SAMUELSON WELCOMES THE ATHLETES AND GUESTS TO CAPE ELIZABETH
By David Monti
(c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

CAPE ELIZABETH, ME. (05-Aug) -- Olympic marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson welcomed athletes and guests last night to this picturesque town on Maine's rugged coast for Saturday's TB Bank Beach to Beacon 10-K.  Speaking on the back lawn of a race volunteer with the flat waters of Spring Cove behind her, Samuelson thanked her staff and the community for allowing the race to develop into one of America's top road races over the last 14 years.

"This is an incredible operation," said Samuelson.  She continued: "We just make it work, and we do.  We're there to cover for each other.  There's no scientific method to it.  And we're able to do that because we have great sponsors and great volunteers, great communities and great friends.  And, as I said earlier, that includes all of you."

Tomorrow's race will be the 14th edition of the event which Samuelson founded here in 1998.  Samuelson grew up in Cape Elizabeth and now lives in nearby Freeport, and is regarded by most people here as the greatest athlete to come out of the state of Maine. 

Amongst the athletes on hand last night were Olympic medallists Deena Kastor and Catherine Ndereba.  Kastor is running her first Beach to Beacon, while Ndereba is a five-time winner.