Ruth White again tops Maine women’s field at Beach to Beacon
Ruth White of Orono crosses the finish line Saturday as the Maine women’s champion for the third time in four years at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
CAPE ELIZABETH — Ruth White didn’t break the course record for Maine female runners at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K on Saturday morning, but she did put up a new personal best for the course.
And that was plenty good enough for the University of New Hampshire junior to defend her Maine women’s title.
White, an Orono High graduate, finished in 34 minutes, 5 seconds, an improvement of 46 seconds from her time last year (34:51). White is now a three-time Maine women’s champion; she also won in 2023.
“I didn’t really have a race plan, I just love to race,” said White, 20. “But there’s also a lot of pressure. I just tried to go out there and do the best I could.”
Windham’s Clíodhna O’Malley (35:10), a former UMaine runner, was the runner-up for the second straight year, while Wayne’s Heather Gallant (35:23) came in third. Gallant also finished third in 2019 (36:58).
White is the fifth runner to win the Maine women’s title three times, joining Michelle Lilienthal (2014, 2016, 2018), Sheri Piers (2009, 2011, 2012), Emily Levan (2005-07) and Julia Kirtland (1998-00). Should she win next year, she would be the first four-time champion.
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With temperatures in the high-60s at the start of the race, White averaged 5:30 per mile on the 6.2-mile course.
Ruth White of Orono crosses the finish line Saturday as the Maine women’s champion for the third time in four years at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
“I went out at 5:05 (in the first mile), but it was fun to go out as a group,” White said. “There were a lot of men and women working together (on the course). That first mile just carries you along.”
In June, White finished 22nd (33:11.62) in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon. She was a second-team All-American in 2025 and an All-American honorable mention this spring. Last month, she was named the America East Track and Field Scholar of the Year.
“I love my teammates and I love my coach, Coach (Alison) Duffy. I’m really lucky to have some good friends in college,” White said.
Beach to Beacon founder Joan Benoit Samuelson gives top Maine women’s finisher Ruth White a hug during the award’s ceremony at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
White has secured a top-three finish among Maine women each of the last five years. The Maine women’s course record is still held by Lilienthal, who ran a time of 33:39 in 2014.
O’Malley finished just seven seconds off her time from last year’s race.
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“It was great,” said O’Malley, 30, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, and raised in Stockport, England. “It was definitely hot at the start, but it’s always a great atmosphere. I just wanted to go out and have fun. There’s a great group of women who run in this. It’s just great to get the chance to work together.”
Gallant, 45, was the top Maine female in the masters division and second among all women over 40. She improved on her third-place finish time in 2019 by 1:35.
“I wasn’t expecting third place (for Maine women), I thought I’d factor into the Maine masters, given my age,” said Gallant, who had a fifth-place finish in 2022. “But I’ll take what I can get at this point. My training’s been great, I’ve had a great race season so far. I had a goal time in mind and met that goal. But hearing that I’m third among Maine women is great.”
Waterville’s Bethanie Brown (fourth) and Falmouth’s Veronica Graziano (fifth) just missed a top-three finishes, each with a time of 35:27.
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Dave Dyer is in his second stint with the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel. Dave was previously with the company from 2012-2015 and returned in late 2016. He spent most of 2016 doing freelance sports. More by Dave Dyer
