ASICS Falmouth Road Race Announces Elite Competitors Ahead of 2025 Running

Former champion Edna Kiplagat and Olympian Vivian Cheruiyot will headline the women’s field

FALMOUTH, Mass. – Past champions and global legends will come to Cape Cod this weekend for the ASICS Falmouth Road Race. Event organizers announced the professional fields for the 53rd running of the annual seven-mile race today. Two of the most decorated distance runners in history highlight the list of elite women who will vie for victory on Sunday. Kenyans Edna Kiplagat, the 2021 Falmouth champion, and Vivian Cheruiyot, a four-time Olympic medalist, will both line up at the Captain Kidd in Woods Hole.

For Kiplagat, it will be her eighth Falmouth appearance. That includes five podium finishes. At 45, Kiplagat remains competitive amongst her younger peers. The two-time world champion marathoner won the Boston Marathon at the age of 41, making her the oldest person ever to win an Abbott World Marathon Major. Just last year, she set a personal best of 1:07:52 in the half marathon, a masters world record.

“I always look forward to returning to Falmouth,” said Kiplagat, who lives and trains in Boulder, Colo. “The course and conditions are tough, with a good field…but I love racing like this.”

Cheruiyot will make her Falmouth debut. The 2018 London Marathon winner, Cheruiyot, is best known for what she has done on the track. Among her Olympic accolades are the 2016 gold medal in the 5,000m and silver medal in the 10,000m. She also has two world titles in the 5,000m and two in the 10,000m. Now focusing entirely on the roads, Cheruiyot was third at last year’s New York City Marathon. She was sixth at the London Marathon earlier this year.

After making her road racing debut at the U.S. 5km Championships earlier this year, 2021 Olympic steeplechase silver medalist Courtney Frerichs will come to Cape Cod for the longest race of her career. Other top contenders in the women’s race include last year’s runner-up Melknat Wudu of Ethiopia, British Olympian Jessica Warner-Judd, as well as top Americans Sara Hall, Susanna Sullivan, Emma Grace Hurley and Natosha Rogers.

In the men’s race, course record holder Wesley Kiptoo makes his Falmouth return. Kiptoo has had a busy year. In 2025, he has won the Gate River 15K in March and has since scored top-five finishes at the New York City Half Marathon, Pittsburgh Half Marathon, Boston 10K and the Boilermaker 15K. In 2023, Kiptoo tied Gilbert Okari’s 2004 Falmouth course record of 31:08. In 2025, the Kenyan will look to claim the record all to himself.

“I cannot wait to return to Falmouth in pursuit of my second victory,” said Kiptoo, who trains with Northern Arizona Elite in Flagstaff. “I also cannot wait to see the organizers, host family, and all of the volunteers and spectators who make me want to come back to Falmouth every year.”

Kiptoo will have to hold off up-and-coming fellow Kenyan Patrick Kiprop. The recent Arkansas grad won last month’s AJC Peachtree Road Race 10k in Atlanta in convincing fashion, leading from start to finish. Biya Simbassa, the fourth fastest American marathoner in history, returns this year. He was runner-up here in 2021 and 2022. Other top contenders include Zouhair Talbi, a 2024 Olympian representing Morocco. He became an American citizen earlier this year. Two-time U.S. champion Ahmed Muhumed, Eritrean steeplechase record-holder Yemane Haileselassie and U.S. Marathon standout Zach Panning also look to be in the mix for the win. The race will also mark the road debut of three-time NCAA champion Dylan Jacobs. Jacobs won a Distance Medley Relay and 10,000m title while competing at Notre Dame. He won the 5,000m indoor title while at the University of Tennessee. Collin Bennie, Zach Panning and Frank Lara are among the other top American men in the field.

“Legends are made in Falmouth and legends return to Falmouth,” said Scott Ghelfi, president of Falmouth Road Race, Inc. “It’s good to see some familiar faces coming back this year, but equally as exciting to see what first-time Falmouth runners might contend for the win.”

The festivities around the ASICS Falmouth Road Race kick off the Tommy Cochary High School Mile and Falmouth Elite Mile, Friday, Aug. 15 at Falmouth High School. Frerichs is also entered in the mile before racing the seven-miler on Sunday.  Allie Wilson, 2024 Olympian in the mile, will move up in distance to chase the title.

The men’s race features 2025 World Indoor 1500m bronze medalist Luke Houser and 2023 World Road Mile bronze medalist Sam Prakel. Jacobs will run the mile on Friday before running the seven-mile race on Sunday.

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, Paralympians, elite athletes and recreational runners to enjoy the iconic 7-mile seaside course. Race weekend also features a variety of other events. The invitational Falmouth Track Festival, presented by ASICS, will welcome elite milers on Friday, Aug. 15, and features the 14th annual Tommy Cochary High School Mile for local high school athletes. The following day, the SBLI Family Fun Run will host kids ages 2-12 to compete in their own races, while also providing an abundance of booths and activities for all to enjoy. Throughout the weekend, the Health & Fitness Expo will be taking place, welcoming over 20,000 visitors to browse the various booths featuring the latest in running, fitness and uniquely Cape Cod items.

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.

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Women’s 7-Mile  Elite Field

Men’s 7-Mile Elite Field

Women’s Elite Mile Field

Men’s Mile Elite Field