Image Name: Wodak and Kent Dominate at Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Image Credit: City News Toronto
The 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon was an incredible event for Canada in which Natasha Wodak and Justin Kent won the Canadian titles. On a sunny fall Toronto day, the event showed off the great best of Canadian distance running to give welcome to over 30,000 participants from around the globe.
Excellent Victory By Natasha Wodak
Natasha Wodak, who is 42 years old, is the heroine of the women’s category for the Canadian title with an impressive time of 2:27:54. It was Wodak’s first national marathon title, despite this not being her first prize from a marathon. She is already an affiliated marathon runner and, simultaneously, is the Canadian women’s record holder. She had also won the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. For Wodak, it was her maiden appearance in this event since 2013, which only adds to the victory’s significance. One way to describe the victory: Wodak had a comfortable margin of more than five minutes ahead of her nearest competitor, Leslie Sexton, all the more so cementing her standing as one of Canada’s best marathoners.
Wodak ran the whole race with a perfect mix of pacing and consistency. She had not run this distance in over ten years, yet she managed to conserve her energy till the final race, where she took in victory smiles and raised her arms into the roaring fans around her. In that picture, one would envision pure glee together with full dedication by Kent when running her career.
Justin Kent Breaks Ground
It was a remarkable win for Justin Kent on the men’s side, also from Surrey, B.C. His time of 2:12:17 took the Canadian men’s title and capped an impressive personal best for the athlete. Kent was equally dominant to Wodak, leading the race for most of the distance. A product of the University of British Columbia, Kent’s athletic credentials have seen him compete in several international events, including the 2023 World Championships where he recorded a career-best result finishing 30th. It therefore came as a great personal achievement for Kent, whose breakthrough over the marathon distance had come in Toronto.
At the halfway mark in the 42.4-kilometer race, it appeared that Kent would be in trouble when a bunch of chasers caught up with him. But Kent proved once again to be made of sterner stuff, digging deeper to set a new gear in the final kilometers, crossing the finish line alone and well ahead of his two Canadian contemporaries. His triumph in this marathon underlines his potential as one of Canada’s bright hopes for the future in distance running.
Image Name: Toronto Waterfront Marathon Highlights
Image Credit: The Globe and Mail
Ethiopians Rule the International Arena
While Wodak and Kent enjoyed the thrill of taking the Canadian championships, the men’s and women’s marathons overall were dominated by Ethiopians. The best time overall in this international event was posted by Mulugeta Uma, who won the men’s championship at 2:07:16 and earlier this year took the Paris Marathon crown. His finish here in Toronto cements his position as one of the world’s finest marathoners.
Waganesh Mekasha set a new course record in the women’s overall race at 2:20:44 to win it. The victory was sweet for the Ethiopian, who last year had won by just one second in a close sprint finish. This year, Mekasha bolted from the pack early, never looking back and ushering herself into Toronto marathon history.
Ideal Climate Conditions Enhanced Performances
Ideal weather conditions were significant in why athletes delivered the best performances at this year’s marathon. Starting temperatures were cool enough at 7°C, while temperatures throughout the race increased to 14°C, perfect for running long distances. With sunshine and only a light breeze blowing around, athletes could focus completely on race strategies and not have to fight challenging weather conditions that will sidetrack performance.
The Wheelchair Marathon
In addition to the races on foot, the event also featured a marathon on wheelchairs. Josh Cassidy, who is a three-time Paralympian, won his third victory consecutively in Canada and overall for the event finishing with 1:38:09. Cassidy’s victory in the wheelchair race added to the impressive showing at the marathon.
Global Reach of Toronto Marathon
The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon remains a flagship event in the international marathon calendar, as evidenced by the turnout this year, where nearly 30,000 runners from 70 countries participated. Outside the marathon, there was also a five-kilometer race on Saturday and a marathon, half marathon, and wheelchair marathon on Sunday.
Conclusion
This 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon will be remembered for some while, especially for the distance running fans in Canada. Natasha Wodak and Justin Kent have sealed their respective national titles and personal records in the event, giving a glimpse of the promising future of marathon running from Canada. Ethiopian race winners Mulugeta Uma and Waganesh Mekasha added an international tang, while ideal conditions made for perfect running for all. This could work to keep the marathon ever so more popular and prestigious in the years to come as it continues its steady march of gaining momentum in both Canada and other parts of the world.
