This summer's hottest road racer, Kenya's Lineth Chepkurui, will continue her season at the inaugural Run Gloucester! 7-Mile Road Race on Sunday in Gloucester, Mass.
The event, which is managed by Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray of DMSE Sports, Inc., was strategically placed in the calendar to follow New England's two most important summer road races: the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10-K on Aug. 7, in Cape Elizabeth, Me., and the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race on Aug. 15, in Falmouth, Mass. Gloucester, a renowned fishing port, is a short drive from both events on Cape Ann, north of Boston.
In addition to Chepkurui, who has won six road races in the United States so far this year and was second at Falmouth last Sunday, organizers have recruited newcomer Allan Kiprono and veteran James Koskei, also of Kenya. Kiprono made a noteworthy American debut with a second place finish at the Beach to Beacon in a career best time of 27:41.7. Koskei, 41, is one of top masters road racers on the circuit.
"We're thrilled to have three of the strongest distance runners in the world joining the local and New England recreational runners in our inaugural race," McGillivray said through a prepared statement. "This is a great opportunity for local runners to be in a race field with elite athletes of this caliber. These are inspiring athletes."
The race has a modest $5,000 prize money purse with $1,500 going to the winners.
Registration for the event is still open at http://www.rungloucester.com.
PHOTO: Lineth Chepkurui winning the 2010 TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10-K (photo courtesy of the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10-K).
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