Burka wins Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, sets new Canadian soil record

And here’s her photo finish in the @scotiabank #Ottawa Marathon setting the new Canadian soil #marathon record pic.twitter.com/y31nTO1yzM

— Ottawa Marathon (@OttawaMarathon) May 27, 2018

Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka has won the Ottawa Marathon in 2:22:17, setting a new record for the women’s marathon on Canadian soil. She led the pack for most of the final 10K of the race.

Burka’s personal best is 2:20:45, which she set in Dubai in January.

Hiwot Gebrekidan, 23, also of Ethiopia, was second, in 2:26:11, repeating her second-place performance from last year, when she led the race for 39K. 2017 US champion Sara Hall was third, in 2:26:20, a new PB. 

Course record-holder Yemane Tsegay, also of Ethiopia, won the men’s marathon in 2:08:52. (Tsegay set the Ottawa course record of 2:06:54 in 2014.)

Our first place elite men's finish: Yemane Tsegay in the @scotiabank #Ottawa Marathon#RunOttawa2018 pic.twitter.com/chI4W4wXUk

— Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend (@OttawaRaceWknd) May 27, 2018

John Korir of Kenya was second (2:09:14) and Ethiopian Adugna Takele, 29, was third, in 2:09:26. It was Korir’s first marathon.

According to Japan Running News, Tsegay is now one of only five men in the world who have run 14 career marathons in under 2:10 (though Tsegaye Kebede has run 18).

Congrats to my young bro John korir today here in @OttawaMarathon finishing sec in his first marathon and the first Kenyan at time of 2.09.13 is way faster than my first marathon. Raising the next champion. To God be the glory pic.twitter.com/mSDCt39hcs

— Hon wesley korir (@weskorir) May 27, 2018

Tristan Woodfine of Cobden, Ont. was the first Canadian across the finish line (and 10th overall) on this muggy morning in Ottawa, in 2:18:55, setting himself a nine-minute PB in the process. Woodfine’s having an excellent season so far, having won the Montreal Half-Marathon in April.

Toronto’s Sami Jibril was second Canadian, in 2:22:46. Lucas McAneney was third Canadian, in 2:24:06. Jibril, who works full time for the Toronto Transit Commission, was second in the Canadian championships last year.

Tristan Woodfine is your top 🇨🇦 male 2018 Ottawa Marathon #RunOttawa2018 pic.twitter.com/cKXeSoinXe

— Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend (@OttawaRaceWknd) May 27, 2018

Kait Toohey was the first Canadian to cross the finish line this morning, with a new PB of 2:45:07. Right behind her was Liza Howard, followed by Grace Baker.