Experts Weigh In On Succession Of Fast Times At Manchester Road Race

MANCHESTER, CT — One prevailing topic at Thursday's annual Earl Yost News Conference that previews the Manchester Road Race was the recent fast times being turned in on a consistent basis.

Last year was a perfect example. The top five men's finishers all broke the previous record for the 4.748-mile course with Conner Mantz emerging on top of the podium with a time of 21:04, which knocked 12 seconds off the prior mark of 21:16 set by Edward Cheserek in 2018. He'll be back to defend his title, along with last year's runner-up, Morgan Beadlescomb, who turned in a 2022 time of 21:05.

Cheserek set the record in a year when zero-degree wind chills haunted the course. It was like he was immune to the elements in a nearly 5-mile sprint.

Weini Kelati will be back to defend her two consecutive women's titles from 2021 and 2022. Kelati two years ago won the women's championship with what MRR elite runner coordinator Jim Harvey termed a "jaw-dropping" time of 22:55 that knocked more than a minute off the prior mark of 23:57 held by Buze Diriba. Kelati's winning time of 23:39 last year rates as the second-fastest time run by a woman.

So what's up with these times?

This year's honorary race chair, Sally Kipyego, an Olympic silver medalist and two-time Manchester Road Race champion, said with a smile that part of it is the evolution of training.

"Not only do we have the physical training now, but technology has improved," she said. "The combination of the two is producing better athletes."

Kipyego is no stranger to fast times in Manchester. She won the Thanksgiving Day run in 2010 with a time of 24:06, and returned the following year to capture her second title in 24:22.

Don't forget the shoes said Amby Burfoot, a nine-time MRR champion, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon, former Runner's World editor and 61-time race participant.

"It's certainly the new shoes. Everyone is convinced of that," Burfoot said. "There are also better ways of runners refueling now. There are much more ways of getting more carbohydrates into runners at a race now."

It is also a lifestyle, Harvey said.

"Runners have become more professional," he said. "More prize money and more opportunities to make money are conducive to a healthier lifestyle."

The 87th Manchester Road Race will be staged on Thanksgiving Day at 10 a.m. The 4.748-mile run, one of America's oldest and most popular Turkey Day road races, is run on a loop course through the town's central streets.

The road race starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. James Church.

To date, 9,524 runners have registered.