The King is dead. Long live the King.
Stephen Sambu’s reign in the New Balance Falmouth Road Race has been derailed. The Kenyan’s streak of four-straight wins was halted by Canada’s Ben Flanagan, 23, in a time of 32:21.
Flanagan found another gear after Mile 6 when he pulled away from a six-man lead pack to leap across the finish line and soon after, into the arms of family and friends who had gathered near the finish line, ecstatic over the win.
Flanagan also beat “The Countdown” which is derived at by averaging the difference between the Men’s winning time and the Women’s winning time over multiple years. If the men’s winner crosses the finish line before the “countdown” expires, he win’s an additional $5,000.
Flagstaff, AZ Native Scott Fauble was the first American man to finish. He crossed the line two seconds behind Flanagan. Defending champion Sambu came in fourth.
Kenya’s Caroline Chepkoech repeated as Women’s champion in a time of 35:48, her third straight win, joining fellow Kenyan Lornah Kiplagat in that regard.
The first American woman to cross the Finish line was Melissa Dock of Colorado, finishing fifth in 38:04.
Also defending Falmouth titles were Wheelchair winners Dan Romanchuk and Tatyana McFadden. Romanchuk blew away the field, finishing in 23:48, a full five minutes ahead of the second place finisher. McFadden hit the tape in 28:43.