Justin Kent of Surrey, B.C., took the title of Canadian marathon champion on Sunday morning at the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, setting a personal best of 2:12:17 to win his first national championship in the distance.
Justin Kent is officially your Men’s 2024 Canadian Marathon Champion at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon 🇨🇦🥇 pic.twitter.com/sMMCwX5Dla
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) October 20, 2024
Kent told Canadian Running at Friday’s press conference that he was in the best shape of his career upon arriving in Toronto, having specifically trained for the race since March. His performance Sunday in Toronto improved upon his previous personal best of 2:13:07, set at the 2023 Prague Marathon.
“I’m stoked with the result,” says Kent. “Besides the wind being against me on the way back, I felt smooth and in control.”
The 32-year-old had a breakthrough performance with family and friends cheering him on at the finish line, including the newest member of the Kent family, Willa. “To have my wife [Lindsey Butterworth], mother, and my five-month-old daughter here means everything,” says Kent. “I’m speechless.”
Lee Wesselius of River Glade, N.B. crossed the line for second in a personal best 2:13:47. Toronto’s Andrew Alexander rounded out the Canadian podium in his marathon debut for third in 2:14:13.
🇨🇦’s Justin Kent (a new dad) won his first Canadian title at the Canadian Marathon Championships in Toronto with a personal best of 2:12:17🏆@TOwaterfront42k #choosetorun pic.twitter.com/Co44V6LJQm
— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) October 20, 2024
The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is one of two World Athletics Label marathons in Canada, offering Canada’s top marathoners the chance to run fast on home soil. Kent finished seventh overall in the men’s field only five minutes behind Ethiopia’s Mulugeta Uma, who won the race in 2:07:16.
This was Uma’s second major marathon victory of the year; he also won the Paris Marathon in April. Dominic Ngeno of Kenya finished second in 2:07:23, and Noah Kipkemboi, also of Kenya, took third in 2:07:31.
For full results from the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon and Marathon, check here.
