Paul Chelimo Wins Manchester Road Race; Buze Diriba Out-leans Molly Huddle
Paul Chelimo Wins Manchester Road Race; Buze Diriba Out-leans Molly Huddle
Paul Chelimo and Buze Diriba win the Manchester Road Race in Connecticut.

Paul Chelimo of the United States and Buze Diriba of Ethiopia won the men's and women's Manchester Road Race in 21:32 and 23:57, respectively, over the 4.748 mile course.
Chris Thompson, a 36-year-old Brit, was the men's early leader and earned a $1,000 "King of the Hill" bonus for being the first athlete to climb the Highland Street Hill one mile into the competition.
Thompson held on to the lead even while Chelimo, the world bronze medalist and Olympic silver medalist over 5K, started to close the gap with Kirubel Erassa in tow. The athletes ran three abreast down Main Street and it was only meters from the finish when Chelimo secured the advantage over U.S. countryman Erassa, 21:32 to 21:34 as Thompson would finish third in 21:36.
Dear Turkey,
— Paul Chelimo (@Paulchelimo) November 23, 2017
Today I dedicated the #MRR Win to you; now I can say its time feast on you.
Run like a Beast before you Feast.
Go Hard or Starve!
Yours Truly,
ME.
Happy Thanksgiving!
USATF 10K champion Hassan Mead placed fourth in 21:42. Five-time Olympian Bernard Lagat would place 15th in 22:18. The 42-year-old reportedly revealed at the event that he plans to race a marathon in 2018.
Elite Men's Results
| Place | Male Finisher | Age | Gun Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Chelimo | 26 | 21:32 |
| 2 | Kirubel Erassa | 24 | 21:34 |
| 3 | Chris Thompson | 36 | 21:36 |
| 4 | Hassan Mead | 26 | 21:42 |
| 5 | Kemoy Cambell | 26 | 21:43 |
| 6 | Luis Vargas | 24 | 21:49 |
| 7 | Matthew McClintock | 23 | 21:51 |
| 8 | Mj Erb | 23 | 22:06 |
| 9 | Joe Stilin | 27 | 22:07 |
| 10 | Sam McEntee | 25 | 22:12 |
The women's race yielded a photo finish between early leader Molly Huddle of the United States and Diriba (her full name is Buze Diriba Kejela), who were separated by just one second at the tape: 23:57 to 23:58. Huddle earned the "Queen of the Hill" bonus for being the first up Highland Street Hill but couldn't shake the 23-year-old who has finished either first or second in 12 road races this year.
Women's photo finish #MRR2017 pic.twitter.com/ZkaMAWm6C2
— Lori Riley (@lrileysports) November 23, 2017
Elite Women's Results
| Place | Female Finisher | Age | Gun Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buze Kejela | 23 | 23:57 |
| 2 | Molly Huddle | 33 | 23:58 |
| 3 | Molly Seidel | 23 | 24:14 |
| 4 | Eilish McColgan | 26 | 24:16 |
| 5 | Desiree Linden | 34 | 24:58 |
| 6 | Rosa Moriello | 25 | 25:04 |
| 7 | Lindsay Flanagan | 26 | 25:21 |
| 8 | Liv Westphal | 23 | 25:40 |
| 9 | Emily Durgin | 23 | 25:48 |
| 10 | Maddie VanBeek | 26 | 25:52 |
Watch the replay of the race below: