FALMOUTH, Mass. – In its 53rd Running, the ASICS Falmouth Road Race entered two six-time winners and two first-time champions into its record books. The 7-mile race from Woods Hole to Falmouth, held in warm and humid conditions on Sunday morning, also produced some of the fastest winning times in event history. Full results can be found here.
As the oldest competitive wheelchair race in the country, the 50th anniversary of the wheelchair division welcomed back two Falmouth and global legends, both vying for their sixth victory there. In the men’s race, Daniel Romanchuk of Champaign, Ill., made it clear he was unbeatable from the start. Romanchuk had more than a one-minute lead by halfway and looked to be threatening his own course record of 21:23. Despite speeding up over the next three miles, Romanchuk broke the tape in 21:35 to win Falmouth for a sixth time.
“It’s just amazing to be back here for the 50th year of the wheelchair division,” said Romanchuk, whose winning time is the second fastest in race history. “For that to be my sixth win is just incredible.”
2024 Falmouth champion Miguel Jimenez-Vergara of the United States took second in 23:58. Josh Cassidy of Canada was third in 24:10.
The women’s wheelchair race featured an even more dominant performance from Tatyana McFadden of Dagsboro, Del. McFadden took an early and commanding lead, leading by nearly two minutes at the 5K. From there, she maintained a comfortable distance over defending champion Hoda Elshorbagy, going on to win in 26:05, the fastest time of her six victories in Falmouth and the second fastest time in the race’s history.
“I definitely felt the history. I felt the love,” said McFadden, whose six wins tie her with Candace Cable for the most all-time in the women’s wheelchair division. “I love coming to do this race, especially leading up to the fall marathons and to test myself to see how I am doing on the turns, on the hills and on the descents.”
Elshorbagy, of Egypt, finished second in 28:42. Hannah Babalola of the United States was third in 31:13.
Both the men’s and women’s footraces came down to a kick. American Susanna Sullivan set an early pace in the women’s, but, by the second mile, fellow American Emma Grace Hurley had moved to the front with Ethiopia’s Melknat Wudu and Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat close behind. It was a trio by 5K, the group clicking off miles between 5:02 and 5:08 with Hurley leading the way. Just after four miles, Kiplagat, the 2021 Falmouth champion, lost touch with Hurley and Wudu, leaving the pair to battle it out in the closing miles. Just after mile six, Wudu surged past Hurley, but Hurley battled back, briefly regaining the lead. As they crested the hill, Wudu’s kick was too strong for Hurley to match and Wudu broke the tape in 32:03, just one second in front of Hurley.
“The weather made it a little bit difficult and I did not feel at my best,” said Wudu, who was second here in 2024. “But I was glad to use my experience from last year to help me win.”
Hurley’s time of 32:04 is the second fastest time ever run by an American here, and it marks her first podium finish in three Falmouth appearances.
“I was really happy with the improvement,” said Hurley, who will race the Valencia Half Marathon in October. ”This is my favorite race of the year, so doing well here is really exciting. It’s the last race until the half and it is a good checkpoint that gives me confidence.“
A hard-charging Vivian Cheriyot, the four-time Kenyan Olympic medalist, finished third in 36:18, a masters event record.
A two-man battle also played out in the men’s race. Kenyans Patrick Kiprop and Amon Kemboi set a blistering early pace, opening in 4:19 and leaving all but three other contenders behind by the second mile. And by 5K, it was just Kiprop and Kemboi, splitting 5K in 13:39. The two ran stride for stride through six miles before Kemboi made his move. He opened a big enough gap to ease off the pace as he came down the final hill to win in 31:12, the second fastest time in Falmouth history.
“Getting to mile five, my legs were under me, but I felt my lungs were strong and I could push,” said Kemboi, who was third in Friday’s Falmouth Mile. “With 800 to go, I was like ‘I’m just going to hold on for the last 20-30 meters.’ After that, the last stretch I’ll just raise my knees and swing my arms.”
Kiprop was second in 31:17 and Alex Masai completed a Kenyan sweep of the podium, finishing third in 31:28.
Zouhair Talbi, recently an American citizen and Army reservist, was the top American finisher in fourth. His time of 32:00 is the fastest time by an American in Falmouth since 1982.
“The race was fast from the start,” said Talbi, who competed for Morocco at the 2024 Paris Olympic marathon. “I am very happy with my result, especially coming in the middle of my Chicago Marathon training.”
Held annually since 1973, the ASICS Falmouth Road Race awards more than $100,000 in prize money to top finishers. It 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, including the invitational Falmouth Track Festival, presented by ASICS, Tommy Cochary High School Mile, the SBLI Family Fun Run, and a Health & Fitness Expo. The ASICS Falmouth Road Race will return for its 54th annual running on Aug. 16, 2026.