CAPE ELIZABETH – Runners will soon be taking over this coastal community and there is a buzz of excitement for those involved with Sunday’s seventh annual Peoples Beach to Beacon 10-kilometer road race.

Race founder and Maine running legend Joan Benoit Samuelson and defending champions Gilbert Okari and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya said they are looking forward to Sunday’s 8 a.m. extravaganza as they gathered for a press conference at the Inn By the Sea Friday morning.

The elite athletes may have another reason to be excited. The total purse has been increased to $60,000, with $10,000 apiece going to the first-place male and female, according to race president Dave Weatherbie.

With an annual race that raises money for charity and attracts top international running talent and thousands of other runners, Samuelson is more excited than ever.

“It’s always a great race, and nobody’s really run away with the race,” said Benoit, who won the gold medal in the first women’s marathon in the 1984 Olympics.

“The crowds that come out are inspired by what they see coming in front of them. I just hope that everyone has a great time here,” Benoit added.

Ndereba, who won last year in 31 minutes, 52.7 seconds, is using Sunday’s race as one final tuneup for the Olympic marathon in August. She will have competition from Luminita Talpos of Romania and Americans Colleen DeReuck and Nicole Jefferson Ashe.

Kayoko Obato, Yashhuko Hashimoto, Fumi Murata, Miho Ichikawa, and Saori Mikishima of Japan should also contend. Other top women competitors include Madai Perez of Mexico along with Tania Jones of Canada and Yarmouth native Susannah Beck, who finished ninth at the Olympic Marathon Trials in St. Louis earlier this year and second at the U.S. Women’s Half-Marathon Championships.

Ndereba’s recent accomplishments include winning her third Boston Marathon earlier this year, and Samuleson’s support is what keeps her coming back.

“It’s my favorite 10K, and Joan Benoit Samuelson is my friend,” she said. “I also like the hospitality of the people of the race.”

On the men’s side, 2003 champ and course record holder Okari should be the favorite, and he’ll be running on his 26th birthday to top it all off. His time of 27:28.2 was the world’s fastest 10K road time last year.

Okari should have competition from countrymen John Korir, Thomas Kiplitan, Luke Kipkosgei, and Benjamin Mayo. Other elite runners include Moroccan-born Khalid Khannouchi of the U.S., David Galvan of Mexico, Kim Gillard of Australia, and Nick Rogers and Keith Dowling of the U.S.

The Maine men’s race should be a dogfight. Top competitors include Andy Spaulding of Freeport, Michael Payson of Falmouth, Evan Graves and Judson Cake of Bar Harbor, and Mike Bunker of Bucksport.

Overall, 38 states and 14 countries will be represented by the 5,000 runners, according to race director Dave McGillivray.