CAPE ELIZABETH – It’s not often Ethan Hemphill can look at anything and call himself ‘old,’ but one such moment recently gave the Freeport runner pause.

“A press release came out the other day about the race that focused on six Maine athletes,” said Hemphill. “Everyone’s age was listed next to their names, and it dawned on me that I’m a full 10 years older than the next oldest guy listed there.”

Nevertheless, Hemphill, the defending Maine champ, will be among the favorites to capture the Maine men’s crown again this year at the ninth annual Beach to Beacon 10K road race in Cape Elizabeth today.

The race starts at 8 a.m. with the wheelchair division, followed at 8:05 by the rest of the field, led by the elite runners. A children’s race begins at 9:30 at Fort Williams Park.

“I’m not running as fast as I have in the last couple of years,” admitted Hemphill, “but I’ve been running consistently. I feel like I’m in a good spot and running solidly. I’m optimistic about my chances tomorrow.”

One of those young runners, 16-year-old Sintayehu Taye, was called to sit with the elite runners at the start of Friday’s press conference. A former Portland High School standout, Taye and his brother Ayalew, now attend Cushing Academy in Massachusetts.

“I didn’t want to come up,” said a bashful Sintayehu. “These guys are good. I don’t belong here, you know.”

In 2003, Eric Giddings, then a senior-to-be at South Portland High School, shocked everyone when he crossed the line ahead of Hemphill. Hemphill regained his crown in 2004, only to lose it last year, again to Giddings, who ran a Maine course record 30:34. Giddings will return this year to defend that crown.

“It’s great though,” said Hemphill. “Great for the sport and great for Maine running.”

The race, founded in 1998 by Olympic marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson in partnership with People’s Bank, now TD Banknorth, takes runners on a scenic, 6.2-mile trek from Crescent Beach to historic Fort Williams Park and Portland Head lighthouse.

The venue and the scenery are two of the biggest draws to the race.

“It’s just beautiful,” said Elva Dryer. “I love it out here. It’s nice, it’s refreshing. This has been on my list of road races to do at some point in my career, and I’m happy to be here, finally.”

Dryer, who in 2004 finished 19th overall at the 10K distance at the Athens Olympics, will be running her first Beach to Beacon Race. She is also among the favorites.

“I’ll race this race then I’ll race the Falmouth (Mass.) road race next weekend, and for me, this is the race,” said Dryer. “I want to see where I’m at and push, and be in the race to win. I know I’m not the favorite, but you can’t rule anything out.”

But most of the women in the field will be chasing Susan Chepkemei, the 2004 champion who could not defend her title in 2005 due to visa troubles. Chepkemei ran the course that year in 31:36. Last year, women’s champ Lornah Kipligat finished in 31:34.

Chepkemei is also coming off an impressive victory at the Bix 7M in Iowa last weekend, and is currently ranked ninth in the world by Running Times magazine.

Also expected to be in the mix this weekend on the women’s side are two Romanian runners, Lidia Simon and Luminita Talpos. Talpos finished second at the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon in 2003, while Simon placed third last week at the Bix 7M. Simon won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and was sixth in Atlanta in 1996.

“To be in the top three and also run a very good time, that would be the best thing,” said Simon.

On the men’s side, there is little doubt who the favorite runner will be. Three-time defending champion Gilbert Okari will again wear bib No. 1 as the defending champion. Okari, 28, holds the course record, set in his first win in Cape Elizabeth in 2003. He is currently ranked No. 3 in the world by Running Times.

“Gilbert calls this his other home,” said elite athlete coordinator Larry Barthlow while introducing the star runner. “So ‘welcome home.’ Two years that he’s run the race, it’s been the fastest (10K) time in the world for the year, and last year it was one of three or four fastest. It’s always a pleasure to watch him run.”

Perhaps the best American hope in the men’s race is Ed Moran, whose 13:25.87 finish in the 5K at the U.S. Championships in 2005 was good for seventh. Other top contenders for the men’s title include James Koskei, the 2002 race winner, and Lawrence Kiprotich, who upset Okari at the Bix 7M race last week and won in his first race on American soil.

“It’s nice to have an American here,” said Barthlow, to the delight of the gathered crowd. “We’re going to work harder on that. He definitely has the wheels to be here, and it would be nice to see more guys like Ed who have some track experience to come to the roads and compete with these guys.”