June 30, 2004

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - Two of the most popular and accomplished road racers in the world - Catherine Ndereba and Khalid Khannouchi - are set to compete Aug. 1 in the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

The pair will headline what promises to be another stellar field of elite athletes in the seventh annual Peoples Beach to Beacon, which has quickly become one of the premiere road races on the circuit.

"I'm not sure we could do much better than to start filling out the field with two household names on the road race circuit," said Larry Barthlow, the elite athlete coordinator for the Peoples Beach to Beacon. "Both have held the world record in the marathon, and each of them has set a course record in winning here. We're going to see even more top distance runners enter in the days and weeks ahead, but this is a great way to start."

Ndereba is returning to defend her title after winning the Peoples Beach to Beacon last year for a record fifth time. A crowd favorite, she is a two-time Boston Marathon champ who has run the third fastest marathon ever. The Peoples Beach to Beacon is expected to be the final tune up for the gracious Kenyan before she heads to Athens for the Olympic marathon, where she will be favored to win.

Khannouchi won the Peoples Beach to Beacon in 1999 with a blazing 27:48 over the scenic 6.2-mile course, a record that stood until last year when Gilbert Okari of Kenya shaved 20 seconds off the mark. Morocco-born Khannouchi is returning to Cape Elizabeth for the first time since the 2000 Peoples Beach to Beacon, which was his first race after obtaining U.S. citizenship.

Khannouchi held the world record in the marathon (2:05:38) for just under four years before it was broken last fall. He remains the American marathon record holder. Returning from injury, the Peoples Beach to Beacon is one of the few road races Khannouchi will compete in as he prepares for the Chicago Marathon this fall, Barthlow said.

Since this is an Olympic year, Barthlow said he is up against a number of scheduling and training conflicts as he works to get commitments from some of the world's best. Some countries are restricting travel for their Olympic athletes so close to the Summer Games later in August.

Even with the difficulties, Barthlow said he is looking at the possibility of as many as seven men entered in the race who have run under 27:50 at 10 kilometers. For comparison, only three runners - Khannouchi, Okari, and John Korir of Kenya (last year's runner up) - have ever run a sub-28:00 at the Peoples Beach to Beacon.

Those three are set to toe the line on August 1, Barthlow said, and more top names will follow. "If things hold to form, you're going to see a pretty amazing men's field," he said, adding that he expects a strong American contingent and some top Japanese women in the field of 30 elites.

And the stakes are higher this year as well. Prize money for the winner of the men's and women's race has been increased from $7,500 to $10,000. In all, more than $50,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women.

The Peoples Beach to Beacon, begun in 1998, has become one of the marquee events in the international road race circuit. The ocean-hugging course begins at Crescent Beach along Route 77 and ends 6.2 miles later in Fort Williams Park at Portland Head, the most photographed lighthouse in the world.

Peoples sponsors the race founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, the Olympic gold medallist and Maine's most recognizable athlete. The Sunday running of the 2004 race marks a break from the race's traditional first Saturday in August schedule, which has been in place since its inception in 1998.

The race director is Dave McGillivray, who has organized every Peoples Beach to Beacon. He also serves as the race director of the BAA Boston Marathon and recently led TREK USA in which he and a group of runners ran across the United States to raise money for charity.

In addition to Peoples, other major corporate partners this year include Nike, Hannaford, UnumProvident Corp., Poland Spring and WCSH TV-6.

The race beneficiary for this year's race is Riding To The Top (RTT), a non-profit organization that provides therapeutic horseback riding services to children and adults with physical, emotional and/or learning disabilities. Peoples, through the Banknorth Charitable Foundation, will provide a cash donation of $30,000 to RTT. Visit the organization's web site at www.ridingtothetop.org.

For additional information, including volunteer opportunities, visit the race web site at www.beach2beacon.org or call the toll-free hotline at (888) 480-6940