By Kurt Morris, World-Track
TORONTO — Kenneth Mungara of Kenya successfully defended his Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon crown on Sunday.
Mungara crossed the finishing line first in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 31.9 seconds, as he became the fastest ever marathon runner on Canadian soil.
In doing so, the 36-year-old carved 2 minutes off his personal record in breaking the course record he set last year on his way to beating Ethiopia’s Chala Lemi, who finished second in 2:08:48.4.
"I didn’t believe the clock," Mungura told reporters after. "It was a surprise. My manager (Dereke Froude) said I could run 2:08. He said ‘you can make it.’ I didn’t believe him. Now I have made it."
Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s Amane Gobena won the women’s title, also in a new course record time of 2:28:30.4
She defeated fellow countrywoman and defending champion, Mulu Seboka.
“I’m very happy with my race,” said Gobena. “I knew after 40km I would win. I was hoping to run around 2:22 but I had trouble with my stomach.”
