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U.S. marathon legend Bill Rodgers has been named as the honorary chairperson of the 2006 edition of the Manchester Road Race, organizers announced on Sunday.
"We are thrilled that Bill Rodgers will be our Honorary Chairperson," said Manchester Road Race President Dave Prindiville in a prepared statement. "Bill is one of the world's all-time great long distance runners. He is also a true gentleman who has done so much for this sport."
A winner of the Boston and New York City Marathons four times, Rodgers remains one of the most recognizable figures in U.S. distance running, and still trains and races regularly at 58 years-old. He began his road running career in Manchester in 1965 when, as a senior at Newington High School, he placed 18th overall and won the high school division in 25:46 (the hilly course is about 4.8 miles). His best finish at Manchester was third place in 1974 in 22:45, when he was beaten by his Wesleyan College teammate, Amby Burfoot, who would win the race nine times.
"I was disappointed with that place," Rodgers recalled recently. "I was on a mission to win races then, not just place."
The Manchester Road Race, held each year on the Thanksgiving Day holiday in Manchester, Conn., is one of the oldest road races in the United States. The 2006 edition will be the 70th running, and the race reported 7628 finishers last year despite snowy weather.
Rodgers said that he's "honored" to be selected as the road race's honorary chairperson, and is looking forward to running the 4.8-mile course again.
"I love the long downhill, and especially the finish on Main Street," he said.
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