Olympian Cabral Gets His Lunch ... Manchester Road Race Win Next?

MANCHESTER, CT — Two-time Olympic steeplechase runner and Glastonbury native Donn Cabral finally had his lunch Thursday in preparation for the Manchester Road Race. Does that mean he will finally get his win?

Cabral, who will turn 30 in three weeks, considers the 2019 Manchester Road Race a crossroads event, not only in terms of winning the MRR for the first time, but as a gauge to his quest to make the U.S. team for the 2020 Tokyo games. In the process of explaining potential good vibes on Thanksgiving Day, Cabral, a Glastonbury native, sounded a bit like Oscar-winning actor Red Buttons at Thursday's annual Earl Yost media conference and lunch.

As a regular on the old Dean Martin Celebrity Roast specials in the 1970s and 1980s, Buttons used to joke he was honoring a certain person, while other historically significant figures "didn't get a dinner." On Thursday, Cabral joked, that, because of scheduling and other mysterious reasons beyond his control, he never got a lunch and was attending his first Yost event.

Here are three MRR examples:

• 8th place in 2016 (21:51) after no lunch
• 2nd place in 2015 (21:36) after no lunch
• 4th place in 2014 (21:51) after no lunch

"So now I'm at my first Manchester Road Race lunch ... I'm under-dressed and coming off the worst season of my career," he said.

Cabral hinted it might be karma. Longtime race director Jim Balcome, who was just named national race director of the year by a major racing organization, said he hopes the full stomach might also align the stars for Cabral, whom he called "a hometown hero."

Cabral, the fastest-ever U.S. collegian in the steeplechase and 2012 NCAA champion then grew serious. He talked about re-focused training and Thanksgiving Day in Manchester being his first real test leading up to a potential third Oylmpics.

"I have my sights set on Tokyo. I'm energized and is great shape," Cabral said. "Doing well in the Manchester road race this year will validate that what I have been doing in training is working."

The 83rd Manchester Road Race is scheduled will take place on Thanksgivng Day at 10 a.m. The 4.748-mile race starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. James Church. More information, and on-line entry forms, are available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.