Lanni Marchant wins Island Run 10K and trip to Kenya

While some of Canada’s top 5K runners were competing for the title of national championship on Sunday morning, a short ferry ride away others were racing the Toronto Island Run 10K, this year with an impressive prize package: a trip to Kenya’s Rift Valley for a training camp with some of the world’s top athletes.

The women’s race was won by Canada’s top marathoner and national record holder, Lanni Marchant, in a course record of 33:53.

Marchant is no stranger to the Rift Valley, having trained there in recent years during lead-up phases to goal marathons. Standards to be eligible for the trip were set as 32:00 for men and 36:00 for women, meaning Lanni was well under the standard. Local Toronto runner Jeff Costen, who won the men’s race in 31:03, also won a trip.

“I was excited to see that we finally have a road 5K champs but am also well aware of the talent we have in Canada, and that I’d be hard pressed to crack the top places over such a short distance, especially only six-ish weeks after a marathon,” said Marchant. “The island 10K suited me better and, since I go to Kenya every winter anyways, it seemed like a perfect fit.”

She will take the trip in January during a similar time to when she usually heads to the East African country. Saying she “recovered really well after Commonwealth Games,” where she finished fourth in the marathon, Marchant will be back in Toronto later in September to race the national 10K championships at the Zoo Run.

Mathieu Gentès, Athletics Canada’s director of public relations, didn’t find a problem in athletes picking a race which fits her schedule in lieu of a shorter championship event.

“These decisions are left to the athlete and their coach to make the call in terms of what is best for them,” says Gentès. “An annual training and competition plan is approved by the Head Coach and technical leadership. […]”

“Lanni wasn’t expected to be at the 5K, of course would have loved to have her. Maybe next year.”

The prize is a divergence from the usual cash given out at road races. It’s not uncommon at some small, local races for prizes other than money, such as shoes and gift certificates, to be awarded to winners, and some of the largest events in the world also have larger prizes, such as new cars.

The trip is covered by Quartet Service, Inc., and IT services outsourcing firm based in Toronto.

Capped at 1,800 runners, the event is one of the city’s oldest, now having been held for 34 years.