Three-time champion Philemon Rono will defend title at TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Rono's goal is to become crowned the 'King of Toronto'
Kenya native Philemon Rono will return to the 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Canada Running Series (CRS) announced Tuesday. Rono holds the all-comers record of 2:05:00, from 2019, when he won the race for the third time. He has one goal for his return this year: to win.
“My aim when I come to Toronto is to do another fantastic job and to be known as the ‘King of Toronto,” he said. In 2020, Rono ran his second fastest time in Valencia in 2:05:37, and finished 6th in the 2022 Seoul Marathon in 2:07:03 in April of this year.
BREAKING:
Philemon Rono, the 2017 #TOWaterfront42k champion, has caught up to Berhanu and won. It was done so quickly that the broadcasters missed it.
He takes the win in the FASTEST TIME EVER RUN IN CANADA.
2:05:00, unofficial.
The baby police strikes again. What a move. pic.twitter.com/7Ygp2kQGVT
— TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon (@TOwaterfront42k) October 20, 2019
Rono trains in Kaptagat, Kenya, at double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge’s NN Running Team training camp. Some of Kenya’s most legendary distance runners live at the camp throughout the week and return to their families on weekends. The small-framed but mighty runner has a curious nickname. When not training or racing, Rono works as a police officer, so his teammates started calling him “Baby Police,” and it stuck.
Rono is the third elite runner to announce his return to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, along with Canadian Olympian Trevor Hofbauer and the fastest Canadian female marathoner in history, Malindi Elmore.
Rono has fond memories of Toronto, despite suffering an accident while warming up for his 2016 victory. A barrier he was using while stretching came crashing down on his head. After consulting his agent and a medic he went ahead, and won the race in 2:08:26.
The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon has earned a World Athletics Elite label, making it only the second race in Canada with the title. It is the final event in the CRS calendar for 2022. The race has served as both the Athletics Canada Canadian Marathon Championship and the Canadian Olympic marathon trials since 2017.
The 2022 event will be held on Oct. 16. You can find out more or register to race here.
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