Maine natives Emily Durgin and Rachel Smith, along with other top women contenders, are set to compete in this year’s TD Beach to Beacon 10K race in Cape Elizabeth. Durgin, a Standish native now living and training in Arizona, finished second among women at the 2022 Beach to Beacon. The $90,000 prize purse includes a $10,000 first prize for the top woman finisher, but no American woman has ever won the race. The field includes notable talent from East Africa, such as three-time Olympic gold medalist Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia.
Durgin, a standout at the University of Connecticut, has recently had success in road races, placing as the top American in several competitions. Smith, a Sanford native and former All-American at Georgetown, is also a strong contender. Two young Maine women, Ruth White and Teanne Ewings, will join the elite field. On the men’s side, defending champ Mathew Kemeli of Kenya will compete, along with strong contenders from Kenya and the US.
The Maine men’s field includes top runners like Matt Rand, Jesse Orach, and Ryan Jara. The race, founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1998, will feature a competitive international and local field. The Beach to Beacon is a prestigious event in the running community and continues to attract top talent from around the world. The 10K road race will take place on August 3, with elite runners vying for top honors and a chance to make history in the prestigious event.
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Photo credit www.centralmaine.com
