The CIGNA Falmouth Road Race – Micah Kogo of Kenya led a record 8,900 plus runners across the finish line

FALMOUTH, Mass. – Micah Kogo of Kenya led a record 8,900 plus runners across the finish line at the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race. In his first attempt, the 21-year old Kenyan clocked 31:53, averaging a 4:33 mile, and finishing 20 seconds ahead of another first-time Falmouth competitor and U.S. Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezghi(USA) of Mammouth Lakes, Calif. who followed in 32:13.

This year’s time was off Gilbert Okari’s 2004 course record of 31:08. Kogo continued Kenyan domination of the Falmouth Road Race with the 15th victory in the last 17 years. Kogo who failed to make the Kenyan 10km World Championship Team for Osaka, but looks forward to returning to Brussells where he ran 26.35-10,000 last year.

Kenyan Olympic marathon silver medalist Catherine Ndereba, age 35, captured her fourth Falmouth title in 36:31, nine seconds ahead of 34 year-old Romanian, Luminta Talpos(ROM) and one minute 29 seconds off of Lornah Kiplagat’s 2004 record. Twenty-seven-year-old Kate O’Neill(USA) who trains in Mammouth Lakes, Calif. with Running USA Mammouth Lakes and a local Milton, Mass. native, finished third in 36:52.

Among the top 12 male finishers, Kenyans took seven places while Americans took four. On the women’s side, Americans took five of the top 12 places. Crystal blue skies and temperatures hovering near 80 degrees greeted the field at the Woods Hole start line. At the Nobska Light House mile one split, a group of 18 – 20 men ran a conservative 4:42. Leaders included Kogo, Keflezghi, and Nelson Kiplagat. Over the shaded rolling course, between miles one and two, the men’s pack picked up the pace, passing mile two in 9:18, a 4:35 split.
At the two-mile water station, Fernando Cabada(USA) who will represent the USA in the 2007 World Championships Marathon team made a move to the front that was swiftly covered by the pack. As the leaders broke out of the woods and onto Surf Drive, the pack thinned to 11 led by Kogo, Keflezghi and Kiplagat. At mile three the leaders posted a solid time of 13:53 with another 4:35 split. The three leaders passed mile 4 in 18:20 picking up the pace with a 4:27 split and mile 5 in 22:50, with a 4:30 split.

Turning onto Scranton Avenue along Falmouth Harbor, Kiplagat fell off the pace set by Kogo and Keflezghi. Moments later, Kogo threw in a surge which Keflezghi could not cover. Kogo pulled away smoothly passing 6 miles in 27:20 on his way to the win followed by Keflezghi and Kiplagat. From the start through mile three, the women’s lead pack included last weekends’Beach to Beacon 10km champion Luminita Talpos(ROM), Americans O’Neill and 2007 Pam Am Games 10k champion, Sarah Slattery and Natalya Berkut(UKR) who finished 2nd to Talpos.
Shadowing the leaders was Ndereba(KEN). Places changed little until mile five when Ndereba made her move seemingly effortlese, never challenged. Following Ndereba, Talpos and O’Neill across the finish line were Nataliya Berkut of the Ukraine and Americans Alicia Shay and Slattery.

Michelle Simonaitis, of Draper, Utah collected prize money in two women’s divisions, when she won Masters Women’s Division and simultaneously placed 9th overall American woman in 40:12. Maria Servin, 44, of Mexico finished second 41:53. Moroccan, Elarbi Khattabi, 40, won the Men’s Masters Division in 35:24. Dennis Simonaitis, 45, husband of the Masters Women’s champion, finished second in 35:35.

1.Micah Kogo(KEN) 31.53
2.Meb Keflezighi(USA) 32.13
3.Nelson Kiplagat(KEN) 32.21
4.Nicholas Kamakya(KEN) 32.33
5.William Chebon(KEN) 32.36
6.Tom Nyariki(KEN) 32.39
7.James Carney(USA) 32.45
8.Karim El Mabchour(MOR) 32.58
9.John Itati(KEN) 33.01
10. Linus Maiyo(KEN) 33.12

1. Catherine Ndereba(KEN) 36.31
2. Luminita Talpos(ROM) 36.40
3. Kate O’Neill(USA) 36.52
4. Natalya Berkut(UKR) 37.23
5. Alicia Shay(USA) 37.28
6. Sara Slattery(USA) 37.33
7. Angelina Mutuku(KEN) 37.39
8. Galina Aleksandrova(RUS 38.04
9. Melissa Cook(USA) 38.14
10.Maryna Dubrova(UKR) 38.41