NOTE: Most roads in the area will be closed by 7:30 a.m.

Course Record: 27:28, Gilbert Okari, Kenya, 2003

Maine hosting world’s best

CAPE ELIZABETH – The eighth annual TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race will again feature a stellar field of road racers from around the globe.

The race begins at 8:05 a.m. Saturday on Route 77, near the entrance of Crescent Beach State Park. The race ends at Fort Williams, the site of Portland Headlight.

With 5,000 runners – representing 16 countries and 41 U.S. states – and as many as 10,000 spectators, the race is one of the most prestigious, and fastest, road races on the circuit, attracting top world-class athletes and filling up more quickly each year.

Runners will be competing for a purse of $60,000, including a $10,000 prize to the top man and woman.

The fastest 10K road race in the world the past two years has been clocked at the Beach to Beacon race.

The race is offering a $2,500 bonus for an open course record and $500 for a course record in the Maine category, providing added incentive for another blazing race.

The race beneficiary is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Portland and Auburn/Lewiston, a non-profit youth development organization that provides programs, activities and a nurturing environment to thousands of children in Maine. TD Banknorth, through the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation, will provide a cash donation of $30,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Okari seeks third title

The field of 30 elite athletes includes the returning men’s champ, Gilbert Okari and fellow Kenyan John Korir, who sits atop the current world rankings. And the names of two of the American elites should be familiar to local fans – Matt LTane and Jeff Gaudette, both former Maine high school standouts.

Gilbert Okari, the defending two-time champ, set the course record (27:28) in 2003. Korir missed the 2004 race due to an injury. He has been the most dominant road racer over the past six years, winning 27 major road races in that span.

On the women’s side, the withdrawal of defending champ Susan Chepkemei of Kenya due to ongoing visa issues leaves the race wide open. The favorite would appear to be Lornah Kipligat of Holland, who has won a number of major road races this year, including the Peachtree 10K in a blazing 31:17. (The TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon course record is 31:34) Kipligat is currently ranked 7th in the world.

She will be challenged by Kenyans Sally Barsosio, who is fresh off a big win at the Utica Boilermaker 15K and second place finishes at Peachtree and Bix; Grace Momanyi, who has run sub 32:00 twice in 2005, and Rose Jepchumpa, the 22nd-ranked road racer in the world who won the 2005 Kenyan Cross Country Championship. Margaret Okayo of Kenya, who holds the course records at both the Boston Marathon and NYC Marathon, also is entered.

Russia’s Alevetina Ivanova, who finished third last year, returns.

Also, Tatiana Titova, a top Russian marathoner, will turn 40 on Saturday, which means the course record for master’s women (33:37) is in jeopardy. Titova has covered the distance in 33:17.