CAPE ELIZABETH – Ethan Shaw knew he’d probably trail Jonny Wilson soon after the start of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K.
Shaw also knew he had it in him to pull ahead of his former high school teammate when it mattered most.
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Shaw, 22, of Falmouth, was the first Maine male finisher, with a time of 30:38. Wilson finished 14 seconds later. Robert Gomez, 29, of Saco, placed third 31:52.
None of the previous seven winners of the Maine men’s category entered this year’s race. Louie Luchini, last year’s winner, and two-time Maine champ Ben True (2008, 2009) are both in London to watch friends compete in the Olympics. True holds the Maine men’s record of 29:10.3.
Runners this year battled not only the 6.2-mile course through Cape Elizabeth, but high heat and humidity. Shaw, a recent Dartmouth College graduate, said he was unaffected by the weather in his fourth time running Beach to Beacon.
Wilson led the Maine men through the first five miles, until Shaw caught up and gradually pulled ahead on the hills.
“It was just beautiful weather. I happened to feel good today,” said Shaw. “(Wilson) had a target on his back and that made it easier for me.”
Shaw said he was thrilled with his finish. His past three Beach to Beacon races were run in preparation for his competitive college seasons.
“Being the top Mainer is a cool little trophy,” he said.
Wilson, who ran 90 miles a week in July, said he prepared as well as he could, but things still didn’t turn out as he hoped.
“My legs just didn’t have it. I could tell from the start,” he said.
The 24-year-old University of Richmond graduate finished second among Mainers at last year’s Beach to Beacon, has been dominant in recent road races, winning the L.L. Bean 10K in Freeport, the Yarmouth Clam Festival 5-miler, the Sea Dogs Father’s Day 5K and Ocean Park 5K.
Despite his disappointment with his own finish, Wilson said he is happy for Shaw, who was “way faster in track” back when they competed for Falmouth.
“I’m really excited for him. He ran really well in college and he still has a lot of great things ahead of him,” Wilson said.
“(My finish) is nothing to hang my head about. At least one of us could bring home the win for Falmouth.”
Given the weather conditions, Gomez said the race went well. He knew Shaw and Wilson would be hard to beat and focused on running his own race.
“I was never (with) them. Those two were going after each other,” he said. “I didn’t even think about them. It ended up being a little lonely out there in the middle.”
Regardless of the results, Gomez said he always enjoys the race through Cape Elizabeth.
“It’s amazing for me because everyone I know in the running community is here today,” he said. ” That’s what I enjoy the most.”
Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:
ggraham@mainetoday.com
Twitter: grahamgillian
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