CAPE ELIZABETH – Running with one of the world’s hottest racers at his shoulder, lanky Kenyan Gilbert Okari demolished both his competition and the course record in winning Saturday’s Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K.

Okari, who turned 25 Saturday, shook off fellow Kenyan John Korir for the win in his first Beach to Beacon appearance, shattering the course record in the process with a time of 27 minutes, 27.7 seconds.

The old record of 27:48 was set by Khalid Khannouchi of Morocco in 1999.

Catherine Ndereba, also of Kenya, reclaimed the women’s crown, holding off two Romanians for her fifth Beach to Beacon win in six years.

The strong Kenyan contingent swept the top five overall spots. Korir, who was just behind Okari for the first four miles, clocked a 27:51.1 and 2002 winner James Koskei was third in a time of 28:08.5. Paul Koech finished fourth (28:10.7) and Linus Maiyo was fifth (28:54.0).

Kenyans claimed seven of the top 10 overall spots.

On the women’s side, Romanians Luminita Talpos (31:53.8) and Constantina Tomescu-Dita (32:05.4) were second and third, respectively. Jen Rhines of Ardmore, Pa., was the fourth woman to finish and the first U.S. woman to cross the line, which she did in 32:24.2. Ludmilla Petrova of Russia was fifth (32:31.1).

Okari and Ndereba each get a first-place purse of $7,500.

Both Okari and Korir were considered among the favorites but Korir was coming off a stunning stretch of wins, including last weekend’s Quad City Times (Iowa) Bix 7K. Korir had won three other road races of at least 10 kilometers this season and was the No. 1-ranked road racer in the world, according to Running Times magazine.

Okari, Korir and about 14 other runners broke away from the pack early. That group dwindled down to Okari, John Korir, Koskei, Koetch, Maiyo, Kenyan David Korir, and Ethiopia’s Habte Jifar.

But the 6-foot-2 Okari and John Korir outdistanced the lead pack and by the fourth mile Okari had a lead of about 40 meters on Korir.

Okari turned in a blistering final mile of 4:16 as he entered Fort Williams State Park here. Okari crossed the finish line with his arms raised.

“The guys were strong but I was also very strong but I was confident in myself,” Okari said. “I had [the record] in mind. When I started the third mile I was feeling very strong and I started pushing the pace on my own.”

Ndereba didn’t have it as easy as Okari. Ndereba, Dita and Talpos were at the front of the pack with about two miles to go and both Romanian women led at one point. Talpos was ahead with about five miles to go.

But the 31-year-old Ndereba, who now lives in Royersford, Pa., made her move at the end.

“We kept on following one another and toward the finish I just sprinted,” she said. “I felt great and I just moved.”

Ndereba was all the more pleased with her win because of the 31:52.7 she turned in with the world championships coming up.

“I’m very happy,” said Ndereba, who was third last year after winning the first four Beach to Beacons. “It’s not only the title but the time. I feel great. It’s a good time.”

Scott Larson of Superior, Colo., was the first U.S. man to cross the finish line. He was ninth overall.

Andrew Masai of Kenya won the men’s masters division and Carmen Ayala-Troncoso of Austin, Texas was the women’s masters winner. In the wheelchair divisions, April Coughlin of Syracuse, N.Y., and and Kamel Ayari, New Rochelle, N.Y. were the winners.