Posted: July 29, 2004

Athletics: Ndereba And Khannouchi Lead Beach To Beacon Field

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Catherine Ndereba will attempt to win her sixth People's Beach to Beacon 10-K in Cape Elizabeth, Me., on Sunday, as the reigning world marathon champion continues to prepare for the Olympic Marathon on 22-Aug.

"Catherine really has her work cut out for her," said elite athlete coordinator Larry Barthlow who has assembled a solid field to oppose her.

Ndereba, the former world record holder in the marathon, has won every edition of this six year-old race, but one: 2002 when Adriana Fernández of Mexico got the win and Ndereba finished third. This year she'll have to get by compatriot Susan Chepkemei, who set a course record at the Bix 7 last Saturday in Iowa; Luminita Talpos of Romania, who finished second last year by one second; and Kayoko Obato of Japan.

Khannouchi, who won here in 1998 in a then-course record 27:48, will have to defeat defending champion and course record holder Gilbert Okari of Kenya, who ran away from countryman John Korir last year in a sizzling 27:28, the fastest 10-K on the roads in the world last year. Korir, best known for late-race kicking, finished second in 27:51, and will also be competing. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, the 2003 Boston Marathon champion, will also be running as will Thomas Kiplitan, who ran 27:32.30 over 10,000m at the Cardinal Invitational last April.

"You have four guys at least who are capable of running sub 28s on Sunday, which would be amazing," Barthlow added. "This is going to be a really fast race."

Both the male and female winners will receive $10,000.