It was the first time that a sub 2:09 was run on the Canadian soil at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and it was surely long time coming with all the Kenyans around who can do this on a day in day out basis. So, it was not suprise that Kenneth Mungara from Kenya, the defending champion from last year went under 2:09, and won the race in a new course record of 2:08:32.
Kenya’s Chala Lemi was second in 2:08:49, and Gasha Melese Asfaw of Ethiopia third in 2:09:23.
It was also a personal best for Mungara, who’s previous best was actually about 2 minutes more, so he really sliced it by a big margin here. The previous Canadian record of 2:09:30 was set at the waterfront marathon in 2007, in a time of 2:09:30 by John Kelai of Kenya. Mungara got $20,000 for the win and another $25,000 in bonuses for beating the record by almost a minute and pushing the mark under 2:09. Incidentally, Mungara is also the winner of the 2009 Mumbai Marathon with a time of 2:11:51, not the best of places to set your personal best though.
In the women’s event, defending champion Mulu Seboka was beaten in the last kilometer by Ethiopian Amane Gobena, who won in another course record of 2:28:31.
More than 20,000 runners from 40 countries are taking part in the marathon, half-marathon and 5-kilometres races today.
Results Summary:
Mens:
- KENETH MUNGARA KENYA 2:08:32
- CHALA LEMI ETHIOPIA 2:08:49
- GASHAW MELESE ETHIOPIA 2:09:23
- LUKA CHELIMO KENYA 2:10:26
- FRANCIS MUENDO KENYA 2:12:09
- DANIEL KIPRUGUT KENYA 2:13:08
- MOHAMMED ABDUH QUATAR 2:13:19
- SIYOUM LEMMA ETHIOPIA 2:14:49
- ELIJAH SANG KENYA 2:15:23
- DAGIM GETNET ETHIOPIA 2:18:08
Womens:
- AMANE GOBENA ETHIOPIA 2:28:31
- MULU SEBOKA ETHIOPIA 2:29:38
- HAILE KEBEBUSH ETHIOPIA 2:30:48
- EMMAH MUTHONI KENYA 2:32:14
- LYDIA CHEROMEI KENYA 2:32:37
- NATALIYA VOLGINA RUSSIA 2:35:50
- HELEN DECKER ENGLAND 2:41:10
- SOFIA ADILO ETHIOPIA 2:42:23
- KRISTA DUCHENE BRANTFORD ON 2:50:37
- JOYCE KANDIE KENYA 2:50:48
Check complete timing results on the official website.
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