Toronto and Mississauga marathons return as thousands of runners take to the streets

Both the Toronto and Mississauga marathon returned after a two-year hiatus on Sunday morning, welcoming thousands of runners from across Canada. The runners were greeted with a mix of sunny skies and light rain as they tackled the 42.2 km and 21.1 km distances.

Toronto Marathon

Dennis Mbelenzi of Halifax won the race in 2:29:58, two weeks after he ran a personal best of 2:26:07 at the Boston Marathon. Marianne Hogan of Montreal came away with the win in the women’s marathon in 2:47:59, running alongside her brother Francois. Hogan, a decorated ultratrail runner, was supposed to run last week’s Canyons 100K in California but did not start, due to an ankle injury. She is currently in preparations for the Western States 100 in June.

The race started in North York at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue before runners headed southbound to finish at Exhibition Place on Toronto’s waterfront. Toronto’s Nick Croker finished behind Mbelenzi in 2:30:52, and Marvin Foucher of Montreal was third in his marathon debut in 2:40:37.

Hogan finished one minute ahead of Heather O’Donnell from Belleville, Ont., who was second in 2:49:02. Victoria Wicks of Toronto rounded out the podium in 2:54:17.

Toronto Half Marathon

Queens University runner William Pidduck won the half marathon in 1:11:21. Pidduck beat Calvin Andrews, who crossed the finish line a minute and 27 seconds behind him. Shinsuke Adachi finished third in 1:14:38.

Middle-distance runner Katherine Camp from New Zealand was victorious on the women’s side, winning the race in 1:18:33. Toronto’s Gillian McCabe finished second in 1:20:08, a minute and a half behind Camp. McCabe’s training partner with the Toronto’s Monarch Espressos, Liza Howard, came third in 1:20:14 after pacing McCabe for a majority of the race.

You can view all results from the 2022 Toronto Marathon here.

Mississauga Marathon

Three Toronto runners swept the marathon podium in Mississauga as Bradley Gionet came out on top in a personal best time of 2:31:57. Gionet had a commanding seven-minute win over Chris Van De Water and Paul Biroux, who were second and third respectively in 2:39:07 and 2:40:42.

The top three in the women’s race all went under the three-hour barrier as ultrarunner Julie Hamulecki of Toronto took the win in 2:50:08. Amanda Nelson of Woodstock ran a personal best time of 2:58:06 for second place, and Miriam Zittel of Toronto was third, dipping under the three-hour mark by four seconds (2:59:56).

Over 800 strong signed up for the Mississauga Marathon's Novo Nordisk's Hazel 5k
A perfect afternoon for a run @NovoNordiskCA @BonnieCrombie @Chris_Fonseca3 @RobTrewartha #ward1 #Mississauga @SaugaMarathon #ourcommunityisourhome pic.twitter.com/3lInbnX622

— Stephen Dasko Councillor Ward 1 Mississauga (@DaskoWard1) May 1, 2022

Mississauga Half Marathon

Lucas McAneney of Waterdown, Ont. led the race from start to finish to take the win in 69:46 over Canadian triathlete Marek Bialkowski of Parry Sound, Ont., (1:10:55). Stephen Antolin of Toronto was third in 1:14:11.

In the women’s half, another Queens University runner came out with the win. Third-year student Tori Bouck ran a personal best time of 1:18:21 to finish fifth overall, in addition to being the first woman to finish the 21.1km distance. Allison Jacob and Jessica Kuepfer from Ontario’s Kitchener-Waterloo area tied for second in 1:19:30. Heather Pady of Mono, Ont. snuck up into the third position in 1:26:39.

You can view all results from the 2022 Mississauga Marathon here.