As the summer of long-distance running heats up, Falmouth is set to host two major events: the 28th Falmouth Track Festival on Friday, August 16, and the 52nd ASICS Falmouth Road Race on Sunday, August 18. Race organizers have just revealed the elite fields for the Tommy Cochary High School Mile, as well as the open and wheelchair divisions for the seven-mile road race. With an exciting lineup of top-tier athletes, this weekend promises to be a memorable one for both competitors and fans alike.
Leading the charge in the men’s open division is three-time Falmouth Road Race champion Ben Flanagan. Now residing in Bourne, Massachusetts, Flanagan is no stranger to success on this course, having claimed victory in 2018, 2021, and 2022. Fresh off his appearance at the Olympic Games in Paris, where he represented Canada in the 5,000 meters, Flanagan is eager to add another win to his Falmouth resume.
“The Falmouth Road Race for me – anytime I can be there, I’m going to be there,” Flanagan said. With Canadian records in the road 5K and 10K, Flanagan’s competitive spirit remains strong, despite the tight turnaround from his Olympic performance. “It’s a tighter turnaround than ideal, but my goal is to win,” he added.
However, Flanagan won’t have an easy path to victory. Hot on his heels will be John Korir, the 2023 Falmouth runner-up. The Kenyan distance runner has been on a roll this year, finishing fourth in the Boston Marathon and winning the Boilermaker Road Race 15K in Utica, NY, last month. Korir’s experience and recent successes make him a formidable challenger.
Other notable contenders in the men’s field include Eritrean Olympian Yemane Haileselassie, known for his strength in steeplechase events, and U.S. Olympian Jake Riley, who has made waves in the marathon scene with his perseverance and resilience.
On the women’s side, Emma Bates returns to Falmouth after a stellar few years that have established her as one of America’s top marathon runners. Bates was the top American finisher at both the Boston and Chicago marathons and placed seventh in the marathon at the 2022 World Championships. Her return to Falmouth marks a significant moment as she continues to build on her already impressive career.
Joining Bates is Edna Kiplagat, a veteran of the Falmouth course and a two-time Boston Marathon champion. Kiplagat’s experience is unmatched, having won the 2021 ASICS Falmouth Road Race and finishing as the runner-up in 2022. This year, she broke her own masters record at the Boston Marathon, placing fourth overall, and recently took second place at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K in Maine.
The women’s field also features rising star Everlyn Kemboi, the 2023 NCAA 10,000m champion, and Diane Nukuri, the 2015 Falmouth champion who plans to retire from competitive running this fall. Nukuri’s final lap in Falmouth will be one to watch as she bids farewell to a distinguished career.
The action-packed weekend begins on Friday night with the Falmouth Track Festival at Falmouth High School. The elite women’s field is headlined by Dani Jones, a two-time NCAA champion who finished as the runner-up in last year’s mile, and Dorcas Ewoi, the 2024 Sir Walter Miler champion.
In the men’s mile, previous champion Paul Ryan is set to return, alongside Josh Hoey, who recently placed fourth in the 800m at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Both Hoang and Jimenez Vergara will also be testing their speed on the track, getting their legs ready for Sunday’s big race.
With such a deep and talented field across all events, the 2024 Falmouth Road Race weekend is shaping up to be one for the books.
ELITE MEN AT THE FALMOUTH ROAD RACE
- Noah Droddy
- Ben Flanagan
- Yemane Haileselassie
- Athanas Kioko
- John Korir
- Frank Lara
- Jake Riley
- Brian Shrader
ELITE WOMEN AT THE FALMOUTH ROAD RACE
- Emma Bates
- Fentaye Belayneh
- Emma Hurley
- Edna Kiplagat
- Diane Nukuri
- Susanna Sullivan
- Melknat Wudu
