36th CIGNA Falmouth Road Race
Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, 10 a.m.

Tola Wins his First Falmouth
Masters Runner, Masai, Completes three Wins in Three Weeks

FALMOUTH, Mass. – The first time was a charm for both the men’s and women’s winners of the 2008 CIGNA Falmouth Road Race. In addition, this year marked the first time that a masters runner topped the women’s field, following her wins in consecutive weekends at the Bix 7-Miler in Davenport, Iowa, and the Beach-to-Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Edith Masai of Kenya, 41, crossed the finish line in 37:02, followed by Lyudmila Bitkasheva, 34, of Russia, three seconds later in 37:05.
    On the men’s side, Tadese Tola, 20, finished in 32:01, which broke the nine-year Kenyan winning streak and marked the first win by an Ethiopian. The 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist, Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezghi, 33, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., finished second in 32:09. That time bettered his 2007 Falmouth second place finish by four seconds. Boaz Cheboiywo of Kenya placed third in 32:12. Both winning times were off the course records of 31:08 set by Gilbert Okari in 2004 and 35:02 set Lornah Kiplagat in 2000.
    Blue skies and temperatures in the high 60s greeted the field at the Woods Hole starting line. By the time the runners reached the finish line of the seven-mile course at Falmouth Heights, temperatures had only risen to the mid-70s. However the lack of ocean breezes eliminated any cooling effect for the nearly 11,000 participants.
   The men’s pack sprinted off the start line and at the Nobska Light one mile split a group of 18-to-20 men clocked 4:32. Leaders included Tola, Keflezghi, Beach-to-Beacon winner Edward Muge, Boaz Cheboiywo, Dennis Ndiso and Dereje Tadese. The leaders kept a clockwork pace, with the pack of 12 passing two miles in 9:05 for a 4:33 split. The group thinned to nine at three miles in 13:41 (4:36 mile split) and by the time the leaders reached four-mile mark on scenic Surf Drive in 18:14 there were five -   Tola, Cheboiywo, Keflezghi, Muge and Tadese. The pack dwindled to four as Keflezighi, Muge, Tola and Cheboiywo passed mile five in 22:44 and the 10K in 27:27. Muge’s attempt at back-to-back wins at Beach-to-Beacon and Falmouth was not to be, when he pulled off the course at six-and-a-half miles.

    At the one-mile split, the women’s lead pack included Masai, Bitkasheva, eventual third-place finisher Angelina Mutuku of Kenya and American Kate O’Neill. Having placed second to Masai in last week’s Beach-to-Beacon, Bitkasheva decided to push the pace from mile two. At the five-mile mark a confident Masai made her move and never relinquished her lead. Bitkasheva battled Mutuku, finally passing her on the last hills leading to the Falmouth Heights finish to take second. Following Mutuku’s 37:07 were Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia in 37:15 and American Renee Metivier Baillie of Flagstaff, Ariz., in 37:30.
   Masai collected prize money in both the overall and masters women’s divisions. Two-time overall and two-time masters Falmouth champion Colleen De Reuck of Boulder, Colo., took second in 38:19, fifth American and 13th overall. Moroccan Brahim Lahlafi, 40, won the men’s masters division in 33:42. Sean Wade, 42, of Houston, Texas, finished second in 35:35.
    Krige Schabort, 39, of Cedartown, Ga,, shattered the men’s wheelchair record by 18 seconds with his 23:35 win. Four-time winner Tony Nogueira finished second in 25:45. Jacqui Kapinowski,, Point Pleasant, N. J., won the women’s wheelchair division in 43:04.
   Three-time Falmouth winner Bill Rodgers, age 60, of Sherborn, Mass., finished in 49:23, second in teh over-60 division, which was won by Jeffrey Hawkins of Birmingham, Ala., just three seconds ahead of Rodgers. Six-time Falmouth winner Joan Benoit Samuelson, age 51, of Freeport, Maine, who finished 25th overall in the Women’s Division with a time of 41:49, making her the fifth master and first senior finisher. Dick and Rick Hoyt finished in 58:36.
  This year marked CIGNA's third title sponsorship. Karen S. Rohan, president of CIGNA Group Insurance and CIGNA Specialty Products, finished her 11th consecutive race. CIGNA provides employers with benefits, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and productivity of their employees. With approximately 47 million covered lives in the United States and around the world, CIGNA’s operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits and group life, accident and disability insurance.

The 37th running of the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race will be held Sunday, August 9, 2009.