CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (August 3, 2024) – Gabresilase Tadese Worku of Ethiopia (28:12) and Faith Chepkoech of Nairobi (32:05) are the winners of this year’s running of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K. Severe weather overnight delayed the race for an hour, but the rain let up moments before the race started. Maine’s largest road race included more than 6,000 runners and elite runners from around the world.
In the men’s race, a pack of four runners including Worku ran side by side until the 5k mark. Worku gradually pulled away from the pack and finished thirteen seconds ahead of Peter Mwaniki Aila of Kenya (28:25). Matthew Kimelli, also of Kenya (28:31) finished third. Worku finished third in the 5,000 meters at the FBK games in the Netherlands last month and sixth in the 10k at the Ethiopian Trials in June.
As for the women, a pack of eight runners remained bunched together at the 5K mark after Portland native Emily Durgin (32:31) who now lives in Arizona took the early lead. A group of four runners then separated from the pack before Chepkoech pulled away in the final mile. Kenyans swept the top three positions with Enda Kiplagat (32:17) finishing second and Cintia Chepngeno (32:20) took third. Durgin finished fifth overall, with Susana Sullivan of Reston, VA (32:22) coming in as the top American, and fourth overall. The 2024 TD Beach to Beacon 10K was only Chepkoech’s second race ever in the United States. She won a 10k road race earlier this year in Spain, running a personal best time of 29:50.
As for the Maine finishers, Veronica Graziano of Falmouth (35:51) was the top female. Alexis Wilbert of Cumberland (36:02) finished eleven seconds behind in second. Ruth White of Orono (36:06) rounded out the top three. The 18-year-old won the Maine Women’s Division race last year, however her time this year is 50 seconds faster than in 2023.
In the Maine men’s race, Luke Marsanskis of Cumberland (29:12) brought home top local honors, finishing more than two minutes ahead of the second-place runner, Ryan Jara of Gorham (31:24). Matt Rand of Portland (31:26) came in third.
In the Men’s Wheelchair Division Jeyna Senbeta of Chicago, IL (24:40) finished twenty seconds ahead of two-time defending champion Hermin Garic of Utica, NY (25:00). 12-time race champion Tony Nogueira of Glen Ridge, NJ (27:15) came in third.
In the Women’s Wheelchair Division Hannah Babalola of Chicago, IL (29:43) led the way. Hoda Elshorbagy of Urbana, IL (29:49) came in second, six seconds behind. Yen Hoang of Champaign, IL (30:35) finished third.
In the Men’s Masters Division, Lamont Marshall of Jamaica (32:52) finished first. Justin Freeman of Hanover, NH (33:10) came in second. Rob Gomez of Porter, ME (33:14) finished at the top Mainer, came in third overall.
In the Women’s Masters Division, 44-year-old Edna Kiplagat (32:17) who finished second in the women’s race overall, won the Masters division. Christie Lambrew of Hampton, NH (36:28) came in second, while Heather Gallant of Wayne, ME (37:53 finished third. Kiplogat’s time was thirty-five seconds faster than the winner of the Men’s Masters Division.
In the Senior Men’s Division, of Rico Portalatin of Milo (35:21) finished at the top of the men’s race, ahead of Robert Ashby of Brunswick (36:11) and Matthew Sawyer of Eliot (36:58).
Christie Lambrew of Hampton, NH (36:28) took home top honors in the Senior Women’s Division. Sheri Piers of Falmouth (37:57) and Karolyn Bowley of Middletown, RI (39:11) rounded out the top three.
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Media Contact: Angie Helton at 207-653-0365 or angie@nemediaassociates.com.
About Preble Street Teen Services
Preble Street is a nonprofit social service agency serving the most vulnerable people in Maine since 1975 through innovative, best-practice, client-centered programs. In addition to the largest direct service emergency food program in northern New England, Preble Street operates low-barrier programs throughout Maine providing 24/365 services for individuals and families, including homeless youth, women, veterans, and survivors of human trafficking, driven by its mission to meet urgent needs, empower people to move beyond the crises in their lives, and advocate for solutions to homelessness, hunger, and poverty. To break the cycle of homelessness, youth and young adults need an integrated system of care and safety. Preble Street Teen Services provides low-barrier access to shelter, food, basic needs, casework, mental health supports, education and employment services, and a variety of housing options for youth experiencing homelessness.
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 of Woburn, Massachusetts. Along with the TD 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.
About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. by assets, providing over 10 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,100 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Auto Finance, a division of TD Bank, N.A., offers vehicle financing and dealer commercial services. TD Bank and its subsidiaries also offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/TDBank_US/.
TD Bank is a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, a top 10 North American bank. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD”. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us.