October 22, 2002

FALMOUTH, Mass. - The CompassBank Cape Cod Marathon will reach a milestone most road races never achieve when it is run for the 25th consecutive year on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Race organizers from the Falmouth Track Club are preparing for their best effort yet to mark the occasion. All past winners have been invited back to celebrate the marathon's 25th running, and many are expected to attend, including both course record holders, Randy Thomas and Cathy Shiro O'Brien.

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.

"The race is really coming together well," Race Director Courtney Bird said. "It appears that we will have a strong New England field; there is great interest in volunteering; and the planning for our celebration of the 25th running is going well. I'm delighted that about 25 of the past winners are returning."

Begun in 1978, the Cape Cod Marathon is one of New England's longest running marathons. It was run for six years at Otis Air Base, and for the last 18 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 in Falmouth. Run simultaneously to the marathon on the same course will be the Dunkin' Donuts Relay.

A field of 1,000 marathoners and 150 relay teams is expected.

The marathon participants will be competing for $8,400 in cash prizes with the first man and woman each receiving $1,500.

For the 15th time, the Cape Cod Marathon is serving as the USATF-New England marathon championship.

CompassBank is the principal 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 were Eric Beauchesne of Chelsmford, Mass., (2:28:16) and Nikki Kimball of Auburn, Mass., (3:01:29). Both are expected to run in this year's race.

For more information check out their Web site, www.capecodmarathon.com/ or contact Courtney Bird, 508-540-6959 or Email: Cape Cod Marathon

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