ASICS Falmouth Road Race reveals competitive field for 2024 Track Festival and seven-mile event

FALMOUTH, Mass. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – A busy summer of long-distance running continues in Falmouth with the 28th running of the Falmouth Track Festival on Friday, Aug. 16 and the 52nd running of the ASICS Falmouth Road Race on Sunday, Aug. 18. Today, race organizers announced the elite fields for the Tommy Cochary High School Mile as well as the open and wheelchair divisions of the seven-mile event. Those interested in exploring more about the athletes in the seven-mile race, in the elite mile events, as well as wheelchair athletes competing throughout the weekend, can do so on the ASICS Falmouth Road Race website.

Three-time Falmouth Road Race champion and now-Bourne, MA resident Ben Flanagan highlights Sunday’s men’s open division. Flanagan, who won in 2018, 2021 and 2022, comes back to Falmouth from Paris where he represented Canada in the 5,000m at the Olympic Games.

“The Falmouth Road Race for me – anytime I can be there, I’m going to be there,” said Flanagan, who holds Canadian records in the road 5K and 10K. “It’s a tighter turnaround than ideal, but my goal is to win.“

Flanagan will be chased from Woods Hole to Falmouth by 2023 Falmouth runner-up John Korir. Korir has had a successful spring and summer. The Kenyan finished fourth in the Boston Marathon and won last month’s Boilermaker Road Race 15K in Utica, NY.

Other top contenders in the men’s field include Eritrean Olympian Yemane Haileselasse and U.S. Olympian Jake Riley.

In the women’s open division, 2024 marks the return of Emma Bates. Bates, who last raced in Falmouth in 2021, has since become one of America’s top marathon runners. She was the top American female finisher at Boston and Chicago, and finished seventh in the marathon at the 2022 World Championships.

Also returning this year is Falmouth veteran Edna Kiplagat. Kiplagat, a two-time Boston Marathon Champion, 2021 ASICS Falmouth Road Race champion and 2022 ASICS Falmouth Road Race runner-up, shattered her own masters record at this year’s Boston Marathon where she placed fourth and recently finished second at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K in Maine.

This year’s strong women’s field also includes 2023 NCAA 10,000m champion Everlyn Kemboi and 2015 Falmouth champion Diane Nukuri who will retire from competitive running this fall.

The women’s wheelchair division is led by Falmouth veteran Yen Hoang of the United States. Hoang, the 2016 Falmouth winner, was third in her most recent Falmouth appearance two years ago.

“Falmouth brings back early memories of my athletic career,” said Hoang, a 2020 U.S. Paralympian. “I am especially looking forward to racing this year because I had to pull out last year due to injury.” Joining Hoang on the start line is fellow American Hannah Babalola, who was third in last year’s race.

In the men’s wheelchair division, last year’s runner-up, Miguel Jimenez Vergara of the United States will return in hopes of claiming his first Falmouth victory and five-time Falmouth champion Krige Schabort, also of the U.S., will be on the start line again this year.

The weekend kicks off on Friday night with the Falmouth Track Festival at Falmouth High School. The event includes the Tommy Cochary High School Mile. The elite women’s field stars two-time NCAA champion and last year’s runner-up Dani Jones and the 2024 Sir Walter Miler champion Dorcas Ewoi. The men’s field is led by previous champion Paul Ryan and Josh Hoey, who placed fourth in the 800m at the 2024 US Olympic Trials. Both Huang and Jimenez-Vergara will both open their weekends on the track.

For more information about the ASICS Falmouth Road Race, visit www.falmouthroadrace.com and follow the event on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT FALMOUTH ROAD RACE, INC.

The Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite athletes and recreational runners to enjoy the iconic 7-mile seaside course. The nonprofit Falmouth Road Race organization is committed to promoting health and fitness through community programs and philanthropic giving.

Entrants: Men’s Open Mile

Entrants: Men’s Wheelchair Mile

Entrants: Women’s Open Mile

Entrants: Women’s Wheelchair Mile

Entrants: Men’s Open 7-Mile

Entrants: Men’s Wheelchair 7-Mile

Entrants: Women’s 7-Mile

Entrants: Women’s Wheelchair 7-Mile

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