Olinger, Kipyego Win Manchester Road Race

Over 13,000 runners finish 75th edition of the historic race.

Written by: David Monti
(c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

American Brian Olinger and Kenyan Sally Kipyego won today’s historic 75th Manchester Road Race in Manchester, Conn.

Olinger, 28, of Westerville, Ohio, who is best known as a steeplechaser (8:19.29 PB), clocked 21:33 for the hilly 4.748 mile course, winning America’s most prestigious Thanksgiving Day race for the first time (he had finished third twice in 2007 and 2008).  That gave the Reebok-sponsored athlete a six-second victory over compatriot Landon Peacock (21:39) of the ZAP Fitness program.  Andrew Carlson of Team USA Minnesota finished third (21:41), giving the USA men a sweep of the podium.  

For the 25 year-old Kipyego, who runs for the Nike-sponsored Oregon Track Club in Eugene, Ore., today’s win was her second at Manchester.  She clocked 24:22, 14 seconds slower than her winning time last year.  The reigning IAAF World Championships silver medalist at 10,000m finished comfortably ahead of American Meghan Armstrong-Peyton of Team USA Minnesota/Asics (25:03) and Ethiopians Alemtsehay Misganaw and Bedada Bekelech (both were timed in 25:15).

Both Olinger and Kipyego won $4000 in prize money.

Kenyan Joseph Ekuom, 41 (24:11) and American Betty Geiger, 50 (26:09) were the race’s masters (40+) champions.

Runner’s World editor at large, Amby Burfoot, finished the race for the 49th time, clocking 51:32.

Contested in typically cold conditions for Central Connecticut in late November, race timer Granite State Race Services reported a preliminary 13,467 finishers.  Race entries had been capped at 15,000.