Defending champion Marta Megra returns to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Both defending champions will be on the start line of the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon in Toronto on October 21st. 

Marta Megra of Ethiopia announced her return to the marathon on Wednesday morning. Megra walked away with $25,000 CAD after winning last year’s race. 

Megra reportedly said, “This year I am in good condition, good shape so hopefully I will go slower the first half,” she says. “My goal is to run my personal best in Toronto and to improve the course record.” The current course record is 2:22:43 and the women who breaks the record walks away with an extra $40,000 CAD. 

RELATED: Former champion to return to Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Megra’s personal best is 2:24:08, which she will have to lower to catch the course record. 

This summer could potentially see the men’s and women’s Canadian soil records fall, as Canadian marathon events have become some of the best in the world. 

RELATED: Krista DuChene to return to Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Others have taken notice of the fast times run on Canadian soil as well. Japan Running News cited the Ottawa Marathon as the eighth best women’s marathon in the world in their statistical recap of the first half of the 2018 marathon season.

In the men’s race, Philemon Rono of Kenya has also announced his return to the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon. Rono’s 2017 winning time was 2:06:51. He has won the race twice and is looking to make this year a three-peat.