Alec Troxell wins Beach to Beacon Maine men’s title in close finish
CAPE ELIZABETH — It wasn’t the Maine men’s course record he and three others were chasing. Still, Alec Troxell had his day.
Shortly after narrowly beating Will Geoghegan to the finish line in the 28th Beach to Beacon 10K, an exhausted Troxell collapsed to the ground. After recovering, he shared a hug with his boss at Marathon Sports, Erin Flatley, who was overcome with emotion.
Troxell’s time of 29 minutes, 15 seconds was 5 seconds shy of Ben True’s course record in the Maine men’s division. Geoghegan finished in 29:19, while Colin Cernik (30:06), Matt Rand (31:03) and Charlie Collins (31:14) rounded out the top five. All five live in Portland.
Alec Troxell celebrates after he crosses the finish line to win the Maine men’s title at Beach to Beacon 10K on Saturday in Cape Elizabeth. He finished in 29 minutes, 15 seconds, just 5 seconds behind the Maine men’s course record set by Ben True. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
“I’m over the moon, man,” said Troxell, who claimed his first Maine men’s Beach to Beacon title. “The record is cool and all, but people remember the titles. … I’m so happy to have that in my hands.”
Troxell said he had a sense around the 4-mile mark that the record wasn’t going to fall. Still, he and Geoghegan were neck-and-neck much of the way and were side-by-side at the halfway point.
They were just as tight at the 5-mile mark, with Troxell 0.23 seconds ahead. Then, as the two neared the stretch run, Troxell made his move, though he could still sense Geoghegan breathing down his neck.
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From left, Alec Troxell, Will Geoghegan and Colin Cernik run together just behind the lead pack of elite runners shortly after the start of the Beach to Beacon 10K. Troxell was the first Maine male finisher, while Geoghegan and Cernik followed in second and third, respectively. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
“(I didn’t know I had him) until I crossed the finish line,” Troxell said. “I got out onto the grass and looked behind me, and I saw he was right there. He’s a 3:55 miler, and I didn’t want to leave it to a kick, and I did. I had the better finish today, but next time we race, he’s probably going to have the better finish.”
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Geoghegan, the 2014 Maine men’s winner, came up just short of a second title. He credited Troxell, who has been part of a training group along with Geoghegan, Cernik and fellow Portland resident Aaron Willingham, with running “an incredible race.”
Geoghegan’s time would have been good enough to win all but two other Maine men’s titles (excluding True in 2009 and Luke Marsanskis, who ran 29:12 in 2024). He easily beat his personal best of 29:43.
“I feel great; it’s a beautiful day here, and I couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better crowd,” said Geoghegan. “Alec and I were creating moves through Shore Road, and he put a little gap on me going into Fort Williams. … We trained kind of as a team, and our goals were each other’s goals, so it’s great.”
The top three Maine men winners in the Beach to Beacon 10K road race in Cape Elizabeth pose for a photo at the awards ceremony on Saturday. From left are Colin Cernik (third place), Alec Troxell (winner) and Will Geoghegan (second place).(Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Cernik was with Troxell and Geoghegan for much of the race, staying within two seconds through the first half. Soon after the midway point, though, Cernik said he began to fall off the pace as the heat caught up to him.
Still, he was pleased with his effort. His time being only good enough for third place was a testament to the quality of runners in this year’s race, which featured a dynamic field even without two-time defending champion Marsanskis (foot injury).
“A 30:06 usually wins it most years, and this year, it wasn’t even close,” Cernik said. “Will ran even faster than when I got second (last year). We’re not that far from the record, and next year, we’re going to come in with more experience, more drive and more motivation.”
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Mike Mandell came to the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel in April 2022 after spending five and a half years with The Ellsworth American in Hancock County, Maine. He came to Maine out of college after. More by Mike Mandell
