Sally Kipyego, an Olympic silver medalist and two-time Manchester Road Race champion, has registered to compete in this year’s Thanksgiving Day run.
Kipyego, 40, scored back-to-back victories here in 2010 (24:06) and 2011 (24:22). She served as the race’s honorary chairperson in 2023 but did not compete that year.
Kipyego won three consecutive NCAA cross country championships while competing for Texas Tech, where she also earned a degree in nursing. Then competing for Kenya, she won silver medals in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 London Olympic Games and 2011 World Championships.
Kipyego holds a personal best time of 30:26 for 10,000 meters. After becoming a U.S. citizen in 2017, she competed in the marathon as a member of the United States Olympic Team at the 2021 Tokyo Games, finishing 17th.
Kipyego is married to runner Kevin Chelimo and the couple have three children. She is returning to race in Manchester after suspending her athletic career for the past several years to care for their children.
MRR officials also announced today that Annie Rodenfels, who placed second in the race in 2023 and 2024, has entered. Rodenfels was timed in 23:59 here two years ago, and is one of six female competitors who have run the course in a time under 24 minutes.
The 90th Manchester Road Race presented by Hartford HealthCare will be held on Thanksgiving Day (November 26,2026) at 10 a.m. The 4.737-mile race is run on a loop course that starts and finishes on Main Street in Manchester, in front of St. James Church. Online registration and more details about the road race are available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.