Former Champion Morgan Beadlescomb, Olympic Medalist Sally Kipyego Commit To Manchester Road Race

MANCHESTER, CT — Former champion Morgan Beadlescomb, Olympic silver medalist Sally Kipyego and two-time runner-up Annie Rodenfels have entered the 90th Manchester Road Race, organizers announced.

The 4.737-mile Thanksgiving Day race, presented by Hartford HealthCare, is scheduled for Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. The course starts and finishes on Main Street in front of St. James Church.

Beadlescomb, 29, will return after recording the third-fastest time in race history last year.

The Loveland, Colorado, resident finished third in 2025 with a time of 20:59, becoming one of only three runners to complete the Manchester course in less than 21 minutes during its 89-year history.

He finished behind winner Edwin Kurgat, who established a course record of 20:54, and runner-up David Mullarkey, who was timed in 20:58.

Beadlescomb was the first American finisher and earned the opportunity to represent the Manchester Road Race at its sister event, the Great Manchester Run in England. He finished fourth in the 10-kilometer race last May with a time of 27:45.

Beadlescomb previously finished second in Manchester in 2022 with a time of 21:05, one second behind Olympic runner Conner Mantz. He returned in 2023 and won the race in 21:12, edging Mantz by one second.

Shortly after his 2023 victory, Beadlescomb proposed to his girlfriend, Lexi Heger, near the finish line.

"Morgan has a wonderful history at our race and we are really pleased that he'll be competing here again this Thanksgiving," said Dr. Tris Carta, president of the Manchester Road Race Committee.

Kipyego, 40, is a two-time Manchester Road Race champion who won consecutive titles in 2010 and 2011, finishing in 24:06 and 24:22, respectively.

She also served as the race's honorary chairperson in 2023 but did not compete that year.

Kipyego won three consecutive NCAA cross country championships while competing for Texas Tech, where she earned a nursing degree.

Representing Kenya, she won silver medals in the 10,000 meters at the 2011 World Championships and 2012 London Olympics. Her personal best in the event is 30:26.

After becoming a U.S. citizen in 2017, Kipyego competed for the United States in the marathon at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, finishing 17th.

She is returning to competitive racing after stepping away from the sport for several years to care for her three children. She is married to runner Kevin Chelimo.

Rodenfels also has registered for the race. She finished second in 2023 and 2024, running 23:59 in 2023. She is one of six women in race history to complete the Manchester course in less than 24 minutes.

The 90th edition of the race marks a milestone for the Thanksgiving Day tradition, which has become one of Connecticut's largest annual road-running events.

Online registration and additional information are available at manchesterroadrace.com