Trevor Hofbauer and Malindi Elmore win Canadian Marathon Championships

Defending champion Trevor Hofbauer came back from some tense moments to take the Canadian Marathon Championship at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, crossing the finish line in 2:11:00 and fifth overall. Hofbauer last ran here in 2019, when he won the championship and qualified for the Tokyo Olympics; this was his third Canadian title. And Malindi Elmore took the women’s title in 2:25:14 in her first marathon on Canadian soil, just off the podium in fourth position in the elite women’s race.

After battling for 42.2km, the 2022 ?? marathon champion @TrevorHofbauer awaits his compatriot @ThePapaLinks at the @TOwaterfront42k finish line.#TCSToronto pic.twitter.com/Z7rpaHRrzD

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) October 16, 2022

It had been three years since the Toronto Waterfront Marathon (now with a new sponsor, TCS) and the Canadian Marathon Championships have taken place in person, and judging by the enthusiasm of both the runners and the fans lining the course, everyone was delighted to see the return of in-person racing.

Around 25 km into the race, Rory Linkletter briefly pulled ahead of Hofbauer, who had developed a side stitch. “Mentally, I knew I had to make a move on him,” says Linkletter. But Hofbauer came back to close the gap, then started to put distance between himself and Linkletter. Linkletter ultimately finished second in 2:13:32, bettering his time here from 2019 by three minutes. Lee Wesselius of River Glade, N.B. was the third Canadian in 2:16:51.

Hofbauer held up three fingers as he broke the tape in Nathan Phillips Square, signifying his third Canadian marathon title since 2017. “It was great to be back out there on the streets of Toronto,” says Hofbauer. “The crowd support and energy were amazing. It’s been a long and challenging year, and to be on the start-line here meant everything.” 

Elmore had little competition for the women’s title, defending champion Dayna Pidhoresky having dropped off the pace after the 5K mark. Some fans were hoping Elmore might reclaim her Canadian record, broken on Sept. 25 by Natasha Wodak at the Berlin Marathon, but it was not to be. Pidhoresky was the second Canadian woman, finishing in 2:30:58; Sasha Gollish finished third in a personal best time of 2:31:40, off only a few weeks of marathon training.

“I’ve had this race on my calendar since 2012,” says Elmore. “I am glad to finally get to run here. Toronto put on a fun race!”

The men’s elite race was won by Yihunilign Adane, 26, of Ethiopia in 2:07:18, after passing Felix Kandie of Kenya in the final seven kilometres of the race. Kiprono Kipkemoi of Kenya also passed Kandie, finishing second in 2:08:24; Kandie’s third-place time was 2:08:44. Adane has a PB of 2:05:53, from this year’s Barcelona Marathon, which he won in a course record. 

Yihunilign Adane ?? IS YOUR 2022 @TOwaterfront42k CHAMPION#TCSToronto #ChooseTORun pic.twitter.com/nhW5svl433

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) October 16, 2022

The Waterfront marathon course record of 2:05:00 set by Philemon Rono, who was scheduled to run but had to drop out last week, was not really in danger beyond the first few minutes of the race. 

Josh Cassidy won the inaugural wheelchair division of the race in 1:42:06.

The 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is back and all the action is 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.

For more info about the 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon and to see full results, head here.