A stellar elite field is taking shape for the upcoming TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race, headed by three-time reigning champ Gilbert Okari and Susan Chepkemei, the 2004 women’s champ who missed last year’s race because of immigration issues.

The pair of Kenyans top the list of world-class road racers already set to compete in the race set for Saturday, August 5 along the coast of Maine. They will be joined by others as Larry Barthlow, the race’s elite athlete coordinator, continues to assemble what will eventually be a group of 30 of the world’s finest runners.

“When all is said and done, we’re going to have another deep and talented field,” Barthlow said. “Gilbert has been challenged every year of his amazing run of titles here, and this will be no exception. And Susan has something to prove. She didn’t get a chance to defend her title last year, so she can’t wait to get back to Maine.”

Okari is seeking a four-peat after three consecutive sub-28:00 winning times, including a course record 27:28 in 2003. If he can win again, he will join Catherine Ndereba and wheelchair athlete Laurie Stephens as the only athletes to win four straight titles at the Beach to Beacon.

But Okari might not be the favorite heading into the race. Fellow Kenyan Wilson Kiprotich, who finished second to Okari in last year’s race, is in top form right now. He beat runner-up Okari to win the World’s Best 10K in San Juan earlier this year with a blazing 27:44, and finished second at the Peachtree 10K earlier this month with a 27:49 – two places ahead of Okari. Another Kenyan, John Korir, also is back and will contend.

On the women’s side, Chepkemei is anxious to compete again in the Beach to Beacon after narrowly missing the course record in 2004 with a 31:35. She was set to return in 2005, but immigration problems forced her to drop out.

Chepkemei will face strong competition from Russia’s Alevtina Ivanova, a familiar face who finished third at the Beach to Beacon in 2004 and second in 2005. Luminita Talpos of Romania and Kayoko Obata of Japan also are entered, adding depth to the field.

Barthlow said he is hoping to round out the field with as many as eight of the best American road racers on the circuit.

The elite athletes will toe the line with 5,500 runners from Maine, New England and around the world on Saturday, August 5, for the 9th running of the race.