PRESS

TOP ATHLETES WHO RAN IN 2005
Open Women
Masters Women
Open Men
Masters Men
Men Milers

OPEN WOMEN

#F1 - Alevtina Ivanova, 30, Russia (trains in Germantown, MD)
DEFENDING CHAMPION, 36:13; 2nd in '03
2nd Beach to Beacon 10k 31:57; 5Th at '05 Crescent City Classic 10k, 32:36; 2nd at '05 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10M, 53:17; 10th at '05 IAAF World Cross Country Championships Short Course, 13:42.

#F2 - Lornah Kiplagat, 31, Netherlands
3-time champion in 2000, 2001, 2002 & course record holder, 35:02. DUTCH OLYMPIAN
1st Beach to Beacon 10k 31:35; 1st at '05 Circle of Friends New York Mini 10k 31:44; 1st at '05 Peachtree 10k, 31:17; 1st at '05 World's Best 10k, 32:11.

#F4 - Deena Kastor, 32, Mammoth Lakes, CA
First time in Falmouth; OLYMPIC - '04 Marathon Bronze Medalist
American marathon record holder, 2:21:16.
4th at '05 USA 10,000m Championship, 31:45.05; 1st at '05 US 8k Championship, 25:05; 1st at '04 Circle of Friends NY Mini 10k.

#F5 - Laura O'Neill, 25, New Haven, CT
5th open/3rd US in 2004, 37:31; has run Falmouth for 13 consecutive years
5th at USA 10,000m Championship with a PR of 32:15.70; 7th at '05 US 8k Championship, 26.35; 9th at '05 World's Best 10k, 35:31. 7th at '05 Gate River Run 15k, 51:32. Formerly of Milton, MA.

#F6 - Bruna Genovese, 28, Italy
18th in 2003. Italian Olympian
3rd at '05 BAA Boston Marathon, 2:29:51; 10th at '04 Olympic Marathon, 2:32.50; 1st at '04 Tokyo Marathon, 2:26.34; 2nd at '04 Rome Marathon, 2:29.03; 4th at '03 Tokyo Marathon, 2:34.32; 6th at '02 Boston Marathon, 2:29.02; 3rd at '01 Tokyo Marathon, PR 2:25.35.

#F7 - Olga Romanova, 25, Russia (trains in Germantown, MD)
Did not finish in 2003
3rd at '05 Azalea Trail Run 10k, 32:38; 1st at '05 Cooper River Bridge Run 10k, 34:04.

#F8 - Gladys Asiba, 28, Kenya (trains in Royersford, PA)
8th in 2004, 37:34; 15th in '03; 17th in '02; 7th in '01
8th at '05 Bix7, 39:33; 15th at '05 Peachtree 10k, 34:04.

#F9 - Carrie Tollefson, 28, St. Paul, MN
9th open/6th US 2002 38:23. US OLYMPIAN
Member of '04 USA Olympic Team at 1500m (winner of USA trials, 4:08.32)
6th at '05 U.S. 8k Championship, 26:31; 5th at '05 USA 5,000m Championship, 15:24.13; 9th at Payton Jordan U.S. Open 1500m, 4:11.16; 2nd at '04 USA Indoor 3,000m Championship, 9:00.93; 2nd at '04 USA XC Championships 4 km, 12:28.

#F10 - Teresa Wanjiku, 31, Kenya (trains in Royersford, PA)
10th in 2004, 38:42; 3rd in '98; 5th in '99
6th at '05 Bix7, 38:36; 7th at '05 Cooper River Bridge Run 10k, 35:44; 8th at '05 Lilac Bloomsday Run 12k, 40:42; 1st at '05 The Times Herald-Record Orange Classic 10k, 34:26.

#F11 - Luminita Talpos, 32, Romania (trains in Boulder, CO)
First time in Falmouth
5th at Beach to Beacon 10k 33:22; 5th at '05 BIX7, 38:31; 10th at '05 Crescent City Classic 10k, 34:22; 8th at '05 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile, 57:25; 10th at '05 Albertsons Bay to Breakers 12K, 42:58; 4th at '05 Rite Aid Cleveland 10k, 32:44; 4th at '05 Peachtree 10k, 32:32.

#F13 - Dana Coons, 26, Burnsville, MN
13th open/6th US in 2004, 39:14
18th at '05 US XC Championships 4k; 15th at '04 US Olympic Trials 10000m.

#F14 - Tina Connelly, 34, Port Coquitlam, BC
8th in 2003; 14th in '98; 8th in '97; 15th in '96. CANADIAN OLYMPIAN
First major race since second child; 2000 Canadian Olympian at 10,000m; 1st at '05 Seattle Open 6k, 20:46.

#F16 - Zivile Balciunaite, 27, Lithuania (trains in Germantown, PA)
First time in Falmouth. LITHUANIAN OLYMPIAN
8th Beach to Beacon 10k 34:13; 2nd at '05 City of Los Angeles Marathon, 2:28:10; 14th at '04 Olympic Marathon; 5th at '04 Tokyo Marathon.

#F17 - Amy Yoder-Begley, 28, Albuquerque, NM
First time in Falmouth
7th at '05 USA 5000m Championship 15:24.08; 8th at '05 Peachtree 10k, 33:21; 2nd at '05 Cardinal Invitational 5000m, 15:35 PB.

#F19 - Sarah Wells, 26, Minneapolis, MN
19th in '01
14th '05 at Gate River Run 15k; 3rd '04 Gate River, 4th '03 Gate River; 1st at '05 Time to Fly 10k; 1st at Dam to Mad 20k; 7th US Olympic Marathon Trials 2:33:15 PR;

#F20 - Miho Ichikawa, JAPAN
First time in Falmouth
6th Beach to Beacon 10k 33:25; 5th at '04 Rock n' Roll Half Marathon; 9th at '04 Beach to Beacon 10k, 33:32.

#F21 - Katsuko Kanno, JAPAN
First time in Falmouth

#F22 - Sylvia Mosqueda, 38, Los Angeles, CA
First time in Falmouth
3rd at '05 Albertsons Bay to Breakers 12K, 40:15; 9th at '05 Lilac Bloomsday Run 12k, 40:45.

#F26 - Sarah Gall, 26, Cedar Falls, IA
31st Open/20th US in 2004, 43:25
12th at '05 Houston Half Marathon; 5th at '05 Dam to Dam 20k.

#F27 - Collette Liss, 32, Indianapolis, IN
First time in Falmouth
12th at '05 U.S. 8k Championship, 27.25.

MASTERS WOMEN

OPEN MEN

#1 - Gilbert Okari, 26, Kenya (trains in Boulder, CO)
2004 CHAMPION & COURSE RECORD HOLDER (31:08); 5th in 2001
1st at Beach to Beacon 10k 27:38; 1st at '05 BIX 7M, 33:20; 1st at '05 Peachtree 10k, 28:19; 6th at '05 Celestial Season's Bolder Boulder 10k, 29:39; 1st at '05 Bay to Breakers 12k, 34:49; 1st at '05 Boilermaker 15k, 43:22; 1st at '04 Beach to Beacon 10k, 27:35. Ranked #4 on the roads in 2004, and was # 2 in 2003 (behind Korir).

#2 - John Korir, 32, Kenya (trains in Boulder, CO)
3rd in 2004 31:43 (5th fastest ever over Falmouth course); 1st in '03, '01, '99; 2nd in '02 and '98; 5th in '00; strongest racing career in Falmouth except for Shorter, Rodgers, Samuelson
4th Beach to Beacon 10k 28:21; 2nd at BIX 7M, 32:24 - second to Okari; 1st at '05 World's Best 10k, 27:56; 1st at '05 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile, 46:55; 1st at '05 Lilac Bloomsday Run 12k, 34:26; 1st at '04 World's Best 10k; 1st at '04 Utica Boilermaker. Ranked #1 on the roads in 2005 and in 2003.

#3 - James Koskei, 36, Kenya (trains in Boulder, CO)
Falmouth winner in 2002, 3rd in '03, 11th in '01
5th at Beach to Beacon 10k 28:22; 2nd at '05 Bay to Breakers 12k, 35:31; 2nd at '04 Bay to Breakers 12k, 35:01. Winner of six major races in 2002.

#4 - Linus Maiyo, 22, Kenya (trains in Royersford, PA)
4th in 2004, 31:48 (9th best ever time in Falmouth)
3rd at '05 BIX 7M, 32:50; 4th at '05 Peachtree 10k, 28:30; 10th at '05 Lilac Bloomsday 12k, 35:44; 6th at '05 World's Best 10k, 28:23; 6th at '05 Azalea Trail Run 10k, 28:41; 6th at '05 Crescent City Classic 10k, 28:34; 1st at '05 Cooper River Bridge Run 10k, 29:30; 2nd at '05 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k, 28:47.

#5 - Luke Kipkosgei, 30, Kenya (trains in Teddington, Eng.)
5th in 2004, 31:56
1st at '05 Azalea Trail Run 10k, 28:37; 5th at '05 Crescent City Classic 10k, 28:24; 3rd at '05 Steamboat Classic 4 Mile, 18:15; 8th at '05 Carlsbad 5k, 13:54.

#8 - Wilson Kiprotich, 25, Kenya (trains in Italy)
8th in 2004, 32:20
2nd at Beach to Beacon 10k 27:45; 1st at '05 Stramilano Half Marathon, 1:00:41; 8th at '05 IAAF Half Marathon Championships, 1:03:02; 2nd at '04 World's Best 10k, 27:48, one of the fastest 10k times in the world in 2004.

#12 - Chris Graff, 29, Palo Alto, CA
12th Open/3rd US in 2004, 33:02; 11th Open/3rd US in '03
8th at USA 10,000m Championship, 28:41.31; 9th at '05 Gate River Run 15k, 44:48; 3rd at '05 Papa John's 10M, 48:09; 6th at '05 Fifth Third River Bank Run 25k, 1:17:24.

#14 - Peter Julian, 34, Boulder, CO
12th Open/4th US in 2003; 23rd Open in '01
6th Wharf to Wharf 6m‡8th '05 U.S. 8k Championship 23:12; 9th '05 Papa John's 10M (48:47); 4th '05 Steamboat Classic 4M (18:48); 9th US '04 Olympic Marathon Trials‡Four-time NCAA All-American

#16 - John Itati, 31, Kenya (trains in Royersford, PA)
16th in 2004, 33:18; 7th in '03; 8th in '02; SBLI Falmouth Mile Champion in '01, 3:58:36
8th at '05 Azalea Trail Run 10k, 29:23; 4th at '05 Health Kidney 10k, 29:12; 10th at '05 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile, 48:11.

#17 - Meshack Sang, 27, Kenya
First time in Falmouth
Trains under Yobes Ondieki; 7th at Beach to Beacon 10k 28:28; 6th at '05 Carlsbad 5k, 13:42, PR.

#18 - William Chebon Chebor, 25, Kenya (trains in Italy)
First time in Falmouth
6th Beach to Beacon 10k 28:24; 3rd '05 Peachtree 10k 28:28; 8th '05 Worlds Best 10k 28:44; 7th '04 Rock and Roll Half-marathon

#19 - Luke Watson, 24, Stillwater, MN
19th Open/8th US in 2004, 33:31
10th at '05 US Cross Country Championships 4k, 12:02; 3rd at '05 US Indoor 3,000m, 7:58.

#20 - Jon Brown, 34, Egland (trains in Canada)
First time in Falmouth. OLYMPIAN, 2000 & 2004
10th at Beach to Beacon 10k 29:14; 6th at '05 Flora London Marathon, 2:09:31; 4th at Olympic Marathon in 2000 & 2004.

#21 - Wilson Kipruto Komen, 27, Kenya (trains in Wash. DC)
First time in Falmouth
4th at '05 Shamrock Sportsfest 8k, 23:40; 12th at '05 Peachtree 10k, 29:07.

#22 - Matt Downin, 28, Dover, NH
22nd Open/10th US in 2004, 33:44
3rd at US 10,000m Championship, 28:34.65; 10th at '05 Gate River Run 15k, 44:53; 14th at '05 US 8k Championship, 23.24; 5th at '05 Papa John's 10M, 48:15.

#24 - Ernest Meli Kimeli, 18, Kenya (trains in Red Bank, NJ)
First time in Falmouth
Only 18 years old, 12th at '05 BIX 7M, 34:10; 1st at '05 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k, 28:43; 4th at '05 Lilac Bloomsday Run 12k, 35:04; 11th at '05 Peachtree 10k, 29:07.

#25 - Clint Wells, 30, Superior, CO
25th/12th US in 2004, 34:15
14th at '05 Celestial Seasonings Bolder Boulder 10k, 30:49.

#27 - Mohamed Awol, Ethiopia (trains in Boston, MA)
First time in Falmouth
13th Beach to Beacon 10k 29:42; 2nd at '05 Celestial Seasonings Bolder Boulder 10k, 29:27; 9th '05 Carlsbad 5k, 14:16.

#29 - Ryan Shay, 26, East Jordan, UT
32nd Open/17th US in 2004, 35:08
1st at '05 Gate River Run 15k 43:52; 4th at '05 US 8k Championship, 23.05; 11th at '05 Boston Marathon, 2:18:17.

#34 - Chris Lundstrom, 29, Minneapolis, MN
First time in Falmouth
20th at '05 Boston Marathon; 6th at '04 US Half Marathon Championships; 11th at '04 Bay to Breakers 12k, 37:32

#42 - Greg Bennett, 33, Australia (trains in Victoria, BC)
First time in Falmouth
#1-ranked tri-athlete '02-'03-'04 in world; 4th in triathlon in Athens Olympic Games; 17th Beach to Beacon 10k 30:32;

MASTERS MEN

#101 - Salvatore Bettiol, 43, Italy
Falmouth champion, '89 & '90; 3rd master, '02, '03, '04. OLYMPIAN, 1992, 1996
5th at '92 Olympic Marathon, 2:14:15; 3rd master at '03 and '04 Boston Marathon; 2nd at 1988 New York City Marathon.

#102 - MBARAK HUSSEIN, 40, Albuquerque, NM
First Time in Falmouth Former Kenyan athlete, now a U.S. citizen; 11th open/1st master Beach to Beacon 10k 29:40; 5th open/1st master at '05 Fifth Third River Bank Run 25k, 1:17:12; 1st master at '05 Peachtree 10k, 29:41.

#103 - Steve Boyd, 41, Kingston, ONTARIO
First time in Falmouth.
1st Master at '05 Lilac Bloomsday Run 12k, 37:49.

#104 - Dennis Simonaitis, 41, Indianapolis, IN
24th Open/12th US in 2003, 35:08
1st Master at '05 Gate River 15k, 47:48; 2nd Master at '05 Azalea Trial 10k, 31:26; 2nd Master at '05 Cooper River Bridge Run 10k, 32:36.

#144 - Bill Rodgers, 57, Sherborn, MA
Falmouth winner in '74, '77,'78; 2nd in '75, '76; 3rd in '79. OLYMPIAN 1980
Graduated from Wesleyan and stopped running for two years; returned to running in 1973, winning Falmouth in '74 and Boston in '75. Competed in '76 Olympic marathon, but was hampered by a metatarsal problem in his right foot; qualified to compete in '80 Moscow Marathon but the US boycott kept him out of the games. PR of 2:09:27 in marathon.

#146 - Gary Romesser, 54, Indianapolis, IN
1st Grand Master (50+) in '04, 44th overall, 37:17 Set 14 American single-age records (from 5k to half marathon.)

#109 - Frank Shorter, 57, Boulder, CO
Falmouth winner in '75, '76; 5th in '77, '79. OLYMPIC MARATHON CHAMPION, 1972
1st in '69 NCAA 10,000m; 1st in '71,'74,'75 USA National 10,000m; 1st in '70, '71, '72, '73 USA Cross Country; 1st in '76 Munich OG Marathon; also 5th in '72 OG 10,000m; 2nd in Montreal OG Marathon (to W. Cierpenski, East Germany, who was later implicated in illegal substance with the East Germans); won Falmouth in 1975 and 1976.

MEN MILERS

Jeremy Huffman, 29, Pineville, LA - Arkansas
First time in Falmouth
8th at '04 Prefontaine Classic 1500m, 3:41:19.

Jason Lunn, 31, Redwood City, CA - Stanford
6th at '01 SBLI Falmouth Mile 7th at '05 USA 1500m Championship, 3:45; 5th at '04 US Olympic Trials 1500m; USA Champion at 1,500m in '02 and '03; 5th at '04 Olympic Trials, 3:40.81; 5th at USA Indoor Championships 1500m, 3:42.95; 9th in 3,000m at '05 adidas Boston Indoor Games, 7:47.20; 1st at Claremont, Calif., 3:38.83; 12th at Iraklio (3:36.38); ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN; best of 3:55.49i (2003)

Sean O'Brien, 25, Tewksbury, MA - American U.
4th at '04 SBLI Falmouth Mile, 4:02:31
21st at '04 US Olympic Trials at 1500m

Luke Watson, 24, Stillwater, MN - Notre Dame
19th Open/8TH US 2004 Road Race, 33:31; 3rd at '04 SBLI Falmouth Mile, 4:00.83; career best 3:57.83 '03 Notre Dame Invitational
10th at '05 USA Cross Country Short Race, 12:02; 3rd at '05 USA Indoor 3,000m Championship, 7:58.