From race press release.

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - The Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race celebrates its fifth anniversary this Saturday in Cape Elizabeth with an expanded field of 5,000 runners, including the top road racers in Maine, New England and around the globe.

There is much to celebrate. In just five years, the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K has grown to become one of the most prestigious road races on the circuit, attracting top world-class athletes and filling up faster and faster each year.

Besides the expanded field, the special anniversary edition of the event will include additional prize money for new course records and the first runner to reach the 5K mark, as well as special recognition to runners and volunteers who have participated all five years.

"This important milestone and the success this event has enjoyed really are a testament to the hard work of all involved; the volunteers, the runners, the town of Cape Elizabeth, the race organizers, everyone who makes this happen," said Mike McNamara, president and CEO of Peoples Heritage Bank, the race's lead sponsor.

Ndereba Seeks Fifth Women's Title; Men's Race Wide Open

The elite races for both the men and women are shaping up to be as competitive as ever. Both defending champions - Kenyan's Evans Rutto and Catherine Ndereba - are returning to face strong fields. Three runners ranked in the top 10 in the world are competing in the men's race.

Ndereba, one of the world's best road racers, is the only elite woman to win the Peoples Beach to Beacon. She will be seeking her fifth straight title Saturday. Last year, Ndereba needed to set a course record (31:34) to keep her string intact. It won't get any easier this year.

Colleen DeRueck of the U.S., a two-time South African Olympian ranked as high as 8th in the world earlier this year, has been running well lately and knows the course. Another former Olympian, South African Elana Meyer, will be trying to improve on her third place finish at the 2001 Peoples Beach to Beacon. Esther Kiplagat of Kenya, another top road racer, also is capable of a fast time. Perhaps the most intriguing development is the possibility that Kenyan Margaret Okayo, who earlier this year ended Ndereba's two-year hold on the Boston Marathon, will enter. Race officials are reserving a bib number for her.

On the men's side, the field looks to be wide open and the course record 27:48, set by Khalid Khannouchi, could be in jeopardy. Last year, Rutto surged ahead of the lead pack near the end of the race. This year, the competition is as tough as ever.

James Koskei, last year's runner up who has a career best 27:36 at 10K, is ranked 10th in the world by Running Times. The Kenyan already has won two prestigious road races this year - the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Seattle and the Bay to Breakers 12K in San Francisco - and wouldn't mind adding a third. Also, Kenyan John Korir, ranked 3rd in the world, placed second in the Utica Boilermaker 15K and fourth at the Peachtree 10K in Atlanta earlier this month. Another top challenger, Thomas Nyariki of Kenya, currently ranked 6th, is coming off an impressive win at the Bolder Boulder 10K in May and finished 4th at Utica. He also recently finished fifth at the Peachtree 10K, just behind Korir. His career best 10K is 27:30.

The elite field also includes some local flavor. Matt Lane, a former Yarmouth High standout and seven-time collegiate All-American, is entered. Also, Susannah Beck, a Yarmouth native and Waynflete graduate, is returning to Maine to compete in the Peoples Beach to Beacon for the first time.

(Unofficial) Maine Road Race Champions to be Crowned

The Peoples Beach to Beacon is considered the jewel for Maine's top road racers and the winner each year wears the unofficial crown as the Maine Road Racing Champion.

In the men's race, defending champion Andy Spaulding of Freeport, who hasn't lost a Maine race in more than a year, should face strong competition from Todd Coffin, the 2000 champ who missed last year's race due to an ankle injury. Other favorites include Byrne Decker of Yarmouth, Justin Easter of Jay, a Bates College senior who won the NCAA Div. III steeplechase, and Bob Winn of Ogunquit, who won the first two Peoples Beach to Beacon races and holds the course record 30:52.

Christine Snow-Reaser of Dayton is set to defend her title against a field of contenders that includes three-time champion Julia Kirtland of South Harpswell, Maggie Hanson of Bowdoinham and Rose Prest-Morrison of Limerick.

The wheelchair entrants begin at 8 a.m. at the start line on Route 77 near Crescent Beach State Park and the race starts at 8:05. Prize money of $50,000 is awarded to the runners, including $7,500 for the winner, $5,000 for the second place winner and cash prizes for the top 10 finishers. Other cash awards go to the top men and women's masters finishers, men and women wheelchair entrants and men and women from Maine. Also, age category winners will receive L.L. Bean gift certificates.

For more information about the race, go to www.beach2beacon.org.