Ethiopia’s Yihunilign Adane ran away with the honors in style in an exciting race which featured multiple late-race lead changes at the 21st edition of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon held on Sunday (16) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Adane was among the leading group of seven that included, Kiprono Kipkemoi, Enock Onchari, Felix Kandie, Barselius Kipyego, and Felix Kibitok, and Ethiopian Kebede Tulu Wami, who went through the 5k mark in 14:40.
That pack of seven was still together as they sailed through the half way mark in 1:02.27 but in the second half, the pace slowed further and the athletes’ competitive instincts took over with Kandie being the first to pull away from the seven. The 35 year-old put in a mighty surge as the pack quickly broke up, and at 35-K Kandie had an 11-second lead. “I wanted to run a sub-2:07 tempo, I was feeling well,” said Kandie.
The Ethiopia wasn’t worried about Kandie, and he stuck to his plan and it worked. At around 39k, Adane flew past Kandie and built a 13-second lead and by the 40K mark he increased his speed and as he surged on alone to cut the tape in a time of 2:07.18 and collecting his second marathon win of the season after clinching the Barcelona Marathon in May.
“I am very very happy, I could have run a little better, but I am very very satisfied,” said Adane, through a translator.
Kandie who was hurting was also passed by his compatriot Kipkemoi, who crossed the finish line in second in 2:08.24 with Kandie forced to settle in third in 2:08.44.
Onchari and Canadian Trevor Hofbauer came home in fourth and fifth place in a time of 2:10.07 and 2:11.00 respectively.
The race defending champion and favorite, Kipyego finished in a distant sixth place in 2:11.12.
LEADING RESULTS
42KM MEN
- Yihunilign Adane (ETH) 2:07:18
- Kiprono Kipkemoi (KEN) 2:08:24
- Felix Kandie (KEN) 2:08:44
- Enock Onchari (KEN) 2:10:07
- Trevor Hofbauer (CAN) 2:11:00
- Barselius Kipyego (KEN) 2:11:12
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