October 30,2005 For immediate release

Contact: Courtney Bird, 508-540-6959 Email: marathon@cape.com Web site: www.capecodmarathon.com Cape Cod Marathon prepares for its 28th running

FALMOUTH, Mass. - The marathon (1200 runners) and marathon relay (180 teams) fields are full for the 28th annual Cape Cod Marathon and Dunkin' Donuts Marathon Relay to take place on Sunday, Oct. 30. Race organizers from the Falmouth Track Club are looking forward to a wide open race with strong fields for the men's and women's open and master's (age 40-49) divisions, with no clear cut favorites. Three contenders in the men's open division (age14-39) are Kevin O'Neil of North Kingston, RI, Nate Jenkins of Agawam, MA, and Ben Nephew of Foxboro, MA. They will have good competition from some of the master's including Dan Verrington of Bradford, MA, and two veterans of the Cape Cod Marathon, Paul Hammond of Lexington, MA and Chris Spinney of Arlington, MA. Another master runner capable of a strong performance is Jason Cakouras. For the women, title contenders include US Mountain Running Team member and US National Snowshoe Racing Team member Kelli Lusk of Belchertown, MA, Barbara McManus of Oakham, MA, Susan McNamara of Williston, VT, Amy Vile of Essex Junction, VT and Debbie Barry of Ashby, MA. McNamara and Barry are among the favorites for the Master's race. A local runner to watch for is Laura Hutchinson, a former Falmouth High School star, now living in Amherst, MA. The Cape Cod Marathon, first run in 1978, is one of New England's longest-running marathons. For its first six years, it was held at Otis Air Base, and for the last 20 years it has been run on a scenic one-loop course in Falmouth. This year's race kicks off at 8:30 a.m. from Main Street, Falmouth. Run simultaneously to the marathon on the same course will be the Dunkin' Donuts Relay. The marathon participants will be competing for $8,400 in cash prizes with the first man and woman each receiving $1,500. For the 18th time in 19 years, the Cape Cod Marathon is serving as the USATF-New England marathon championship and is the seventh and final race in that association's Grand Prix Series. Sovereign Bank is a major sponsor of the marathon. The marathon relay's principal sponsor is Dunkin' Donuts. The marathon and the relay are run entirely within Falmouth with the start and finish by the Village Green. Last year's winners are both Russians, Aleksey Khokhlov in 2:25:36 for the men, and Elvira Kolpakova in 2:52:32 for the women Randy Thomas set the men's course record of 2:17:35 in 1986. Two- time Olympic marathoner Cathy O'Brien set the women's record of 2:37:06 in 1987. Again this year New England Runner magazine will host the post race party at the Falmouth Inn, along with the BaHa Brothers and Offshore Ale company. Please join us directly after the awards ceremony!!!