History
The race was first held in 1927 with only twelve runners participating in the race. The race was conceived and promoted by the captain of the Manchester High School cross country team Frank "Duke" Haraburda, who competed and placed second in the inaugural race. The race continued annually until 1934, when the economic crisis during the Great Depression resulted in the race's cancellation. Consequently, the race was not held for 10 years (from 1935 to 1944), but began running again in 1945 and has continued to be held every Thanksgiving Day ever since. In 1967 the race was recognized as the second largest race in the country, with more than 200 participants. Due to growing interest and participation in this event, the race surpassed 1,000 runners in 1976 and just ten years later attracted more than 6,000 runners. In 1994 the number of runners had reached 10,000 and in 2009 over 12,000 people officially ran the race. "The Manchester Road Race has grown to be the largest race in Connecticut, the third largest in New England and in the top 25 largest distance races in the country." (Manchester Road Race Committee)
This formally male-only road race first accepted a woman runner in 1961. In 1960, 18-year old Julia Chase entered Manchester in hopes of participating in the road race, where she was unfortunately turned down due to her gender. Race director, Pete Wigren told her that she was not allowed to run because this race was a Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) sponsored event, and AAU did not allow men and women to compete together. However, Julia returned in 1961 with a letter from George Terry (nationally recognized coach) proving that the rules did not outlaw women from participating in the race. Due to the media coverage on Chase's battle for participation, two other women; Dianne Lechausse and Christine McKenzie joined Chase on the starting line to unofficially run that Thanksgiving morning. After this first appearance of women in the road race, pressure started to build about allowing women to officially run in the race. In 1973 women protested and unofficially followed the men and completed the race. In 1974, the protest proved to be a success; 50 women entered and officially ran the Manchester Road Race. In 2011 Julia came back to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her first run at Manchester dressed in the same running outfit she had worn 50 years earlier. Her running companion for the 2011 re-enactment was former winner Amby Burfoot.
In 1977, the race committee created male and female divisions, rather than a single open registration. Haron Lagat of Kenya won the 2009 Race with a time of 21:40, beating Chicago's Patrick Smyth by one second--Smyth was also the runner up in 2008. Alemtsehay Misganaw, an Ethiopian who lives in New York City, won the 2009 women's race, beating five-time champion Amy Rudolph by a second.
Read more about this topic: Manchester Road Race
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