enlarge Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Ayalew Taye of Cape Elizabeth says he was waiting for someone to challenge him, but no one came. He crossed the finish line in 30:46.8, good enough for the Maine men’s title.

AYALEW TAYE
AGE: 19
RESIDENCE: Cape Elizabeth
OF NOTE: Not only was Taye not recognized at the finish line, NCAA rules forbid him from from collecting the $1,000 prize for placing first among Maine men. Still, his future is bright as he heads to Georgetown in a few weeks. He placed third in the Maine division the past two years, twice breaking 32 minutes.

He would not run the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K seriously. He would take it easy, watch some other runner claim the title of fastest Maine resident.

"Obviously, he lied," said Sintayehu Taye.

Ayalew Taye, 19, a former Portland High runner bound for Georgetown University, ran a swift 30 minutes, 46.8 seconds to claim victory in the Maine division. Finish line officials did not recognize Taye as he crossed the line in a sprint with Italian runner Andrea Sorgato, and instead announced University of Maine graduate Kirby Davis as the Maine winner. Davis, of Falmouth, finished second in 31:34.4.

It was eerily reminiscent of the 2003 race, when 16-year-old Eric Giddings won the Maine division, but officials announced the winner as Andy Spaulding, who came in 11 seconds later.

"I just did my race," said Taye, flashing a huge smile. "I stayed at my own pace. I was waiting for someone to come."

Davis, recovering from a serious illness earlier this summer, will collect the $1,000 prize money because Taye is prohibited by the NCAA from accepting the winnings.

"Thank God," said Davis, who began an engineering job last week. "I'm absolutely broke. My first paycheck hasn't come in yet."

Evan Graves of Presque Isle finished third in 32:03.8, and two- time winner Ethan Hemphill finished fourth in 32:11.4.

Taye ran alone for much of the race, behind a pack of 19 elite runners who pulled ahead from the start, and chased by a smaller pack that included Davis and his former UMaine teammate, Jeff Caron, who runs for New Balance Boston.

By the turn on Shore Road, Caron had made a move, challenging Taye.

"It seemed to have woken Taye up," said Davis, who fell back at that point. "It became apparent he was going (farther forward) and I was going back."

Caron, an Auburn native who does not qualify for the Maine division because he now resides in Massachusetts, said Taye was too hard to contend with down the stretch.

"I caught up to Taye and we switched the lead in the last few miles," said Caron. "He's got like 4:09 mile speed and just took off."

Graves and Hemphill, who ran together to about Mile 3, had Davis in sight but lost Taye.

"He was in a league of his own," said Graves.

The remainder of the Maine top 10 was filled out by Stephen Monsulick of Kents Hill (32:11.6), Jon Wilson of Falmouth (32:58.1), Mike Caiazzo of Scarborough (32:59.5), Andrew Van Hoogen-styn of Cape Elizabeth (33:00.2), Freeport's Spaulding (33:00.3), and Dan Franek (33:06.0) of South Portland.

Taye's time was 11 seconds off the Maine course record, set by Giddings in 2005. (Giddings did not race Saturday because of an injury according to his sister, Andrea.)

Still Taye's time was impressive, said race president Dave Weatherbie.

"Everyone felt if he really ran, if his fitness was good, he'd be hard to beat," said Weatherbie. "He is destined for a very strong college career."

Taye leaves for Georgetown on Aug. 25. He said he was recruited by multiple colleges over the past year, including Villanova, American, Louisville and Iona.

"It was exciting. But at the same time it was hard to decide where to go," Taye said.

Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at:

jmenendez@pressherald.com