Member Of Manchester Road Race 'Irish Connection' Returning In 2024

MANCHESTER, CT — A big part of the Manchester Road's race's storied "Irish Connection" will be returning on Thanksgiving Day as the honorary chairman of the 88th version of the event.

Manchester Road Race officials announced Wednesday that former Olympian and two-time MRR champion Mark Carroll will be "reconnecting" with the race this November.

Carroll, who grew up in Cork, Ireland and was a six-time All-American at Providence College, won the MRR in 1998 and 2000.

Carroll is an all-time performer in Manchester. Carroll had nine top-25 finishes at the race between 1996 and 2010, including second-place runs in 1996, 1997 and 1999 in addition to his two wins. He posted his fastest time on the Manchester's course (21:28) when he finished one second behind winner David Makori at the 1999 MRR.

Carroll competed for Ireland in the 5,000 meters at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, and still holds the Irish national record of 7:30.56 for 3,000 meters. He was Inducted into the Athletics Ireland Hall of Fame last year, he was one of several great runners from Ireland (including John Treacy, Eamonn Coghlan and John Doherty) who starred at the Manchester Road Race and were known collectively as the "Irish Connection."

Carroll, 52, is currently the head coach of the Boston Athletic Association's High-Performance Team of elite runners. He previously served as the director of track and field and cross country at Drake University and as the head cross country coach at Auburn University.

The Manchester Road Race Committee annually honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the road race or the sport of distance running by designating him or her as the event's "honorary chairperson."

"Mark Carroll is exceptionally deserving of this selection," said Dr. Tris Carta, the president of the Manchester Road Race Committee. "He compiled an awesome record of consistently great performances at our race, and he continues to make wonderful contributions to the sport as a coach and mentor. We are so proud that he will be back with us in Manchester this Thanksgiving."

Carroll said he was honored by the selection.

"The the Manchester Road Race has a special place in my heart, and I am very excited to return as honorary race chair," Carroll said. "I want to thank the Manchester Road Race Committee for this honor and for giving me the opportunity to compete in the best Thanksgiving Day race in America. I am so looking forward to experiencing the incredible race day energy again."

Carta said that Carroll will appear at the MRR's annual pre-race media conference and will attend the race on Thanksgiving morning.

The 88th Manchester Road Race will take place on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28 this year) at 10 a.m.

Last year, 11,060 runners registered for the race, which is run on a 4.737-mile loop course through Manchester’s central streets that starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. James Church.

More information, and online registration, is available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.