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Police car breaks the tape at TCS Waterfront 5K

A police car mistakenly drove over the finish line ahead of 5K winner Ryan Tyrell

police car TCS Waterfront Photo by: Marley Dickinson
October 15, 2023
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Runners dressed in unique and surprising costumes broke Guinness World Records on Sunday at the TCS Waterfront Marathon, but perhaps the most unexpected finisher was not in costume (or running) at all. A police cruiser was the surprise leader in the 5K event, breaking the tape in around 14 minutes, 30 seconds.

The car, which was marshaling the lead runners but was supposed to pull off to the side 200 metres before the finish, accidentally missed the turn and drove through the tape, to the surprise of fans. Volunteers were quick to secure a new tape for race leader Ryan Tyrell of Barrie, Ont., to break in 14:35. Courtney Hufsmith of Saskatoon, Sask., crossed the line in 16:35 to win the women’s race.

Courtney Hufsmith TCS

Sunday’s main event, the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, saw some fresh faces on both the men’s and women’s sides, with Kenya’s Elvis Kipchoge Cheboi winning the overall event in 2:09:20, and Thomas Broatch of Vancouver taking the Canadian men’s title in his marathon debut in 2:16:25.

Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba Kejela was quickest to the line in the women’s race, taking the win in 2:23:11–a five-minute personal best, with Caroline Pomerleau of Quebec City as the surprise winner of the Canadian Marathon Championships, placing 10th overall in her marathon debut, in 2:34:44.

While the chilly wind held the runners at Sunday’s events back from breaking any course records, the police car mistakenly winning the 5K did not appear to be impacted. Unfortunately, no official splits were recorded for the vehicle, but you can view the full results from the rest of Sunday’s events at the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon here.

Click here for our coverage of the men’s and women’s elite races and the Canadian Marathon Championships.

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