Posted: August 9, 2004

Athletics: Okari shatters Falmouth record

Gilbert Okari sets New Men's Course Record at the 32nd Annual SBLI Falmouth Road Race

Russian Alevtina Ivanova beats Americans Kate O’Neill and Elva Dryer in the Women’s Division

FALMOUTH, Mass. - Dry temperatures in the low 70s, cloudless skies and a tail wind set the stage for 26-year old Gilbert Okari of Kenya to cross the SBLI Falmouth Road Race finish line in a course record 31 minutes and 8 seconds. Okari obliterated the old mark of 31:36 set on this seven-mile course by fellow countryman, Joseph Kimani in 1996. Kenyan men took the first eight places with former marathon world record holder, Khalid Khannouchi claiming first place American prize money and ninth place overall in 32:26. On the women's side, Russian Alevtina Ivanova, age 29 bettered her 2003-second place Falmouth finish by winning the women's division in 36:13 placing 41st overall. Milton, Mass. native Kate O'Neill, 24, placed second in 36:26 followed by Elva Dryer, 32, of Albequerque, N.M. in 36:43. O'Neill and Dryer are heading to the Athens Olympics and will represent the United States in the 10,000 meters. Russian Tatyanna Petrova was fourth in 36:49 and Kate's identical twin sister, Laura, was fifth in 37:31

As the strains of the National Anthem faded at the Woods Hole start, runners and spectators were treated to a fly-over by two F-15 jets. The starting gun then fired sending thousands of runners on their journey over this scenic Cape Cod seaside course.

In the men's division, a pack of 10 runners including Okari, eventual second-place finisher Robert Cheruiyot, third-place finisher and 2003 winner, John Korir set the pace with a first mile split of 4:23. Cheruiyot threw in a downhill surge just past Nobska Light which was answered by the pack. The leaders continued through two miles in 8:52 and three miles in 13:17. Along Surf Drive, Khannouchi dropped of the lead pack.

Just before the four-mile mark, Okari and Cheruiyot broke away running shoulder to shoulder through four miles in 17:33.

Heading into mile five, Okari made his move surging ahead of Cheruiyot clocking 21:55. Okari posted a 10K split in 27:49 on his way to the win. Cheruiyot finished second in 31:37, Korir followed five seconds later 31:43.

On the women's side Ivanova aggressively took out the pace clocking a 5:04 first mile. The Americans, second place finisher O'Neill and third place finisher Dryer worked together for a time in an attempt to catch the Ivanova. At five miles, O'Neill made her move leaving Dryer to her own devices. O'Neill fell short of catching Ivanova by 13 seconds.

Two-time winner and defending champion Tony Nogueria, age 36 of Glen Ridge, N.J., won the men's wheelchair division in 26:13, bettering his 2003 time by 10 seconds. Nogueria used his quick hand speed to make his move at the 3-mile mark pulling away from Tunisian, Kamel Ayari, who clocked 26:57 and Chad Johnson, of Corydon, Ind. who followed in 27:28.

Last year's second place finisher, April Coughlin age 25 of New Paltz, N.Y. captured the women's wheelchair division in a time 36:43. Fifty-seven year old Harrilyn Beehner of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. placed second in 47:33. Of the field of 10,000 entrants, 8,200 runners crossed the finish line under 85-foot-long Mount Rushmore American flag. The ideal weather conditions contributed to the largest field ever to complete the race.

Defending masters champion Jackson Kipng'ok, age 43 of Kenya won in 33:11 followed by fellow Kenyan Limo Abrahim, 43, in 43:31 and two-time Falmouth winner, Salvatore Bettiol, 42, of Italy in 34:41. Ukrainian Tatyanna Pozdnyakova, age 49 was the masters women's champion in 38:35 as well as ninth woman overall followed by Valentina Yegorova, 40, of Russia in 38:52 and six-time Falmouth winner and 1984 Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist Joan Samuelson, 47 of Freeport, Me. in 40:38.

The race website is at: www.sblifalmouthroadrace.com.