Run in the hometown of Joan Benoit Samuelson (everyone’s heard of her!), who was also the founder of this race, the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Sat., Aug. 2, was won by Kenya’s Bedan Karoki Muchiri, 23, in a blistering 27:37!

Gemma Steel, 28, a gutsy cross-country star from England, won the women’s race in a close finish with Shalane Flanagan, 33, of Boulder, Colo., as both were given the same time – 31:27.

Muchiri led a procession of four runners who dipped under 28 minutes in the men’s race – that’s haulin’, folks! – as his fellow Kenyan Stephen Kosgei, 27, ran 27:43 to finish second, Ben True, 28, of Hanover, N.H., ran 27:50 to take third (the first American), and still another Kenyan, Patrick Makau, 29, came home fourth in 27:57.

In the women’s race, Diane Nukuri-Johnson, 29, of Iowa City, Iowa, finished third behind Steel and Flanagan as she ran 31:51.

Jordan Hasay, 22, of Beaverton, Ore., finished fourth in 32:19.

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