CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE, July 28, 2025 —An impressive international field of world- class runners will headline the 2025 TD Beach to Beacon 10K on Saturday, August 2nd.
The professional athletes will compete for more than $90,000 in prize money. The winners in the men’s and women’s open races each receive $10,000 and there are awards for the top 10 runners overall, courtesy of title sponsor TD Bank. Also included is a $23,000 purse for American men and women, sponsored by Dunkin Donuts, split evenly among the top five American men and women, with a $5,000 top prize.
Note: List of professional athletes scheduled to participate is accurate as of July 28, 2025, but is subject to change up until race day.
2024 Women’s champion returns to defend her title in a competitive field
Two-time world champion and defending champion of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K, Edna Kiplagat of Kenya, will be competing again this year. She’ll be challenged by fellow Kenyan Loice Chemnung, who has not lost on roads in 2025 and is ranked 6th in the world. Australian Isobel Batt Doyle, who recently set the Australian 10K record, and American Fiona O’Keeffe, the American marathon champion, are also expected to be strong contenders for the top spot.
Other international runners to watch include Kenyans Cynthia Jerotich Limo, silver medalist at the World Half Marathon Championships and Vibian Chepkurui, who finished 2nd at the Rio Half Marathon in June 2025.
American women vying for the title this year include Maine native Rachel Smith, two-time NACAC and one-time national champion who represented Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and Olympic and world silver medalist Courtney Frerichs. Other American women to watch include Susanna Sullivan, who has two top-10 finishes at the Chicago Marathon; Sarah Hall, gold medalist in 3000m Steeplechase at the Pan American Games with multiple top-10 World Championships finishes; Megan Hasz, who finished in the top 10 at the Boston Athletic Association 10K earlier this summer; Jacqueline Gaughan, who posted a personal best 33:19 at last year’s TD Beach to Beacon 10K; Stephanie Bruce, NACAC and NACAC U23 champion; Natosha Rogers, who has won championships at the NACAC, NCAA, and Nationals levels; and Molly Born, who has had two top-10 finishes this season at the USA Road Running Championships.
Several Americans among the favorites in the men’s field
Top contenders in the men’s field include Americans Conner Mantz, who took 2nd at the 2023 TD Beach to Beacon 10K, and Biya Simbassa, the American 10K record holder. Ethiopian runners Tadesse Worku, who is a World Cross silver medalist, and Gemechu Dida, who is currently ranked 6th in the world on roads, are also favorites this year. Both Ethiopians have clocked a sub-27-minute 10K.
The strong international men’s field includes Patrick Kiprop of Kenya, who won the 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race in July, and Nibret Melak and Adisu Yihune of Ethiopia. Melak is an All-African Games winner and African champion, and Negash won the Nanjing Xianlin Half Marathon in China in April 2025. A trio of Irish runners are expected to compete this year, including Barry Keane, Ferghal Curtin and Peter Lynch. Keane posted his PR in 10K Road at Boston in June (28:04); Curtin has had top-5 finishes this year in marathon, half marathon, and 10K road distances; and Lynch returns to Cape Elizabeth after setting a PR last year (29:08). Patrick Dever of the UK, an NCAA and 2-time National Champion, also set a PR in 10K road earlier this season (28:21). Also running this year is Australia’s Patrick Tiernan, who set a PR for 10K road (28:45) in Boston earlier this summer.
American men slated to compete include Clayton Young, NCAA and National Champion; Joe Klecker, National Champion at 10,000 m (2022); Creed Thompson, who has had top-10 finishes at several distances this year; Casey Clinger, whose strong 2025 season has included two wins and four additional top-5 finishes; Reid Buchanan, Pan American Games silver medalist; Colin Bennie, who has logged a top-8 major marathon finish; Aiden Troutner, who has had a strong season including a win at 5000 meters at the BYU Robinson Invitational in April; and Graydon Morris, who has had several top-3 finishes this season at various distances.
Strong local field expected to compete for top Maine male and female finishers
The annual competition for top Maine finishers is going to be exciting this year, with a strong roster of men and women competing for local bragging rights. For the women, Ruth White, the 2023 Maine champion, has the fastest PR among Maine women at 32:20 and placed 9th the 2025 NCAA D1 Nationals in the 10,000 meters. Veronica Graziano, last year’s Maine champion, is also back. She competed in the 2020 Olympic Marathon trials and is expected to be a top Maine contender. Bethanie Brown is one of Maine’s most decorated high school track and cross country runners ever, with 17 state championships for Waterville, and winner of the LL Bean 10K on July 4th. Aisling Cuffe, a former professional runner for Saucony, recently moved to South Portland. Alexis Wilbert, the Maine runner-up on 2024, is a favorite to win the Masters category and is also a top-5 overall Maine contender. Phoebe Oehmig, who had a top- 5 finish among Maine women in 2024, will also have a shot at the top spot.
The 2024 Maine Champion, Luke Marsanskis, is returning to defend his title. Last year he ran the second fastest time ever for a Maine man and his 28:56 personal record is the fastest of any Mainer in the field. He’ll be challenged by Colin Cernik, a newcomer to Maine who finished 2 nd at the 2024 Maine Half Marathon and won the Mother’s Day 5K this past June. Alec Troxell, a recent University of Maine graduate, and Ryan Jara, last year’s Maine runner-up, are also expected to finish strong. Sam Mills is another former Maine Champion (2022), who has recently returned to form after a string of injuries. Aaron Willingham, a top-5 Maine finisher in 2023 and winner of the 2025 LL Bean 10K, and Sam Laverdiere, high school superstar out of Lake Region High School who won all the major state titles this past year and Gatorade Player of the Year for cross country, round out the Maine favorites.
The TD Beach to Beacon 10K begins near the Crescent Beach State Park entrance on Route 77 in Cape Elizabeth and winds along tree-lined roads and past dramatic ocean vistas before ending 6.2 miles later in Fort Williams Park near Portland Head Light, the most photographed lighthouse in America. For additional information about the race, visit www.beach2beacon.org, and find the TD Beach to Beacon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the TD Beach to Beacon 10K
The TD Beach to Beacon 10K draws runners from New England and throughout the world to picturesque Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The race begins on Route 77 near the Crescent Beach State Park entrance, winds along tree-lined streets and past breathtaking ocean vistas and ends in Fort Williams Park at historic Portland Head Light, the most photographed lighthouse in the world. With its combined focus on sustainability and charitable donations, the race exemplifies TD Bank’s longstanding commitment to community enrichment through The Ready Commitment, a multi-year platform that actively promotes inclusivity, economic vitality, environmental well-being, and health, and increases opportunities for people of all backgrounds to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Through this platform, TD Bank aspires to create a more inclusive tomorrow — helping people of all backgrounds feel more confident, not just about their finances, but about their ability to achieve their goals.
The iconic event is managed by DMSE Sports. Along with thTD Beach to Beacon 10K, DMSE works with the B.A.A. on managing the Boston Marathon and
other high-profile sports events. For additional information about the race, visit www.beach2beacon.org, and find the TD Beach to Beacon 10K on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Media Contact:
Angie Helton
207-653-0365