished fourth at 2013 Bay to Breakers in San Francisco.

 

Diane Nukuri-Johnson

Bib#: 110

Age: 28

Country: Burundi

Of note: Two-time Olympian who finished fourth at the 2011 TD Beach to Beacon.

 

Yebrgual Melese

Bib#: 111

Age: 23

Country: Ethiopia

Of note: Finished 3rd at 2013 AJC Peachtree 10K Road Race, seven seconds behind Chepkurui. Placed fourth at Junior World Cross Country Championships. Recorded 15:01 at 5,000m.

 

Waganash Mekasha

Bib#: 112

Age: 21

Country: Ethiopia

 

Buzunesh Deba

Bib#: 113

Age: 25

Country: Ethiopia

Of note: Placed second over weekend at Quad City Times Bix 7 Road Race, five seconds behind Sule Utura, also in the TD Beach to Beacon field. Won the Bloomsday Run 12K in May and placed fourth at Peachtree 10K last month. Took third at 2011 TD Beach to Beacon (32:36). A prolific marathoner, she placed second at Houston Marathon earlier this year. Holds distinction for setting record for fastest marathon in California with PB 2:23:32 at San Diego Marathon in 2011, breaking 27-year-old record set by Joan Benoit Samuelson at the 1984 Olympic Games.

 

Sule Utura

Bib#: 114

Age: 23

Country: Ethiopia

Best 10K: 30:55 (track)

Of note: Used her track speed and long strides in the final stretch to win the Quad City Times Bix 7 over weekend. Coming off the European track tour where she recorded a 10,000m PR of 30:55 in late June. Secured a 5,000/10,000m double at the 2011 All-African Games.

 

Ayumi Goto

Bib#: 115

Age: 25

Country: Japan

 

Yuko Watanabe

Bib#: 116

Age: 25

Country: Japan

 

Alexi Pappas

Bib#: 117

Age: 23

Country: USA

Of note:  Five-time All American at Dartmouth and Oregon, she is known as well for her eclectic fashion sense and personal style. In addition to “runner”, she told ESPN that she labels herself a “performer-writer-filmmaker”. She is a member of the Oregon Track Club.