TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon: Trevor Hofbauer “excited” to defend his title

Canada’s premier running event, The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, returns Sunday as one of only two World Athletics Elite Label races in Canada. Many of Canada’s fastest male and female marathoners will battle it out over 42.2 for the Canadian title while competing against a top field of international talent for a lucrative prize purse.

Here is a preview of all the action and storylines in the men’s elite race.

Canadian championship preview:

Rory Linkletter had a breakout performance at the 2022 World Championships in July, placing 20th in a time of 2:10:24 to become the fifth-fastest Canadian marathoner in history. When Linkletter sat down with his coach, Ryan Hall, to discuss a fall marathon, they decided Toronto would the perfect setting for Linkletter not only to break 2:10, but also to win a Canadian title.

“My transition from worlds into this training build happened seamlessly,” says Linkletter. “I found myself itching to get back out there, and my training partners made the transition easy.”

This will be Linkletter’s second trip to Toronto (he finished 16th in 2018 in his first marathon).

Linkletter is looking to redeem himself with his return, and has been adamant about his goal of winning the Canadian marathon title in a personal best time. “I am excited,” says Linkletter. “I felt I made some mental mistakes my last time out, but I am looking forward to battling with Hofbauer for the title.”

Trevor Hofbauer said at Friday’s press conference that running a personal best of 2:09:51 to win in the 2019 race was a top-five moment of his life. The defending champion will return Sunday, looking to make it two straight victories and his third marathon title in four years. “My favourite part about running in Toronto is having my family from Michigan being able to watch me race,” says Hofbauer. “I don’t see them often, and it means the world to have them here.”

Hofbauer competed for Canada in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics, but fell short of his expectations. In April, he bounced back in Boston, running 2:10:52 to become the fastest Canadian to run the prestigious marathon. “Boston was special,” says Hofbauer, “and my performance was the confidence-builder I needed to continue with training.”

Lee Wesselius might not be a name known to many Canadians outside of the Maritimes, but the 28-year-old from River Glade, N.B. has made some noise in 2022, winning the 21K de Montréal, as well as a bronze medal for Canada at the NACAC Half Marathon Championships in Costa Rica. Wesselius ran his personal at the 2021 Indianapolis Marathon, where he finished second in 2:16:41.

Wesselius is planning to improve on his PB and has his sights set on the Canadian marathon championships podium in Toronto.

Elite race preview

The overall winner of the 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon will almost certainly come down to a battle between Yihunilign Adane of Ethiopia and a strong Kenyan squad led by Barselius Kipyego and Felix Kandie.

Kipyego is the fastest man in the field, with a personal best of 2:04:48 from the 2021 Paris Marathon; he has come to Toronto to chase the course record of 2:05-flat. His training partners Amos Kipruto and Benson Kipruto (not related) have collected back-to-back marathon wins over the last two weeks in London and Chicago, respectively. It’s safe to say that Kipyego has come to Toronto in potential record-breaking shape.

This is Kipyego’s race to lose, but if two runners could beat him, it’s Kandie and Adane.

With a personal best of 2:06:03, Kandie returns to Toronto after his third-place finish in 2018. He said at Friday’s press conference that watching the Toronto Waterfront Marathon from his home in 2019 inspired him to return and chase the course record.

Similar to Kipyego, Adane will also be inspired by the fitness of his training partner, Leul Gebrsilase, who finished second at the 2022 London Marathon. Although Adane is only 26, he has years of experience in the marathon, holding a personal best of 2:05:53 from Barcelona in May. “I was attracted to Toronto by the fast course,” says Adane. “I will look to run fast on Sunday.”

Canadian Running prediction: Barselius Kipyego (KEN) 2:04:37

The 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is back and taking place in Toronto on Oct. 16. All the action will be brought to you by Canadian Running and Asics Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for up-to-date exclusive news, live-tweeting and other content.