Manchester Road Race Back In Its Traditional Form For 2021

Manchester CT

24 November, 2021

2:45 PM

Description

MANCHESTER, CT — There is a sense of normalcy returning to the Manchester Road Race for 2021. For one thing, the field is back. It's not the typical 11,000, but the count began the week at more than 8,500 and, as of Wednesday, a total of 8,767 had registered to run in the 85th edition of the Thanksgiving morning 4.7480-mile event. In 2020, the race was staged virtually. Also, 14 bibs have been assigned to men who have run for 50 years and women for 40. There is the usual extensive elite field. The costumed revelers are sure to follow the elites. "The gun will be shot off and we're going to have a race on Thanksgiving Day in Manchester," Manchester Road Race president Dr. Tris Carta said Monday at the annual Earl Yost News Conference that kicks off race week. "This year, we're in such a better spot." One of those special bibs is going to running legend Amby Burfoot. The 75-year-old Mystic resident, former Boston Marathon winner and former Runner's World magazine editor will be running in Manchester for a record-setting 59th straight year. "In the distant past, in a distant galaxy, I came to Manchester for a race," Burfoot said. "But now, it's a celebration. It's a celebration of living. Every race is a gift now and I'm lucky to be be here every Thanksgiving morning." Donn Cabral echoed similar sentiments. Pandemic aside, the Olympic steeplechaser and Glastonbury native said he became engaged and a lawyer this year and moved to the Philadelphia area. Still. Manchester has been on his calendar. "I'm coming to this race probably the most unfit since I was 14," Cabral said. "Running has taken a back seat this year, but I'm also excited to be here. I'm thinking of this year as the start of the era of appreciation. I value the tradition." Manchester Mayor Jay Moran said he felt a definite void last year. Therefore, he was as enthusiastic as anyone to have a part is saying the race was on with the approval of local and regional health officials. "I think we need this on Thanksgiving and yes there will be a race in Manchester this Thanksgiving," he said. This year's honorary chairwoman, Amy Smith, learned about the tradition from her coach at Providence College, Ray Treacy. Treacy is a member of the famed "Irish Connection" in Manchester and guided the New Zealand great to her first pro victory in 2004. She defender her title the next year. Smith pointed out one never knows what the New England fall weather could bring to Manchester. Here 2004 victory came during the warmest day in race history. She won the 2005 race in a raging snowstorm. "It's the first and only time I've run (a road race) in the snow," Smith joked. "This race is a great tradition and I'm glad to be here this year." Kim Smith winning in the snow in 2005. (MRR) Sam Chelanga, winner at the 2013 MRR, and Edna Kiplagat, who captured the women's title at the 2019 road race are both slated to compete. Chelanga, 36, who is now serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, broke the tape in Manchester in 2013 with a time of 21:31. He also finished second at the 2014 MRR in 21:38. In 2010, Chelanga set the NCAA record of 27:08.49 in the 10,000 meters as an All-American competitor for Liberty University. Kiplagat, one of the world's best distance runners, became the MRR's oldest champion when she won the 2019 MRR at the age of 40 in 24:30. She also finished fourth in 2016 with a time of 24:34. The race traditionally draws more than 10,000 runners to Downtown Manchester each Thanksgiving morning. The field ranges from world champions to age group standouts to those in a rearward pack of revelers dressed in who-knows-what. Thousands line the streets to watch. Other world-class athletes who have entered this year's race include: Ben Flanagan, who won the Falmouth Road Race in August with a time of 32:16 and finished eighth at the 2019 MRR in 22:16.Drew Hunter, the 2019 USA indoor 2-mile champion who won the national 5K road championship in New York City on Nov. 6 with a time of 13:53.Olympian Donn Cabral, who was second at the 2015 MRR and has had seven top-10 finishes in Manchester. Cabral, a graduate of Glastonbury High School who was the NCAA champion in the steeplechase when he competed for Princeton, was the fastest runner (23:00) in last November's Virtual Manchester Road Race.Weini Kelati, who won the women's national 5K road championship in New York City on Nov 6th with a time of 15:18, and Monicah Ngige, the fourth-place finisher at this year's Boston Marathon who had a fourth-place finish here in 2018 (25:02), are also expected to make strong showings in the women's race. The 85th Manchester Road Race is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day at 10 a.m. The race starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. James Church. More details, and age group results go to www.manchesterroadrace.com.