Cape Elizabeth once again awoke to the sights and sounds of the TD Beach to Beacon – 6,500 grimacing runners and thousands upon thousands of cheering spectators – Saturday morning, and once again, the event lived up to its billing.

Kenya’s Bedan Karoki Muchiri took the top men’s spot – Maine native Ben True (28, of Yarmouth; he now lives and trains in Hanover, N.H.) placed third – while Gemma Steel of the United Kingdom claimed the women’s crown in a thrilling photo finish over American Shalene Flanagan.

According to announcers, Muchiri’s time, 27:37, is the best 10K time in the world so far for 2014. If it stands, this year will be the fourth in a row that the record was set at the Beach to Beacon.

Among Maine men, Brunswick’s Will Geoghegan finished first (11th overall), in just 29:54 (a 4:49 pace). The 22-year-old had a vague idea while running of his place at the head of the local pack, but nevertheless felt focused: “I didn’t see Johnny Wilson (26, of Falmouth) or Henry Sterling (23, of South Freeport) around me. Johnny ended up being pretty close behind me – but I didn’t see him, during the race.”

Geoghegan suffered a stress fracture in the spring, but is clearly back in top form.

Wilson took second among Maine men, and Sterling third.

Michelle Lilienthal, a newly minted Portlander, finished first among Maine women. Lilienthal, 32, completed the 6.2 mile course in 33:40 (a 5:25 pace). Hot on her heels came Scarborough’s Erica Jesseman, 25, who took the top slot in 2013.

“She’s an unbelievable athlete,” Jesseman said of Lilienthal, who recently relocated from Minnesota. “It’s really cool to have her here now,” Jesseman said. She, Lilienthal and other top Maine women’s runners share a particular camaraderie, she admits. “I’ve always had Sheri (Piers, of Falmouth) and Kristin (Barry, of Scarborough), and it’s really exciting because it brings out the best in each athlete. We’re all really good friends. I’ve known Sheri and Kristin since I was in high school; I really look up to them.”

Piers took third among Maine women, and Barry fifth.

Cape’s own Christina Kouros, 19, completed the course in her wheelchair in a time of 39:33, a new personal record.

This year’s charity beneficiary was Rippleffect, who received a check for $30,000 from TD Bank’s philanthropic arm. Rippleffect teaches kayaking to youngsters off the Maine coast as a way of helping develop leadership and other life skills. Since its inception in 1998, the B2B has raised well over a million dollars for various charities, all of which have benefited children.

With the 30th anniversary of Joan Benoit Samuelson’s Olympic victory approaching, this banner of her decorated Portland Head Light during Sunday’s Beach to Beacon 10K.Sterling, Massachusetts, resident Gary Brendal, 55, took second in the men’s wheelchair division.Yarmouth native Ben True, who now resides and trains in Hanover, N.H., took third among all men, in a time of 27:51.First and fourth place winners Bedan Karoki Muchiri (left) and Patrick Makau, both of Kenya, collapse on the grass and clasp hands after crossing the finish line.Brunswick’s Will Geoghegan, 22, finished first among Maine men, in a guntime of 29:54.England’s Gemma Steel (105) breaks the tape, taking first among all women just a half-step ahead of American Shalene Flanagan.Yarmouth’s Ben Decker, 18, finished the Beach to Beacon in 32:55, 41st amongst all runners.Freeport’s Andy Spaulding, 43, finished 53rd among all runners, in a time of 33:31.Scarborough’s Erica Jesseman, last year’s Maine women’s victor, took second in that category this year, finishing in 34:18.Cape Elizabeth’s Liam Simpson finished in 34:28, 74th among all runners.Anders Samuelson of Freeport, 24, finished 85th among all runners, in 35:13.Lester Li of Westbrook crossed the finished line 98th among all runners, in a time of 35:51.Ben Breton of Windham, just 15, crossed the finish line in 36:58.Emily Atwood of Cape Elizabeth, 22, finished in 40:15.Kyle Rhoads, 44, of Windham, finished in 40:49. Rhoads serves as the principal of Windham Primary School.South Portland’s Heather Johnson, 40, finished in a guntime of 41:15.Windham’s Andrew Davis, 19, finished Saturday’s B2B in 41:31.Freeport’s Larry Wold, 55, finished Saturday’s race in 42:44.The TD Beach to Beacon 10K attracted hordes of runners – over 6,000.Runners and volunteers mill about the finish area of Saturday’s Beach to Beacon.A member of team Rippleffect, this year’s TD B2B charity beneficiary, carries the American flag during the awards ceremony.89-year-old Dottie Gray – the race’s oldest finisher (but not its last!) – finished in 2:02:09.Kenya’s Bedan Karoki Muchiri, 23, speaks to the crowd upon receiving his laurels. Muchiri finished first among all runners, in a guntime of 27:37 – or a pace of 4:27 per mile.Cape Elizabeth’s Christina Kouros, 19, finished the women’s wheelchair race in 39:33, a personal best.