Runners to get cooler weather Big field set for Beach to Beacon

A mere 72 hours ago, Cape Elizabeth was a boiling point as crews set up finish line tents at Fort Williams Park in 100-degree heat.

Mother Nature is planning to cooperate with cooler temperatures for today’s TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K road race, which starts at 8 a.m. near Crescent Beach State Park in Cape Elizabeth.

Course record holder Gilbert Okari of Kenya, who won last year’s crown in 27 minutes, 38 seconds, is gunning for his fourth straight Beach to Beacon title.

Okari, who is currently ranked third in Running Times’ world rankings, has won four top-tier road races this year, including the Lilac Bloomsday 12K, Bay to Breakers 12K, Cherry Blossom 10-miler and Crescent City Classic 10K.

Okari won’t have it easy, however, as countryman Evans Cheryiout will provide a heavy challenge. James Koskei, who won the 2002 Beach to Beacon, should also be in the mix, along with John Korir. Both runners are also from Kenya.

In the women’s race, 2004 champ Susan Chepkemi is back and ready after visa problems kept her from competing last year. Chepkemi is currently ranked ninth in the world, and has a fourth-place finish at the Peachtree 10K to her credit this summer.

Chepkemi will be challenged by Alevetina Ivanova of Russia, who finished third at the 2004 Beach to Beacon and second last year.

The Maine division should be very competitive, as usual, especially on the men’s side, where seven runners all have a good chance.

The favorite could be is Eric Giddings, who’s winning effort of 30:34 last year obliterated the course record. The 19-year old Giddings, who runs for Stanford University, lives in South Portland during the summer.

Ethan Hemphill of Freeport has won 10 of 12 road races he has entered this season, and was the 2004 Beach to Beacon champ. Evan Graves of Bar Harbor has finished second the last two years, so he is likely to contend this year, and has been running very well all season. Other challengers are Ben True of North Yarmouth, Jeff Caron of Auburn and brothers Ayalew and Sintayheu Taye of Cape Elizabeth.

Emily LeVan of Wiscasset is looking to retain her title in the women’s race. She will have some strong competition from Susannah Beck of Sedgwick, who won the title in 2004. Kristin Barry of Scarborough, who is having an outstanding road racing season, including a victory at the recent Clam Festival Classic 5-miler in Yarmouth, should be in the mix as well.

The field of 5,500 runners will be the largest field in the race’s nine-year history. Two high school track and field standouts who will be competing are Casey Quaglia of Bangor, who recently competed in the national final in the 1,500 meters at the national Junior Olympic Championships, and Erica Jesseman of Scarborough, who holds the Class A state outdoor record in the 3,200 meters.