PRESS

2004 PRESS RELEASES

December 27, 2004
Race helps raise more than $460,000 for charities

The pledges have been collected and the donations have been tallied. The SBLI Falmouth Road Race was directly responsible for over $460,000 raised for 67 non-profit groups.

Sandee Parkinson
of North Falmouth,
leading fund-raiser
for Cape Cod
Women's Shelter

The race made direct donations of more than $33,000 to local organizations, including numerous sports teams, youth and scout groups and community organizations such as Falmouth Hospital, the Cape Cod Free Clinic, Falmouth parent-teacher organizations, Celebration 2004, the Falmouth Teen Center, the Falmouth Amateur Radio Club, Falmouth Community Television, Falmouth Band Parents, Falmouth Service Center, Falmouth Parks Department and the Visiting Nurses Association.

In addition to the direct donations, more than $427,000 was raised by runners who received pre-approved entries into the race in exchange for soliciting donations for charity. This total exceeds last year's tally by more than $100,000. The race committee and its principal sponsor, Savings Bank Life Insurance, make guaranteed entries available to each charity. The organization then awards them to runners who pledge to raise a minimum of $750.

"It has been very gratifying to see the tremendous response to this program," said SBLI President and CEO Robert K. Sheridan. "Most of the participants have gone well beyond the minimum fund-raising requirement to earn their race number. This has become a true labor of love for them. We are proud to be a part of this effort."

Greg Parkinson of
North Falmouth, leading
fund-raiser for Cape
Cod Women's Shelter

The leading beneficiary of the program was the Lymphoma Research Foundation, which generated $110,000. The group was led by Peter and Melanie Karp and their daughter Lauren, of Falmouth and Needham, who combined their efforts to raise $27,000. Dana Harris of Sudbury managed to complete the race and raise $14,000, just three weeks after completing chemotherapy. Lisa Horowitz of Newton and her teammates raised $36,000 and Judi Fanger of Needham chipped in $25,000, despite missing the race because she was undergoing chemotherapy.

The second-leading fundraiser was Dana Farber Cancer Institute, whose team generated $68,000 in donations. "This was amazing for a non-marathon," said team leader Jan Ross of the institute. "We easily exceeded our goal of $50,000. SBLI and the race committee were wonderful in helping us."

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation also racked up a record tally, with $45,000 rolling in from their team of 15. Next highest was a Cape Cod-based group and a newcomer to the program. The Run for Recognition to Benefit the Mashpee Wampanoag Housing Program raised more than $35,000, led by Paula Peters of Falmouth and Alice Lopez, the director of the Housing program for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. The money raised will be used to assist members of the Wampanoag tribe who have difficulty finding housing on Cape Cod.

Melanie Florio, right, and Linda
Forziati led the way among
Gosnold fundraisers.

"We took a team approach and found the whole experience to be spiritually uplifting for everyone involved," said Peters. "Some of our younger members received a tremendous boost in self-esteem, as they were successful in raising money and were also very proud to run seven miles for the first time." Peters said that groups from as far away as Bermuda made donations. "The experience far exceeded our expectations," she said.

Several groups raised over $20,000, including Gosnold, a Falmouth-based substance abuse and mental health treatment facility. Melanie Florio of Pocasset was their leading fund-raiser; she completed her second Falmouth and helped the group more than double their 2003 total with $20,900.

Also in the $20,000 range were the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Team Cheryl for Lymphoma Research and Boston Children's Hospital.

Julia Cox of East
Falmouth, leading
fund-raiser for
Easter Seals

Easter Seals had another good race, as 13 runners raised $16,000 for the organization, led by Julia Cox, 17, of East Falmouth, who collected pledges totaling $2,900. This was her fifth year running on behalf of Easter Seals; she has raised more than $10,000 since she started.

Cox said doing something athletic to raise money for people with disabilities "gives me a whole new appreciation for my ability to do the road race."

Others supported by donated race entries included American Diabetes Foundation; American Liver Foundation; Boys and Girls Club of Woburn; Cam Neely Foundation; Cape Cod Center for Women; Crohns and Colitis Foundation; Falmouth Hospital; Falmouth 300 Committee Land Trust; Gordon Heald ALS Fund; Kristin Amico Sesselman Leukemia Foundation; Make-A-Wish Foundation; Steppingstone Foundation; and the Visiting Nurses Association of Middleboro.

Information on running for or donating to one of the race's designated charities is available on the web at www.falmouthroadrace.com/howtoenter/guaranteed_entries.shtml.

August 8, 2004

Gilbert Okari sets New Men's Course Record at the 32nd Annual SBLI Falmouth Road Race
Russian Alevtina Ivanova beats Americans Kate O'Neill and Elva Dryer in the Women's Division

Gilbert Okari shatters the course record
at the 2004 SBLI Falmouth Road Race!

FALMOUTH, Mass. - Dry temperatures in the low 70s, cloudless skies and a tail wind set the stage for 26-year old Gilbert Okari of Kenya to cross the SBLI Falmouth Road Race finish line in a course record 31 minutes and 8 seconds. Okari obliterated the old mark of 31:36 set on this seven-mile course by fellow countryman, Joseph Kimani in 1996. Kenyan men took the first eight places with former marathon world record holder, Khalid Khannouchi claiming first place American prize money and ninth place overall in 32:26. On the women's side, Russian Alevtina Ivanova, age 29 bettered her 2003-second place Falmouth finish by winning the women's division in 36:13 placing 41st overall. Milton, Mass. native Kate O'Neill, 24, placed second in 36:26 followed by Elva Dryer, 32, of Albequerque, N.M. in 36:43. O'Neill and Dryer are heading to the Athens Olympics and will represent the United States in the 10,000 meters. Russian Tatyanna Petrova was fourth in 36:49 and Kate's identical twin sister, Laura, was fifth in 37:31.

Alevtina Ivanova captures her first win after
finishing second in the 2003 race.

As the strains of the National Anthem faded at the Woods Hole start, runners and spectators were treated to a fly-over by two F-15 jets. The starting gun then fired sending thousands of runners on their journey over this scenic Cape Cod seaside course.

In the men's division, a pack of 10 runners including Okari, eventual second-place finisher Robert Cheruiyot, third-place finisher and 2003 winner, John Korir set the pace with a first mile split of 4:23. Cheruiyot threw in a downhill surge just past Nobska Light which was answered by the pack. The leaders continued through two miles in 8:52 and three miles in 13:17. Along Surf Drive, Khannouchi dropped of the lead pack.
Just before the four-mile mark, Okari and Cheruiyot broke away running shoulder to shoulder through four miles in 17:33.

Heading into mile five, Okari made his move surging ahead of Cheruiyot clocking 21:55. Okari posted a 10K split in 27:49 on his way to the win. Cheruiyot finished second in 31:37, Korir followed five seconds later 31:43.

Kate O'Neill was the women's runner up
and first American.

On the women's side Ivanova aggressively took out the pace clocking a 5:04 first mile. The Americans, second place finisher O'Neill and third place finisher Dryer worked together for a time in an attempt to catch the Ivanova. At five miles, O'Neill made her move leaving Dryer to her own devices. O'Neill fell short of catching Ivanova by 13 seconds.

Two-time winner and defending champion Tony Nogueria, age 36 of Glen Ridge, N.J., won the men's wheelchair division in 26:13, bettering his 2003 time by 10 seconds. Nogueria used his quick hand speed to make his move at the 3-mile mark pulling away from Tunisian, Kamel Ayari, who clocked 26:57 and Chad Johnson, of Corydon, Ind. who followed in 27:28. Last year's second place finisher, April Coughlin age 25 of New Paltz, N.Y. captured the women's wheelchair division in a time 36:43. Fifty-seven year old Harrilyn Beehner of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. placed second in 47:33. Of the field of 10,000 entrants, 8,200 runners crossed the finish line under 85-foot-long Mount Rushmore American flag. The ideal weather conditions contributed to the largest field ever to complete the race.

Tony Nogueira wins his third wheelchair
title in a time of 26:13.

Defending masters champion Jackson Kipng'ok, age 43 of Kenya won in 33:11 followed by fellow Kenyan Limo Abrahim, 43, in 43:31 and two-time Falmouth winner, Salvatore Bettiol, 42, of Italy in 34:41. Ukrainian Tatyanna Pozdnyakova, age 49 was the masters women's champion in 38:35 as well as ninth woman overall followed by Valentina Yegorova, 40, of Russia in 38:52 and six-time Falmouth winner and 1984 Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist Joan Samuelson, 47 of Freeport, Me. in 40:38.

It was a picture perfect day as the Mount Rushmore flag was raised over the finish line.

The Road to Athens Runs Through Falmouth
July 21, 2004

The road to next month's Olympic Games in Athens runs through Falmouth for a number of elite runners. Three U.S. Olympians with dreams of winning medals in the upcoming Games will first test their mettle during the 32nd annual SBLI Falmouth Road Race weekend, Aug. 7 and 8. Several other past champions at Falmouth will skip the race this year to compete at the Games instead.

The women's seven-mile race will feature U.S. Olympians Kate O'Neill of Milton, a former All-American at Yale, and Elva Dryer of Albuqeurque, N.M. O'Neill and Dryer are members of the U.S. team at 10,000 meters. They finished third and second, respectively, in the Trials and will run Falmouth as a final tune-up before embarking for Greece. O'Neill has blossomed in her first year on the pro circuit since graduating from Yale. Earlier this year she ran 31 minutes, 34.37 seconds for the 10,000 at a meet in Stanford — more than a minute faster than her previous personal best and one of the top 10 times ever by an American at the distance. In June at a 10K road race for elite U.S. women in New York, she was second to fellow Olympian Deena Kastor. O'Neill is no stranger to the Falmouth course, having competed here frequently while attending Milton High School and during her collegiate career. Last year she was 13th. O'Neill will be joined in Falmouth by her twin sister, Laura, also an accomplished competitor and former Yale star. Laura was seventh in the U.S. Trials at 10,000 meters and 16th at Falmouth last year. Dryer is a last-minute addition to the Falmouth field and will be a leading candidate for the top American prize money of $5,500, and well as the overall winner's take of $11,000.

Jennifer Rhines of Saint Davids, Pa., won the women's division last year and used that victory as a springboard to a sensational 2004 season. She is bypassing Falmouth to concentrate on the Athens Olympics, where she will run the marathon. Colleen De Reuck, a fixture at Falmouth for many years — she is a two-time champion and four-time runner-up — will also skip Falmouth to focus on the Olympics. A three-time Olympian for South Africa, De Reuck is now a U.S. citizen and will be running the marathon in American colors. She won the U.S. Marathon Trials earlier this year.

Other Falmouth favorites who will be competing in the Summer Games are Lornah Kiplagat and Catherine Ndereba. Kiplagat will represent the Netherlands in the 10,000 meters and Ndereba Kenya in the marathon. Both are three-time Falmouth champs. Bruna Genovese of Italy, 18th in the women's division last year, will also run the Olympic marathon. With Rhines out, last year's Falmouth runner-up, Alevtina Ivanova of Russia, will be a favorite, along with the latest Kenyan star, Susan Chepkemei, who has won several major races this year, including the mammoth Peachtree 10k Road Race in Atlanta.

Several U.S. women coming off the Olympic Trials will be on hand and should still be sharp, including Katie McGregor, fourth in the Trials 10,000. She was 10th at Falmouth in 2002. Nicole Jefferson Aish, 10th at Falmouth last year, and 12th at the U.S. Trials, will also be in the field, along with Katherine Newberry (14th in the Trials) and Dana Coons (15th). Valentina Yegorova of Russia will be among the favorites in the women's masters. She turned 40 earlier this year and has a resume highlighted by two Olympic marathon medals: gold in 1992 and silver in '96.

In the men's race, defending champion John Korir of Kenya returns and will be trying to become the first four-time winner of the men's division. The legendary Bill Rodgers is the only other man to have won Falmouth three times.

Two-time Falmouth winner and former marathon world-record-holder Khalid Khannouchi, a native of Morocco and now a U.S. citizen, is running well again and will challenge Korir. Khannouchi, who still holds the American record in the marathon, was expected to be a favorite at the Olympics, but missed the trials due to an injury.

Along with Khannouchi, five finalists from the Olympic Trials 10,000 meters will also be in the field, looking to use their track speed to force the pace over the rolling hills of Falmouth. Mike Donnelly was fourth in the Trials 10K and ran 15th at Falmouth last summer. Ryan Shay was 10th in the Trials and also competed in the marathon trials earlier this year. He was 13th at Falmouth in 2003.

Also entered at Falmouth are Chris Graff (fifth at the Trials), Adam Tenforde (ninth), and Dave Davis (11th). Of course, the Kenyans can't be overlooked - 11 of the past 13 winners have been from that running-rich nation. Along with Korir, John Itati should be in the mix. He was seventh last year, eighth in 2002 and has been running well on the summer circuit.

The master's race will include defending champion Jackson Kipng'ok and past winner Andrew Masai. Golden oldies returning to Falmouth are Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter and Joan Benoit Samuelson. Shorter is a two-time Falmouth champion and won the Olympic marathon gold medal in 1972 in Munich. Rodgers, a former Olympian as well, is a three-time Falmouth winner. Samuelson is a six-time Falmouth champion. She's celebrating the 20th anniversary of her golden moment at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, when she won the first-ever women's marathon.

The other U.S. Olympian racing in Falmouth will be Robert Gary, who was third in the steeplechase at the Trials. Gary will run the Falmouth mile at 6:15 on Saturday evening, Aug. 7, at the Falmouth High School track. His goal is to break four minutes as a speedy tune-up before Athens. Gary was also a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team in Atlanta and is the men's distance coach and cross country coach at Ohio State.

Also entered in the mile is Elkanah Angenyi, who has a 3:54 on his resume. The meet record of 3:57.82 is clearly in jeopardy. Among the women, defending champion MaryJayne Harrelson and Olympic trials finalist Jenelle Deatherage are expected to lead the field.

Falmouth is one of the richest non-marathon prize-money races in the sport. The open division men's and women's champions win $11,000 each from a total purse of $112,000. Runners-up earn $6,000 each. A course record is worth an additional $1,000. In addition, there is prize money for the top U.S. performers, including $5,500 to the first American man and woman.