KELATI, MANTZ TAKE MANCHESTER ROAD RACE TITLES
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2022 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved, used with permission.
MANCHESTER, CONN. (24-Nov) — In chilly and sunny conditions, Weini Kelati (Under Armour) and Conner Mantz (Nike) won today’s 86th edition of the Manchester Road Race, New England’s largest “turkey trot.” In a solo run, Kelati successfully defended her 2021 title in 23:39 for the hilly, 4.748-mile course, well off of her course record of 22:55 set last year. Mantz prevailed in a fast and tactical race, breaking the tape on Main Street in 21:04, 12 seconds under Edward Cheserek’s previous course record set in 2018. Both athletes won $7000 in prize money in addition to various bonuses.
KELATI, ON HER OWN
In a repeat of last year’s contest, Kelati simply ran away with the race today. The recently-crowned USATF 5 km road running champion hit the first mile hard in 4:38 and was already clear of the other elite women. She stayed well within herself, keeping off the men around her as she climbed the race’s big hill in the second mile, nabbing the $1000 “Queen of the Hill” prime just before the two-mile mark (just like she did last year). Using the big downhill in the third mile to conserve energy, Kelati cruised the finish line a whopping 42 seconds ahead of second place Jessa Hanson (Verde Track Club). Third place went to Taylor Werner (Puma) at 24:27.
“As I said last year, I’m going to come back and race again if I stay healthy,” a smiling Kelati told reporters. “So, I’m here. It’s amazing to be here on Thanksgiving and celebrate with these people.” She added: “Every time I run here it just feels like, wow, those crowds are amazing.”
Kelati, 25, will go from the cold of Connecticut to the warmth of Honolulu for her next race, the Kalakaua Merrie Mile, on Saturday, December 10. She’s never been to Hawaii before.
“I’m very excited,” Kelati said. “The first time I’m going to go to Hawaii. It just feels like a vacation for me, but with running.”
LATE-RACE MOVE FOR MANTZ CLINCHES THE WIN
Unlike Kelati, Mantz didn’t dispatch with his closest rivals until the final meters of the race. The two-time NCAA cross country champion for Brigham Young University was at the front of the lead pack of about ten men through the first mile (4:21) and didn’t surge for the “King of the Hill” prime in mile two, letting former Iowa State star, Wesley…
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