By Mike Giberti

The CIGNA/Elliott Corporate 5k road race on the streets of Manchester, NH has been famed as the largest road race to take place in New Hampshire. That reputation didn’t change this year, as 5,632 runners crossed the finish line on Merrimack St. Thursday evening. Not to mention CIGNA is a great place to gun down a PR as the course is a very flat loop down Elm St. and back on Canal St. with the only hill being at the end. And by that time, you’re turning on the wheels for a kick anyways.

Competitionwise, the race wasn’t as fabulous as in past years when NH state all-comers’ records have been set, but some local legion athletes placed highly in the field. BAA’s Brian Harvey, who we tracked progress of during Boston Marathon season, was the runner-up in a stellar 14’41”. 28 year old Abiyot Worku of the Bronx won the race in 14’23”. Team RUN’s Justin Freeman, who placed top 10 at the most recent USATF-NE Grand Prix race, was 4th overall in 14’57”. Bill Luti 5 Mile winner BJ Smith took 6th in 15’20”. On the women’s side, Grace Kahura, also of the Bronx, won in 16’35” with recent Georgetown graduate Rachel Schneider placing 2nd in 17’12”. Millennium Running’s Christine Shaw continues her hot streak as she placed 4th woman in 17’18”. Her teammate, Denise Sandahl also ran quite the race with a 17’36” finish for 5th.

Check out the full results here.