Women's Record Holder Commits To 2021 Manchester Road Race

MANCHESTER, CT — A big name in the women's field has committed to this year's Manchester Road Race.

Buze Diriba, the women's course record holder, has committed to the Thanksgiving Day event.

Diriba, 27, won the women’s championship at the 2017 MRR with a time of 23:57, edging runner-up Molly Huddle at the tape by a second. Both athletes eclipsed the old record of 23:59 for the 4.748-mile run that was set in 2003 by Canadian Olympian Emilie Mondor.

Diriba, who is originally from Ethiopia and who now lives in Albuquerque, NM, also finished second in Manchester in 2018 behind Celliphine Chespol. Diriba was the World Junior Champion in the 5,000 meters (15:32.94) in 2012, and she ran a personal best time of 1:06 for the half marathon when she placed fourth at the 2018 Houston Half Marathon.

Monicah Ngige, a Kenyan runner who placed fourth at last month's Boston Marathon, has also registered to run in Manchester this November. Ngige, 28, was the fourth-place finisher at the 2018 MRR with a time of 25:02.

The 85th annual Manchester Road Race is slated for 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25) at 10 a.m. The road race, which features some of the world’s best distance runners, starts and finishes on Main Street in Manchester, in front of St. James Church.

More details and on-line registration are available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.