MANCHESTER, CONN. (Race Results Weekly) — On a bright, windy and cold Thanksgiving morning here, Weini Kelati and Edwin Kurgat won the 89th edition of the Manchester Road Race, the second-largest race in New England behind the Boston Marathon. Kelati, 28, surged to the lead from the gun, blasted through the first mile in 4:40, and won her fifth straight title in 23:18, 50 seconds ahead of her closest rival.
Kurgat, 29, ran a brilliant tactical race and, despite running into a strong headwind in the third and fourth miles, ran a course record 20:54 for the hilly 4.737 loop course. Both athletes won $7000 in prize money plus an additional $1000 prime for leading at the top of Highland Street Hill just past the two-mile mark.
Kelati Takes Women’s Title – Hunted Record
Not satisfied to win for the fifth straight time –tying American Amy Rudolph’s record for most wins by a woman in Manchester– Kelati tried to break her own course record. That 4:40 first mile (helped by a brisk tailwind) put her on track, but the middle portion of the race with the big climb up Highland Street followed by the plunging downhill on Porter Street took it’s toll on her pace.
“Coming back every year I was like, this is a hilly course,” Kelati told reporters.
Running with her partner, Abrham Tesfamarion, Kelati made it to the four-mile mark in 19:42. Even with Tesfamarion helping to block the wind, Kelati was already down on course record pace. She would have to be satisfied with the win.
“I tried,” Kelati continued. “I came here to run under the record, so I was like, I have to run fast this first mile to finish strong. But I think it cost me a little bit.”
Nonetheless, Kelati was thrilled to become a five-time Manchester champion.
“I did not even think that I would make it five when I ran my first race here (in 2021),” said Kelati, a Paris 2024 Olympian. “I’m really happy.”
Dorcus Ewoi, a Kenyan athlete who won the silver medal in the 1500m at the World Athletics Championships in September, was expected to challenge Kelati today, but she ran well behind her American rival and was never a factor in the race. Ewoi finished seventh in 24:40.
Britain’s Hannah Nuttall finished second in 24:08, and American Taylor Werner –who has been living and training in Australia for most of the last year– took third in 24:23.
WOMEN Turkey Trot Top 10 Results:
1. Weini KELATI, 1 Dec 1996, USA, 23:18 ($7000 + 1000p)
2. Hannah NUTTALL, 7 Jul 1997, GBR, 24:08 ($4000)
3. Taylor WERNER, 01 May 1998, USA, 24:23 ($3000)
4. Kassie PARKER, 19 Aug 1999, USA, 24:30 ($2000)
5. Cailie LOGUE HUGHES, 04 Jan 1999, USA, 24:37 ($1500)
6. Gracie MORRIS, 17 Dec 2001, USA, 24:38 ($1000)
7. Dorcus EWOI, 2 Oct 1996, KEN, 24:50 ($900)
8. Angie NORSTROM, 08 Aug 1999, USA, 25:19 ($800)
9. Jenna ZYDANOWICZ, 16 Mar 2002, USA, 25:22 ($700)
10. Alexandra ROSS, 23 May 2000, USA, 26:12 ($600)
p = Earned Queen of the Hill prime
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