PRESS
July 18, 2006
Catherine Ndereba and Gilbert Okari to Run Falmouth
Olympic Medalist, Defending Champion Return to Summer Classic
Athens Olympic silver medalist Catherine Ndereba knows this medal is the real thing. (Victah Sailer photo. Click on photo for larger version to download.) FALMOUTH, Mass – Olympic silver medalist and four-time Boston Marathon champion, Catherine Ndereba, will compete for her fourth win at the Falmouth Road Race on Aug. 13. She will be joined on the starting line by defending men’s champion and two-time Falmouth winner, Gilbert Okari who has been tearing up the running circuit this summer.
"Falmouth has always attracted the best athletes in the world and this year is no different," said co-director and elite athlete coordinator, John Carroll. "As athletes at the top of that list, the directors welcome our old friends and champions Catherine and Gilbert back to Falmouth. Catherine has been one of the more consistent runners of the last few years and must be considered a favorite. Gilbert is excellent shape, as evident by his spring and early summer results, and knows the course so well that he must be considered the favorite in the men’s race."
Ndereba is the only four-time female open winner of the Boston Marathon (’00, ’01, ’04, ’05) and she is hoping to add "four-time Falmouth Road Race winner" to her extensive running resume. She won Falmouth in 1997, 1998 and 1999.Earlier this year she added a victory at the Osaka Marathon and, in June, she won the women’s 10,000 meters at the Kenya Prisons Championship in 33:31.3.She is the 2004 women’s marathon silver medalist from the Olympic Games as well as a silver and gold medalist at the 2005 and 2003 World Championships, respectively. This will be Catherine’s first Falmouth since the 2002 race.
Gilbert Okari outran the motorcycle and everyone else to win his second Falmouth last summer. This year he will go for the three-peat. (Karen Mitchell photo Click on photo for larger version.)
Defending champion Okari returns to Falmouth looking for a three-peat performance. He set the course record in 2004 (31:08) and won in last year’s hot, humid weather, besting a world-class field. If he can pull out the win this year, Okari would join Bill Rodgers and John Korir as the only men who have claimed three Falmouth victories. If his spring season with five straight wins is any indication of his commitment and fitness level in 2006, he will be the man to beat. In 2006, Okari has been the victor at the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler, Crescent City Classic 10k, Vancouver Sun Run 10\k, Lilac Bloomsday Run 12k and Bay to Breakers 12k.
"I am feeling very good and running strong. I am happy to be coming back to Falmouth.", said Okari. "It is one of my favorite races always. I really like all of the U.S. races, but I especially like Falmouth because we stay with nice (host) families. It is like going home, and when I win, they are very happy."
Ndereba and Okari will line up in Woods Hole with 10,000 other runners for the 34th running of the Falmouth Road Race, presented by CIGNA Group Insurance.
|
