Falmouth Road Race Sees Records Broken In Field Of Nearly 10K Runners

FALMOUTH, MA — Cool summer temperatures and a field of almost 10,000 runners proved to be ideal conditions for records to be broken at the 51st running of the Falmouth Road Race.

Perhaps the most impressive feats of the day came in both the men's and women's wheelchair division, when course records were broken. Plus, some of the race's biggest names were able to come out on top in crowded fields of top talent.

Here's what to know about the weekend's competitions across divisions:

Wheelchair Division

The wheelchair division featured dominant performances by the sport’s two biggest names.

The men’s race was won for the fifth time by Maryland’s Daniel Romanchuk. Romanchuk took 25 seconds off his own course record to finish in 21:23.

“It was a great day. Overall, just great conditions,” said Romanchuk, a Paralympic gold medalist. “Going along the ocean is a great way to end a summer of racing.”

Americans Miguel Jimenez-Vergara and Hermin Garic were second and third respectively.

Women’s winner Susannah Scaroni was actually the third wheelchair finisher across the line, coming in 30 seconds before Garic. Scaroni was unchallenged for seven miles. Her winning time of 24:38 broke the course record she set last year by 52 seconds. She was nearly five minutes ahead of second place.

“I always like pushing things farther and farther,” said Scaroni who clocked 32 miles an hour coming down the final hill. “I don’t think I have ever done a more beautiful course. I love hills so I cherish this course specifically.”

2021 Falmouth Champion Emelia Perry was second and Hannah Babalola took third.

Men's And Women's Open Race

Kenya’s Wesley Kiptoo was dominant in the men's race, leading a pack consisting of John Korir, Edwin Kurgat and David Bett out of Woods Hole in a blistering 4:17 opening mile.

By the time he hit the 5K mark, he had a 12-second lead. By 10K that lead had doubled. Kiptoo came screaming down the hill into Falmouth Heights and crossed the line as the clock ticked to 31:08. His finish ties the course record set by Gilbert Okari in 2004.

“I stayed consistent,” said Kiptoo, who finished fifth here last year. “The course is kind of up and down and I love that it challenges me.”

Kiptoo, an NCAA champion at Iowa State who trains in Flagstaff, Arizona, will make his marathon debut at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October. Korir finished second in 31:34 while Kurgat, another Iowa State grad, took third to complete the Kenyan sweep. Utah-based Clayton Young was the top American finishing fifth in 32:02.

The women’s race ended with another successful New England visit for Kenya’s Hellen Obiri. Obiri, who lives and trains in Boulder, Colorado came in as the reigning champion of the Boston Marathon and of this month’s Beach to Beacon 10K in Maine.

She took a more conservative opening approach than Kiptoo, covering the first 5K at 5:09 per mile pace with Cynthia Limo, Buze Diriba and Vicoty Chepngeno on her heels. Just before the halfway point, Obiri made a move. She covered the next 10K at 4:55 pace, cruising to a 19-second victory in 35:13, tied for the second fastest time in race history and the fastest since 2002.

“I was thinking maybe I should make my move at four miles,” said Obiri, a two-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist. “The uphill was terrible for me, but I knew after that it was all downhill and it was an incredible finish.”

American marathon record-holder Emily Sisson of Providence, Rhode Island moved into second place just past the 10K mark to finish as runner-up in 35:32. That’s the fastest time ever by an American woman in Falmouth. Cynthia Limo of Kenya was third.

“I am always a little bit more nervous racing in the marathon build,” said Sisson who is also running Chicago this fall. “I feel tired, but it gives me confidence that I can race well. My goal was to get as close to Hellen as I could.”