Mantz Sets Record, Kelati Breezes To Repeat At Manchester Road Race

MANCHESTER, CT — Connor Mantz broke away from a pack to set a new Manchester Road Race record and Weini Kelati breezed her way to a second consecutive women's title on Thanksgiving morning.

Conditions seemed perfect for a fast pace at the 86th edition of the famed 4.748-mile race with bright sun, no wind and temperatures in the upper 30s by the 10 a.m. start time and Mantz did not disappoint. The 25-year-old from Provo, UT, finished with a time of 21:04 to shave 11 seconds off the previous standard set by Edward Cheserek in 2019.

Kenya's Wesley Kiptoo was named King of The Hill and had the lead over the Highland Park section of the course. Mantz, Kiptoo, who finished third, and eventual second-place finisher Morgan Beadlescomb, of Boston, were part of a seven-runner pack that kicked its way to the strategic Mile 4 mark.

It was Mantz who then outlasted the field. The top five men's finishers all broke the course record.

Meanwhile, Kelati, who is a native of Eritrea, was not only Queen of the Hill, but had about a quarter-mile lead heading to Mile 4. She then cruised to defend her women's title with a time that was just about 45 seconds slower than the women's course record of 21:16 she set a year ago.

Vann Moffett of East Lyme placed 17th overall to take honors as the first Connecticut resident to finish.

The leaders were met with thunderous rounds of applause throughout the course as the crowds seemed to be back to pre-pandemic levels.

The elite runners were followed by the usual array of about 9,000 runners from the serious to those in costume.

Related: The Pageantry Of The Manchester Road Race, 2022 Style [PHOTOS]