ATLANTA - July 4, 2022 -- The 53rd
Running of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race heralded the iconic
event's return to its traditional one-day July 4 format for the first time
since 2019. Almost 50,000 runners and walkers took part in the race in person
or virtually. And despite temperatures in the mid-70s with a soaking humidity
in the mid-90s at the start of the elite races, it was a day for fast - and
even record-breaking - times.
Winning the women's footrace was Senbere Teferi
of Ethiopia, barely edging Kenya's Irine Cheptai at the tape. Both women were
given the time of 30:49, tied for the fourth-fastest time in race history. Becoming
a two-time winner of the Peachtree in the men's footrace was Rhonex Kipruto of
Kenya, who broke the tape in the men's open division in 27:26, the
fifth-fastest time since the Peachtree began in 1970.
In the Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division,
Daniel Romanchuk won for the fifth-consecutive year, in 18:38, tied for
third-fastest in Peachtree history. But it was women's wheelchair winner
Susannah Scaroni who took home the entire $53,000 bonus - offered by organizers
in honor of the race's 53rd Running - for her winning time of 21:14,
which broke the course record by 14 seconds. Had any of the others also broken
the record, the bonus would have been split; instead, it was the biggest payday
of Scaroni's career.
"I was picturing myself back in 2019 and I was
trying to race my former self, because I was in that pack," said Scaroni of the
three women who chased after the bonus that year won by rival Manuela Schรคr.
"I know how hard that went, so I went as hard as I could today."
In the women's footrace, Kenya's Mary Munanu
pushed the pace for the first two miles, with Ethiopian Biruktayit Degefa
Eshetu taking over the next mile. The large pack went through 5K in 15:10, with
Brigid Kosgei - the 2019 winner and course record-holder - asserting herself
soon after. Going with her were Teferi, Cheptai and Rosemary Wanjiru; Wanjiru
would soon drop back by the turn onto 10th Street toward the finish,
but Fancy Chemutai would briefly rejoin the group. In a fierce sprint to the
finish, Teferi prevailed over Cheptai, with Kosgei third in 30:57.
The top American was Annie Frisbie, 10th,
in 32:22.
"I'm very happy I did well," said Teferi, the
5K world record-holder for a women-only race who has not lost on the roads this
year, through a translator. "It was really hot out there, so that made it hard
to run and I'm not really good at handling the heat so I tried my best. I came
in thinking I would win and also break the record, and with God's help I won
and next time I will break the record."
Kipruto took command of the race from the
outset, leading a pack through the first mile in 4:38 and whittling the
contenders down to four by 5K (13:27) - himself, Leonard Barsoton, Mathew
Kimeli and Kibowatt Kandie. He would open up a lead again just before the
four-mile mark, and go on to win by 8 seconds, with Kandie runner-up in 27:34
(the sixth-fastest time ever here) and Jemal Yimer third in 27:49.
"It was very nice," said Kipruto, who holds
both the world and course records "The competition was real tough."
The day's winners were greeted on the awards
stage by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who experienced the Peachtree for the
first time as Mayor. And while a broken foot prevented him from running, he was
able to welcome participants and serve
as official starter of Wave A before his duties at the finish line.
"This day means a lot for Atlanta," he said. "We're
on display across the world."
Finishing as top American and fifth overall in
his debut at the distance was Conner Mantz, whose time of 28:04 was just one
second shy of the fastest time ever run by an American here (Craig Virgin, in
1981).
"I tried to kick it in and I ended up passing
two athletes," said Mantz, who was chasing the American mark. "I wanted to put
myself out there, and I did. I think I got the best out of myself today, and
that I enjoyed."
The top Georgian finishers were 18-year-old
Edward Blaha of Atlanta, a recent Atlanta Track Club All-Metro honoree and Pace
Academy graduate, in 31:11, 24th overall, and 24-year-old Emma Grace
Hurley of Brookhaven, Georgia, and Atlanta Track Club Elite, 14th,
in 33:36.
Bill Thorn, 91, became the only person to
finish every Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race since the event
began in 1970. Thorn, 91, did the race virtually. The oldest finisher was
97-year-old Betty Lindberg, who finished in 2:37:53.
In another return to the race's beloved
traditions, the T-shirt design wasn't revealed until the first runner crossed
the finish line. Winning the annual design contest was Tony Lombardo of
Tallahassee, Florida, a former resident of Johns Creek, with his submission
titled "Sweet Americana."
"It's a great feeling to be a part of something
bigger than ourselves, and that much sweeter when it's a part of the world's
largest 10K," he said.
