The popular Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, has long embraced fleet-footed Mainers, many of whom have raced to prominence recently.
Among them is Ben True of Cumberland, who became the first American to win the race when he clocked a 28:16 two years ago.
Last year’s top Maine female finisher, 24-year-old Emily Durgin of Standish and Cheverus High School in Portland, will look to follow in those footsteps tomorrow as the burgeoning Team New Balance athlete improves by leaps and bounds.
Durgin ran 26:49.1 last month to win the women’s division at the 51st Bill Luti 5-mile race in Concord, N.H., smashing the 1986 record of 27:11 set by Olympian Lynn Jennings.
“If I can run the same pace in the Beach (to Beacon) that would set me up nicely,” Durgin said. “I’ve run it many, many times.
“The first mile is crazy fast. In fact, the first 5K is pretty quick. Miles 4 and 5 are relatively shaded. At mile 5 you start to hit the big hill. Then it enters the park and it keeps climbing to the finish,” Durgin said, displaying home-course knowledge.
A former UConn star, Durgin was a nine-time American Athletic Conference (AAC) champion in cross country and track. But she loves coming home to compete in the Beach, a longstanding event cooked up by Maine marathon legend Joan Benoit Samuelson.
“I knew Joanie well. Back in middle school, she used to come around and meet the students, and talk with us, back when I was 14 years old,” Durgin said. “I ran my first Beach to Beacon in the 10th anniversary. This year is the 21st and I’ve run it a number of times. Last year was a big deal for me because I won the Maine women’s division (in 34:43). I had just turned professional and it was the first time wearing my New Balance (uniform) so that was pretty cool.
“This year is a little bit different approach. Last year was my first year with (New Balance coach) Mark (Coogan) and the team. It’s working well. He’s built my mileage up. It’s completely different. At this point, you never know. It’s one of the most competitive years for the race. It’s a good field.
“Overall, I’d love to come in the top five Americans. That would be my ultimate goal. If you do that, it means you’ve done fairly well overall.”
It has been a stellar year so far for Durgin. She ran fifth in the U.S. Cross Country Championships in February and then lowered her personal best in the 10K to 32:59 at the Payton Jordan meet at Stanford in May.
“I think she should be among the top American women (tomorrow). Last year, she was the top Maine woman,” Coogan said. “Hopefully, she will be in the top 10. It’s the first time she will race while in top shape. She has really improved a lot this year. I think she has the ability to compete for the U.S. championships and the (Olympic) trials races in the future.”
