The reigning TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon champion, Kenya’s Elvis Kipchoge Cheboi, will return to the city on Oct. 20, aiming to join the elite company of two men who have successfully defended their marathon title the following year.
Last year, Cheboi stunned the elite men’s field, defeating several international athletes with personal bests two to three minutes faster than his. His personal best of 2:09:20 was set in Toronto last year. However, his performance at the 2022 Barcelona Half Marathon, where he clocked a personal best of 59:15, suggests he could challenge the Toronto course record of 2:05:00 if conditions are favourable.
The only two men to successfully defend their marathon titles in Toronto are four-time champion Kenneth Mungara and course record holder Philemon Rono.
Reflecting on last year’s win in Toronto, Cheboi said the victory was “a significant moment” for his career: “That race gave me great memories because I had never won a marathon or any race abroad.”
Cheboi’s preparation for this year’s marathon has been meticulous. Initially planning to compete in the 2024 Vienna Marathon earlier this year, he decided to focus solely on defending his title in Toronto after a hamstring issue disrupted his training. Now, fully recovered, he is focused on rising to the top of the podium once again. “I think I will try to win for the second time, but I can’t promise. The good weather on the day will determine if I can run my best time,” said Cheboi.
The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier running event, attracting many international marathon stars as a World Athletics Elite Label Race. This year’s race will take place on Sunday, Oct. 20, with Cheboi aiming to defend his title and possibly break his personal best on the flat, fast course.
