Elite male and female runners from all around the world will pack their bags next week with the hopes of defending or gaining a victory at the New Balance Falmouth Road Race, race officials said.
Competition is fierce and well-matched within the mens division, according to road race officials.
Stanley Biwott, the 2012 Kenyan race champion, will return to Falmouth to defend his title. Biwott will go up against various male standouts, including Kenyan Micah Kogo, who was the Falmouth road race champion in 2007, a runner-up in 2011 and placed second at this year's Boston Marathon with a time of 2:10.27.
American Chris Solinsky will also compete in this year's race. Solinsky was only one of two Americans to run under 27 minutes for 10,000 meters and under 13 minutes for 5,000 meters.
For the first time, the race will also feature an elite women's race.
Lineth Chepkurui, a Kenya-native who placed first at the Utica Boilermaker in July, will return to compete against Stephanie Rothstein Bruce, from Arizona, and past Falmouth champion Wude Ayalew of Ethiopia.
Other female standouts include newcomers Katie Matthews of Connecticut, Gemma Steel of England and Julia Lucas of Oregon, all of whom tout impressive time accomplishments.
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