Posted: November 20, 2006

Athletics: Defending Champion Smith Out Of Manchester Road Race

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Multiple national record holder, Kim Smith of New Zealand, has been forced to withdraw from the 70th edition of the Manchester Road Race, according to race officials. Smith, who lives in Providence, R.I., and represents Reebok, won the last two editions of the race in convincing fashion. According to Manchester Road Race Committee President, Dave Prindiville, an Achilles tendon injury is the cause. Smith, 25, was a 2004 Olympian at 5000m. She holds national records for the indoor mile (4:30.61), indoor 3000m (8:49.18), indoor and outdoor 5000m (14:50.46 and 14:56.58, respectively), and 10,000m (31:21.00). Separately, Prindiville reported that Olympian Grant Robison had been added to the field, along with Thomas Morgan. The Manchester Road Race is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 23, Thanksgiving Day, at 10:00 a.m. in Manchester, Conn.

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