October 16th, 2016 – By Paul Gains
Warm temperatures, high humidity and a light drizzle conspired to prevent course records at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon today.
World class fields had arrived for this IAAF Gold Label race targeting fast times but when it was over, Kenya’s Philomen Rono had won the men’s race in a time of 2:08:27, while Shure Demise of Ethiopia became the first woman to successfully defend her Toronto title.
Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series
Demise crossed the line in 2:25:10 well off the course record of 2:22:43, held jointly by Sharon Cherop (Kenya) and Koren Yal (Ethiopia) and far slower than the world under 20 world record she set a year ago in Dubai. That time of 2:20:59 seemed a distant memory as she battled compatriot Tadelech Bekele (second in 2:26:31) and Kenya’s Rebecca Chesir (third in 2:28:54).
“I have a great deal of happiness for winning,” Demise said before praising her friend Bekele. “About 35km I knew that I would win the race. I would have been as happy if she won. She is my friend and we are very close; we come from the same place so I would have been just as happy.
“When we started I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with the rain. I was a bit conscious of that but it got better.”
For her part Bekele revealed she had suffered stomach cramps around 38km and slowed. She wasn’t the only athlete to have health issues.
While he was warming up Rono was injured when a barricade he was using to stretch his hamstrings tipped over. It crashed down on the side of his head opening up a bloody gash and stunning him temporarily.
His agent called one of his colleagues in Holland to discuss the predicament. They agreed Rono could start but if he felt awkward in the opening kilometres he should drop out. Evidently he felt fine.
“I was not expecting to win today,” he said at the finish. “It was a surprise. When I fell and hurt my head I thought I would not run.”
The winner trains in the same camp as Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge and drew inspiration from his friend’s success in Rio.
“Eliud (Kipchoge) is my training partner,” Rono offered. “I thought after he won the Olympic games I should win this race. We are training partners so it was a good marathon for me. He told me I would win this race so I was very confident.”
Seboka Dibaba of Ethiopia was the last of Rono’s competitors to give way. That occurred just five kilometres from the finish when he said an old injury had flared up. He finished second in 2:09:47 while twenty two year old Albert Korir earned a podium place with his 2:10:23 performance.
The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon was, once again, the Canadian Marathon Championship and two of the country’s Olympians emerged victorious.
Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series
Eric Gillis finished 5th overall in a time of 2:13:44, just eight weeks after his historic 10th place finish in the Rio Olympic marathon while Krista DuChene was crowned Canadian women’s champion in a time of 2:34:02.
Rachel Hannah was second Canadian woman (7th overall) in a time of 2:34:37 proving she will be a force to reckon with over the next few years. The bronze medal went to Dayna Pidhoresky who ran 2:40:41 after running very quickly over the first 25 kilometres at one point a few hundred metres ahead of DuChene. She was legless at the end and was taken to the medical tent in a wheelchair.
The winner recognized the strength of the women’s field and paid tribute to her younger rivals.
Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series
“This is an emotional Krista day not a happy Krista day,” DuChene, 39, said. “I am happy. I really wanted this win. This was my year with Rio and then deciding to do this. I wanted a national championships again. I knew with the conditions that fast times weren’t going to happen so it was all about being patient and using my marathon experience. It was my thirteenth one. So I knew I just had to wait.
“Dayna was someone I was looking to the whole time but then I knew Rachel was right behind me. So it’s exactly what you want to happen because it might end up in a footrace in the end and no marathoner wants that.”
DuChene became teary eyed when she thought of the tremendous support she has received from her coach and her family this year.
“I am lost for words. This is how I wanted it to be. I am just so blessed with my husband being so supportive,” she explained.
“My kids did the housework this summer. It was about me this time. I really want to savour this moment I am just so grateful for this moment, It’s all about my faith and how God can use me in any way He wants.”
Gillis admitted he was not at his best after running the Olympics just eight weeks ago and was disappointed with his time.
“I am fitter than that,” he revealed. “But I am glad I went out at 65 minutes I don’t think I would have been happy if went out in 66 minutes and ran 2:13 I wouldn’t be happy but I probably would have felt better. It’s a decent race after Rio.
“It was tough out there. I really completely felt the opposite to what I felt in Rio. My hips tightened up and my right knee was sore. I think its a fine line keeping that balance on wet pavement.”
Although the professionals could not approach the course records there were, however, world records set on the day. Ed Whitlock who finished the marathon in 3 hours 56 minutes 38 seconds for an age 85 best.
Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series
Earlier this year he set a world half marathon record for his age group in Waterloo, Ontario and decided there was no point in trying to beat his record over that distance. Hence his quick decision to run 42.2km
The Guinness Book of World Records will soon include the name Calum Neff, 32, who knocked some twelve minutes of the fastest marathon completed while pushing a pram (stroller). His daughter Ally was the beneficiary of a course tour in 2:31:26. Neff was surprised to learn he had finished 5th overall in the Canadian championships. 5 other Guinness World Records were also set today.
Photo Credit: Todd. Fraser/Canada Running Series
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