Tom McGrath and Liza Howard top Canadians at NYC Marathon, Paula Keating races two weeks after Toronto Marathon

Paula Keating NYC
Keating, the top Canadian female masters athlete, at mile 26.

In the midst of more than 50,000 competitors at Sunday’s New York City Marathon were a trio of fast Canadians about to show spectators three knockout performances. Tom McGrath, a Running Room-sponsored athlete, was the top Canadian male running 2:30:54 to win the men’s 25 to 29 category while Liza Howard was the top Canadian female winning the women’s 25 to 29 category in 2:49:05.

Paula Keating, a 49-year-old masters athlete from New Brunswick, ran 2:59:03 to finish as the top Canadian female masters athlete, just two weeks removed from running the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Top male: Tom McGrath – 29th (2:30:54)

McGrath, a native of Edmonton, Alt., was the top Canadian male on Sunday going through the halfway point in 1:15:14. McGrath owns a lifetime best of 2:28:48 from the 2015 Edmonton Marathon.

McGrath is no stranger to the World Marathon Majors. He was the top Canadian at the 2014 Boston Marathon, inspired by the 2013 bombings the previous year, and ran 2:29:26 at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon.

Top female: Liza Howard – 21st (2:49:05)

The 27-year-old Canadian living in New York City won the women’s 25 to 29 category running 2:49:05. Howard runs for the Henwood Hounds, a running group based in Manhattan, N.Y.

Top female masters athlete: Paula Keating – 48th (2:59:03)

Sunday marked the fourth time Keating has run the New York City Marathon, this time lining up with some of the best in the world as part of the elite women’s field. Keating finished third in the women’s 45 to 49 category.

“It’s always a thrill to line up with some of the fastest and most talented female runners in the world,” said Keating on Monday. “My pre-race goal was to finish within two minutes of my time from the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon [2:57:38], run sub-3:00:00 and place reasonably well in my age group. It was mission accomplished on Sunday.”

The New Brunswick native had just two weeks between marathons having run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Oct. 18.

“Going forward, I plan to rest and recover this month then begin training for Boston,” added Keating. “I was invited back for 2016 as an elite masters athlete after competing in 2015.”

Sunday’s New York City Marathon was won by Stanley Biwott (2:10:34) and Mary Keitany (2:24:25). For the full race report, see here.

Editor’s correction: A previous version of this article indicated that Paula Keating was the top Canadian female athlete at the New York City Marathon instead of Liza Howard.

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