Former Xavier Runner Among Favorites for Manchester Road Race

Another strong field of elite runners from the United States and throughout the world is expected to compete in the 79th running of the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day.

Olympian Diane Nukuri will return to the race to defend the women’s championship she won last year.

Nukuri, who lives and trains in Flagstaff, Ariz., is a three-time member of the Burundi Olympic Team. The 30-year-old marathon runner captured the 2014 MRR title with a time of 24:38. Nukuri finished in 8th place last month at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:29.13.

The men’s championship will be up for grabs. Ben True, the 2014 winner, has informed race officials that he will not competing this year.

Road race organizers have released a list of the top 24 men and 16 women who will be competing; Xavier High School alumnus Forrest Misenti is among the elite athletes listed.

MEN

AARON BRAUN: Braun tied the MRR course record of 21:19 when he won the road race in 2012. (Phillimon Hanneck of Zimbabwe originally set the mark in 1995). Braun, 28, was second at the 2013 MRR (21:40) and placed seventh in Manchester last Thanksgiving Day (22:00). He is a graduate of Adams State College in Colorado, where he won six individual national championships and earned All-American status 16 times. Braun ran a 1:01:38 half marathon in 2014 and has a personal best time of 27:41 for 10,000 meters. He had a 2:12.54 clocking in the marathon last January in Houston. Braun lives in Alamosa, Colorado.

CHRIS SOLINSKY: In 2010, Solinsky became the first non-African athlete to run the 10,000 meters in a time under 27 minutes when he was clocked in 26:59.60 for that event at the Payton Jordan Invitational Meet at Stanford University. Three weeks later he ran a personal record of 12:55.53 for 5000 meters at a meet in Stockholm, Sweden. These two performances rank as the second fastest times for each event ever run by an American athlete. Solinsky, 30 was a five-time NCAA champion when he competed for the University of Wisconsin. He has other personal records of 3:55.8 in the 1500 meters and 7:34.32 in the 3000 meters. Solinsky lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he is a member of the coaching staff at William & Mary College.

DONN CABRAL: The 25-year-old Cabral is an Olympic steeplechase runner who grew up in Glastonbury. He finished eighth in the 3000 meters steeplechase at the London Olympic Games in 2012 and also won the NCAA Championship in that event earlier that year. The former Princeton University All-American ran his fastest steeplechase (8:13.37) in Eugene, Oregon this past June. He went on to finish 10th in the steeplechase at the Beijing World Championships later in the summer. Cabral finished fourth at last year’s MRR, was fourth here in 2013, and placed third in 2012. His fastest time on the Manchester loop was a 21:33 effort in 2012.

ERIC JENKINS: Jenkins, 24, ran at Northeastern University before transferring to the University of Oregon. He won individual national titles in two events at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The All-American runner from Portsmouth, New Hampshire had a terrific spring and summer. Jenkins ran a 3:57.09 mile on May 8th. He set personal records of 3:38.98 for 1500 meters and 7:41.79 for3000 meters. Jenkins had a huge breakthrough performance in international class competition when he ran 13:07.33 for 5000 meters in Belgium on July 18th of this year.

GERMAN FERNANDEZ: Fernandez, 25, competes for the Bowerman Track Club out of Portland, Oregon. As a freshman at Oklahoma State University, he set a world junior indoor record of 3:55.2 in the mile. Other personal bests by Fernandez include: 1500 meters (3:34.); 3000 meters (7:53.61); and 5000 meters (13:25.46). His time of the 5000 meters is also a US junior record for that event. In 2008 at a meet in Norwalk, California, Fernandez ran what is considered as the best high school distance double ever when he ran 4:00.29 in the 1600 meters and 8:34.23 for the 3200 meters three hours later. Fernandez finished second in the 2014 USA 5K Road Championship.

TIM RITCHIE: Ritchie, 28, has had three top-ten performances at the MRR, all run in under 22 minutes. The Boston College standout finished ninth here in 2010 (21:52), fifth in 2011 (21:47), and sixth in 2012 (21:42). Ritchie is having an impressive year. He set personal records of 28:26.77 for the 10,000 meters in May and 13:38.02 for 5,000 meters in June. Ritchie won the Philadelphia Half Marathon on October 31st in 1:01.23. He is an assistant track coach at BC and competes for Saucony.

ELKANHA KIBET: Born in Kenya and the oldest of seven children, Kibet was a two-time All-American runner at Auburn University who is now serving with the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Kibet was deployed with the Army from June 2014 through March 2015 in Kuwait and Iraq. He placed seventh at the 2015 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2:11:31. Kibet, 32, also won the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in September with a time of 1:05.22. He has personal best times of 13:44 for the 5000 meters and 28:26 for 10,000 meters.

WILL GEOGHEAN: A native of Maine, Geoghean competed at Dartmouth University, and during a fifth year of eligibility as a graduate student at the University of Oregon. He now lives and trains in Eugene, Oregon. Geoghean ran a 3:57.53 mile on May 5th. He also recorded two other personal bests this summer when he was timed in 7:48.79 for 3000 meters in Dublin, Ireland and ran 13:17.58 for 5000 meters at a race in Belgium.

MAVERICK DARLING: Darling, who is 26, finished 12th at last year’s MRR with a time of 22:14. He placed fifth here in 2013 (22:09). An All-American competitor at the University of Wisconsin, Darling has posted personal records of 7:46.84 for 3000 meters and 13:27.93 for 5000 meters. Darling lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

JOHNNY GREGOREK: The 6’5” Gregorek was an All-American runner at Columbia University. He also competed at the University of Oregon as a post graduate during a fifth year of collegiate eligibility. Gregorek, 23, ran personal best times of 3:41.76 for 1500 meters and 3:57.47 for the mile at an indoor meet in New York City on February 14, 2015. The Seekonk, Massachusetts native is the son of four-time MRR champion John Gregorek.

JOE STILIN: Stilin, 25, is a member of the ZAP Fitness-Reebok team. He finished 11th at the 2014 MRR in 22:11 and was 17th here in 2013 (22:55). Stilin competed at Princeton University and the University of Texas, and earned All-American honors at both schools. His best times include a 7:49 effort in the 3000 meters, and a 13:32.21 clocking for 5000 meters this past August.

GRIFF GRAVES: A 2013 graduate of Syracuse University, Graves ran a 1:03:27 half marathon that qualified him for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials for the Marathon. His personal best time in the 5000 meters is 14:18.66. Graves, 25, is also a member of the ZAP Fitness-Reebok team. He placed ninth at last year’s MRR with a time of 22:11.

JAKE HURYZ: Huryz, 23, was an All-American performer at the University of Colorado and he also previously competed at the University of North Carolina. Huryz ran the mile last February in 3:58.13, a University of Colorado school record. He also has a personal best time of 3:45.97 for 1500 meters. Huryz now runs for the New York/New Jersey Track Club and is coached by Frank Gagliano.

KANE GRIMSTER: Grimster, 23, was born in Australia and competed at Auburn University in Alabama where he was a three-time All-SEC selection. He was coached at Auburn by former MRR Champion Mark Carroll. Grimster has run the 1500 meters in 3:44. His other personal records include times of 14:08 in the 5000 meters and 23:41 for a five-mile cross country race. Grimster won the Vulcan 10K Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia on November 7th with a time of 29.41.

TRAVIS MAHONEY: Mahoney was an All-American at Temple University. He is 25 years old. He placed fifth in the 3000 meters steeplechase at the 2012 NCAA Championships. The Oak Ridge, New Jersey resident ran his fastest time in the steeplechase---8:27.08---this past May in Los Angeles. Mahoney has run the indoor mile in 3:58.61 and the 3000 meters in 7:52:09.

ANDREW SPRINGER: Springer is a Westerly, R.I. resident. He was a three-time All-American at Georgetown University. The 24-year-old Springer has a personal best of 3:41 in the 1500 meters. His other personal records include times of 13:35 in the 5000 meters and 29:20 in the 10,000 meters. Springer also competes for the New York/New Jersey Track Club.

DANIEL WINN: Winn, 24, competed as a collegian for the University of Oregon and now runs for the Boston Athletic Association. He was the top collegiate finisher in the 1500 meters at the Portland Track Festival in July where he turned in a personal best time for that event of 3:57.56. In August, Winn competed for Team USA and placed second in the 1500 meters at the North America, Central America, Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in Costa Rica. Winn has run the mile in 3:58.50.

TREVOR LA FONTAINE: La Fontaine, 22, won the 40th Marine Corps Marathon on October 25th with a time of 2:24.24. It was the first time he ever competed in the Marathon. La Fontaine was raised in Tolland, Connecticut where he was an All-State and All-New England distance runner. He starred in track and cross country at the United States Military Academy. La Fontaine was commissioned as a second lieutenant when he graduated from West Point last June and now competes for the Army Running Team.

JULIAN SAAD: Saad’s time of 22:46 last Thanksgiving was good enough to earn the 24-year-old Providence, R.I. athlete a 15th place finish at the 2014 MRR. Saad, 24, grew up in Trumbull and competed for Fordham University and Providence College. He ran his personal best time of 7:58.81 in the 3000 meters last January, and has a personal record of 3:48.89 for 1500 meters.

LIAM HILLERY: Hillery was a standout distance runner for Providence College, where he was coached by two-time MRR runner-up, Ray Treacy. Hillery ran a personal record time of 29:51.31 in the 10,000 meters last year. A native of Smithfield, R.I., he also has a personal best time of 14:13.17 for the indoor 5000 meters.

JACK DAVIES: Davies, 24, was an All-American cross country and track runner at Middlebury College in Vermont. He was the silver medalist in the 3000 meters steeplechase at the 2014 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Davies finished in 25th place at last year’s MRR with a time of 23:13.

ERIC BLAKE: The hardy Blake is an accomplished mountain racer and road runner who has won the Mount Washington Road Race three times, most recently in 2013. He holds the world record (2:21) for running the marathon distance on a treadmill. Blake, 36, is also the head cross country coach at Central Connecticut State University. The West Hartford resident has placed among the top 25 MRR finishers six times. Blake’s best Manchester time was a 23:29 effort in 2008.

THOMAS TOTH: Toth, who is from Canada, was an All-American runner at Cameron University in Oklahoma. He ran the 10,000 meters in the personal record time of 30:24.35 last April. Toth also set other personal bests this year in the 3000 meters (8:32.72) and in the 5000 meters (14:30.73).

FORREST MISENTI: Misenti won All-American, All-New England and All-State honors in cross country and track at Xavier High School in Middletown. He competed at Syracuse University where he was selected for the All-Big East team in cross country. Although hampered by injuries during his last two years in college, Misenti is back in competitive shape and runs for Team Run Flagstaff. Misenti ran the 1500 meters earlier this year in a personal best time of 3:49.64. His other personal records include 14:26 for 5000 meters and 23:52 for 8 Kilometers.

WOMEN

DIANE NUKURI: Nukuri, 30, won the women’s championship at the 2014 MRR in 24:38. She won All-American honors three times at the University of Iowa and was a three-time member of the Burundi Olympic team. Nukuri, who now lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, will be making her sixth Thanksgiving Day appearance in Manchester. She placed third here in 2008 and 2012, finished fifth in 2010 and came in seventh in 2009. Nukuri has personal best times of 32:29.14 for the 10,000 meters, 1:09.12 for the half marathon, and 2:27.50 for the marathon (which she recorded at the London Marathon this past April). She tuned up for the MRR with an 8th place finish at the Chicago Marathon last month in 2:29.13.

NICOLE TULLY: A three-time All-American at Villanova University, Tully had a breakthrough performance at the 2015 Outdoor Track & Field Championships when she won the 5000 meters in 15:06.44. She competed in the 5000 meters finals at the World Championships in Beijing, China last summer. Tully, 28, ran a personal record time of 15:05.58 for 5000 meters at a meet in Palo Alto California on May 2, 2015. Her other personal bests include 4:05.89 for 1500 meters and 8:55.48 for 3000 meters.

KAROLINA JARZYNSKA: Jarzynska is a 34-year-old former Olympian from Poland who set her country’s record for the marathon (2: 26.44) in 2013. Jarzynska competed in the marathon at 2012 London Olympic Games and finished 36th in 2:30.57. She ran her personal best time for the 26.2-mile event (2:26.31) at Osaka, Japan last year. Jarzynska also has personal records of 1:10.36 for the half marathon and 31:43.51 for 10,000 meters.

NATASHA WODAK: Wodak, 33, won the Canadian Cross Country Championship in 2013. She also won top honors that year at the North America, Central America, Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships. A resident of Vancouver, Wodak set the Canadian record for 10,000 meters (31:41.59) this year at the Payton Jordan Invitational Meet in Stanford, California. She also ran a personal record time of 1:11.20 for the half marathon in New York City this past March.

AMY VAN ALSTINE: The 28-year-old Van Alstine was the sixth place finisher at the 2013 MRR with a time of 25:33. She placed fifth here the year before in 24:53. Van Alstine was a standout track and cross country performer at the University of Richmond, where she holds the school records for the 1500 meters, 3000 meters and 5000 meters. She won the 2014 USA Cross Country Championships. Her personal records include times of 15:22.98 for the 5000 meters, 15:30 for the 5K Road and 32:51 for the 10K Road.

RACHEL JOHNSON: Johnson, 22, was the runner-up in the 5000 meters at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships. An All-American at Baylor University, she also placed 9th in the 3000 meters steeplechase this year at the USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Johnson, who lives in Waco, Texas, has personal records of 9:41.56 in the steeplechase, 15:39.42 in the 5000 meters, and 33:11.98 in the 10,000 meters.

MEGHAN PEYTON: Peyton, 29, was the USA 20K National Champion in 2013. She was a four-time All-American runner at the University of Iowa and currently lives and trains in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Peyton has run personal bests of 32:47.37 for the 10,000 meters, 1:09.57 for the 20K and 1:13:43 for the half-marathon.

EMMA BATES: Bates won the NCAA Championship in the 10,000 meters in 2014. She was a 12-time All-American in cross country and track at Boise State University. She also finished fourth in the 5000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2014. Bates has run the 10,000 meters in 32:13.28. Her personal best in the 5000 meters is 15:32.46.

KATIE MATTHEWS: Matthews, 25 and a Rocky Hill native, placed eighth at the 2013 MRR with a time of 25:39. She was an All-American competitor for Boston University. In 2013, Matthews placed fifth in the indoor 5000 meters and fifth in the outdoor 10,000 meters at the NCAA championships. She ran the half marathon in 1:11:57 last January in Houston, Texas and set a personal record for the 5000 meters (15:32.89) in June. Matthews also has a personal best time of 32:44.58 for 10,000 meters.

EMILY LIPARI: Lipari was an All-American cross country and track runner at Villanova University. She won the NCAA championship in the mile in 2014. Lipari, 23, ran a personal best time in the mile (4:32.4) at a meet in Concord, Mass. in June. The Greenvale, New York native also holds personal records of 4:12.17 for 1500 meters and 9:38.66 for 3000 meters.

SARAH CROUCH: Crouch, who is 25, won the Tallahassee Marathon earlier this year and placed seventh at the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Her personal best time for the marathon is 2:32.44, and she has run a 1:12.10 half marathon. A 13-time All-American at Western Washington University, Crouch finished in 12th place here last Thanksgiving with a time of 25:39. She had a sixth place finish at the 2012 MRR (25:12), when she was known as Sarah Porter. Crouch now competes for the ZAP Fitness-Reebok team.

SINEAD HAUGHEY: Haughey won multiple SEC championships and qualified for the NCAA 10,000 meters finals twice while competing for Furman University. A native of South Carolina, she is now a member of the ZAP Fitness-Reebok Elite Team. Haughey holds personal records of 33:53 for the 10,000 meters and 16:26 for 5000 meters.

REBEKA STOWE: Stowe, 25, was an All-American runner at the University of Kansas. She set three school records while competing for the Jayhawks. Stowe had an 11th place finish at the 2013 MRR with a time of 25:52. The New Jersey athlete has personal records of 9:18.95 for the 3000 meters and 9:52.82 for the 3000 meters steeplechase.

MADDIE VAN BEEK: Van Beek competed for North Carolina State University where she won All-American honors and holds the school records for the 3000 meters steeplechase and the indoor 5000 meters. She had 8th place finishes in both the steeplechase and the 3000 meters last June at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Van Beek ran a personal best time of 9:54.42 in the steeplechase last June. She finished 10th in the USATF 10-Mile Championship race on October 4th in Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota.

JOANNA THOMPSON: Thompson, 23, was an All-American runner at North Carolina State University. She placed 19th in the 10,000 finals at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last June in Eugene Oregon. Thompson ran a personal best time for 10,000 meters (33:07.27) last April at a meet in Palo Alto, California.

CAROLINE WILLIAMS: Williams, 22, is a 2014 graduate of Columbia University, where she was captain of the cross country and track teams. She now competes for the New York Athletic Club. Williams has personal records of 9:22.73 for 3000 meters, 16:14.20 for 5000 meters and 34:30.45 for 10,000 meters.

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