American contingent headlined by Olympians Elise Cranny, Conner Mantz, and Zouhair Talbi, in addition to Emma Grace Hurley, Wesley Kiptoo, and Jess McClain, plus defending champions Amon Kemboi and Tatyana McFadden to return
FALMOUTH, Mass. – The country and world’s best athletes will toe the line at the ASICS Falmouth Road Race, one of the premier road racing events of the summer. Event organizers have announced the professional fields of runners and wheelchair athletes for the annual seven-mile race, which includes 11 Olympians and Paralympians, 14 U.S. national champions, and eight former event champions.
The 54th edition of the ASICS Falmouth Road Race features a strong American contingent led by Conner Mantz, the American record holder in the marathon and half marathon. The three-time national champion, 2024 Olympian and new father will make his Falmouth debut in his first race since his historic run at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, where he shattered the American and North American marathon records.
“The Falmouth Road Race is one of the most iconic road races in the country, and I’m excited to finally experience the history and atmosphere for myself,” said Mantz. “After some big life changes this year, I’m looking forward to getting back on the starting line and testing myself against some of the best runners in the world.”
Mantz will be challenged by compatriot Zouhair Talbi, who had a breakthrough performance at last year’s Falmouth Road Race, finishing fourth overall and as the top American. His time was the fastest by an American in Falmouth since 1982 and set him up for a notable year that included a victory at the 2026 Houston Marathon, where he broke his own course record and became the third-fastest American marathoner in history. Talbi followed that up with a runner-up finish at the 2026 New York City Half Marathon and a fifth-place finish at the Boston Marathon in April.
Other top American contenders include Wesley Kiptoo, the Falmouth course record holder and 2023 champion, who recently won the USATF Half Marathon Championships in March. He will be joined by Olympian and eight-time national champion Hillary Bor, who finished runner-up to Kiptoo at the half marathon championships. The ASICS Falmouth Road Race has also doubled its prize purse for the top American finishers, with awards for fifth through first place ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
The international lineup in the men’s open division includes defending champion Amon Kemboi of Kenya, who ran the second fastest time in Falmouth history last year, and three-time Falmouth champion and Canadian Olympian Ben Flanagan, who raised nearly $25,000 for charity at last year’s event. They will be joined by a pair of Eritrean national record holders, steeplechaser Yemane Hailesailassie and Habtom Samuel, the five-time NCAA champion who won the Beach to Beacon 10K earlier this month. Kemboi’s compatriot Edwin Kurgat, the fourth-place finisher at the 2026 Commonwealth Games 10K, returns to Falmouth after finishing third in 2023.
The women’s open division is highlighted by American starpower, including Emma Grace Hurley, who is having a breakout year, winning two national titles at the U.S. 10 Mile Championships and U.S. 25km Championships. Later this fall she will compete for Team USA in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships. At last year’s Falmouth Road Race, Hurley narrowly finished second, running the second fastest time by an American.
“Racing at Falmouth in 2025 gave me a lot of confidence and this season has been a breakthrough for me,” said Hurley. “Coming back after finishing second and competing against such a talented field is a challenge that excites me.”
She will be joined by Elise Cranny, a four-time national champion and American record holder in the indoor 5,000m. In her first competitive road race in a decade, Cranny placed second at the 2026 U.S. 6km Championships and secured another runner-up finish at the 2026 Beach to Beacon 10K. This will be her Falmouth debut and the longest race of her career.
The deep American roster will be rounded out by Jess McClain, one of the country’s top marathoners who broke the American course record in Boston this past April and Annie Rodenfels, a three-time national champion.
The American women will face stiff competition from two Kenyan stars, Mercy Chelangat, a former NCAA champion who finished just off the podium in fourth at the 2026 Boston Marathon in her second-ever marathon, and Everylyn Kemboi, the 2025 Philadelphia Half Marathon champion and sixth-place finisher at last year’s road race.
In the wheelchair division, Tatyana McFadden, 22-time Paralympic medalist and the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time, returns to defend her title against Egypt’s Hoda Elshorbagy, last year’s runner-up and 2024 champion. The men’s race will feature three former champions, Hermin Garic, Tony Nogueira and Miguel Jimenez Vergara. They will battle four-time NCAA champion and newly crowned U.S. Para T54 100m champion Evan Correll.
“After celebrating 50 years of wheelchair racing in Falmouth last year, this year’s competition will set the stage for the next 50,” said Garic. “The field includes other former champions like me, and I know that we’d all like to experience the thrill of the win again. This will be my 12th time competing at the event, and that experience can offer its advantages out on the course.”
“This year’s professional field reflects everything that makes the ASICS Falmouth Road Race one of the summer’s premier road races,” said Scott Ghelfi, president of Falmouth Road Race, Inc. “We look forward to welcoming Olympians, former champions, and rising stars to Cape Cod as they experience the magic, community and history of Falmouth race weekend.”
Thousands of runners of all ages and abilities will follow in the footsteps of the professional athletes as they make their way through the 7-mile seaside course from Woods Hole to Falmouth. The weekend of racing on the Cape kicks off with the invitational Falmouth Track Festival, presented by ASICS, on Friday, Aug. 14, featuring some of the world’s fastest milers. The festival also includes the Tommy Cochary High School Mile for local high school athletes. On Saturday, Aug. 15, hundreds of children ages 2-12 will participate in the 24th annual SBLI Family Fun Run. 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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Men’s 7-Mile Open Division Professional Athlete Field
| Morgan | Beadlescomb | United States |
| Hillary | Bor | United States |
| Casey | Clinger | United States |
| Ben | Flanagan | Canada |
| Yemane | Hailesailassie | Eritrea |
| Drew | Hunter | United States |
| Amon | Kemboi | Kenya |
| Shadrack | Kipchirchir | United States |
| Wesley | Kiptoo | United States |
| Edwin | Kurgat | Kenya |
| Frank | Lara | United States |
| Bob | Liking | United States |
| Conner | Mantz | United States |
| Matt | Richtman | United States |
| Habtom | Samuel | Eritrea |
| Victor | Shitsama | Kenya |
| Zouhair | Talbi | United States |
| Pat | Tiernan | Australia |
Women’s 7-Mile Open Division Professional Athlete Field
| Mercy | Chelangat | Kenya |
| Tristin | Colley | United States |
| Elise | Cranny | United States |
| Carrie | Elwood | United States |
| Jackie | Gaughan | United States |
| Emma Grace | Hurley | United States |
| Everlyn | Kemboi | Kenya |
| Jessica | McClain | United States |
| Annie | Rodenfels | United States |
| Rachel | Rudel | United States |
| Megan | Sailor | United States |
Men’s 7-Mile Wheelchair Division Professional Athlete Field
| Valera (Jacob) | Allen | United States |
| Gary | Brendel | United States |
| Evan | Correll | United States |
| Matthew | Darlow | United States |
| Ryan | Davis | United States |
| Matt | Davis | United States |
| Ulysses | Elijah | United States |
| Hermin | Garic | United States |
| Michael | LaRose | United States |
| William | Lehr | United States |
| Tony | Nogueira | United States |
| Alexis | Romero | United States |
| Krige | Schabort | United States |
| Miguel Jimenez | Vergara | United States |
Women’s 7-Mile Wheelchair Division Professional Athlete Field
| Hannah | Babalola | Nigeria |
| Hoda | Elshorbagy | Egypt |
| Mary | MacDonald | United States |
| Tatyana | McFadden | United States |
| Brenna | Warnick | United States |
| Madelyn | Wilson | United States |