Kenya’s Leonard Langat successfully retained his championship title at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, with Andrew Davies of Vancouver making history for Canada. Langat secured victory in the men’s race with a time of two hours, six minutes, and 51 seconds.
Langat crossed the finish line ahead of fellow Kenyan runners Fanny Kiprotich (2:07:21), Noah Kipkemboi (2:09:25), Asbel Rutto (2:07:32), and Elvis Cheboi (2:07:37) in the 42.2-kilometer race. Davies claimed the Canadian men’s title, finishing ninth in 2:08:48, marking the fastest-ever marathon debut by a Canadian and making him the fourth-fastest Canadian marathoner in history at 25 years old.
John Gay from Kelowna, British Columbia, achieved a personal best time to secure the 10th position with a time of 2:13:01. The event, recognized as a World Athletics Elite Label race, also doubled as Athletics Canada’s national marathon championships.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Leah Jeruto emerged victorious in 2:21:19, surpassing Ethiopians Nigsti Haftu (2:21:34) and Ayinadis Teshome (2:22:51). Dayna Pidhoresky from Windsor, Ontario, excelled as the top Canadian, finishing eighth with a personal best time of 2:26:08, thus becoming the third-fastest Canadian woman in history. Florence Caron from La Malbaie, Quebec, clinched the 10th spot with a time of 2:29:32.
Canadian athletes dominated the half-marathon races, with Dylan Alick from Mississauga, Ontario, securing victory in the men’s event with a time of 1:03:49, while Teagan Robertson from Kingston, Ontario, emerged as the fastest woman with a time of 1:13:58.
