Kenya’s Philemon Rono and Magdalyne Masai run fastest marathons ever on Canadian Soil
Fastest marathons ever on Canadian soil for Kenya's Philemon Rono (2:05:00) and Magdelyne Masai (2:22:16) in Toronto
It was an extraordinary day at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, with Kenyans Philemon Rono and Magdalyne Masai Robertson taking down the men’s and women’s course records and setting new Canadian soil records in the marathon. Rono, who won this race in 2016 and 2017, came from behind in the final kilometres to take his third win at STWM, finishing in 2:05:00 and breaking his own previous record here (of 2:06:52, set in 2017) by almost two minutes. Masai finished in 2:22:16, a new unofficial all-comers record by one second.
Lemi Berhanu finished in second place (2:05:09), with Felix Chemonges of Uganda finishing third in a new national record of 2:05:12.
Masai was in a tight pack of about eight elite women for most of the race. Eshetu Biruktayit of Ethiopia tried to make a move on the eastern Lakeshore, but the pack covered her move. She finished in second place, with a new personal best of 2:22:40. Kenya’s Betsy Saina finished third, also in a PB of 2:22:43.
Saina was a last-minute addition to the race. She attempted to run last week’s Chicago Marathon, but had had a bout of food poisoning and did not finish. Saina won the Paris Marathon in 2018 in 2:22:56.
Masai takes the all-comers record from Gelete Burka, who set the previous record just one second slower at 2:22:17 at the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in 2018. Masai is married to Jake Robertson, who ran here last year in much colder conditions, finishing sixth. It’s safe to say today’s milder weather conditions played a huge role in making this the fastest day yet for STWM.
The prize money breaks down as follows: winners earn $30,000. Course and all-comers record breakers earn another $40,000, and because Rono’s new record was under 2:06:30 and Masai’s was under 2:22:17, they earned an additional $10,000 each.