A year after winning her first marathon on Canadian soil in Ottawa, Ethiopia’s Waganesh Mekasha has done it again—this time in Toronto. Mekasha set a new course and Canadian soil record at the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:20:44.
The cool temperatures at the race start created ideal conditions for fast times in both the men’s and women’s elite fields. Mekasha, along with a strong women’s field, targeted the course record pace from the outset. It wasn’t until the second half of the race, however, that Mekasha made her decisive move, breaking away from her Ethiopian compatriots Roza Dereje and Afera Godfay.
Mekasha, the 2023 Ottawa Marathon champion, had aimed to break the women’s course record in Toronto last year, but finished second to Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba Kejela in challenging windy conditions. This year, she earned redemption with a personal best of 2:20:44, slicing two minutes off her previous time.
Ethiopians swept the women’s podium, with Mekasha leading the way. Dereje took second in 2:21:26, and Godfay secured third in 2:21:50. All three times came in under the previous course record of 2:22:16, set by Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai in 2019.
Waganesh Mekasha🇪🇹 sets a new course record at the@TOwaterfront42k, clocking 2:20:44.
It was the fastest podium in history, as all 3 women broke the previous course record of 2:22:16🤩 pic.twitter.com/BQ1Jblp4TZ
— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) October 20, 2024
Natasha Wodak wins her first Canadian marathon title
Canadian marathon record holder Natasha Wodak of Vancouver won the Canadian Marathon Championships at Sunday’s TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, finishing in 2:27:54. This victory marked her first national title at this distance and a triumphant return to the event where she made her marathon debut in 2013. It was also her fastest marathon since setting the Canadian record at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
Leslie Sexton of Markham, Ont., and Rachel Hannah rounded out the Canadian women’s podium in 2:33:15 and 2:34:43, respectively.
🇨🇦’s @tasha_wodak won her first national marathon title at the @TOwaterfront42k in 2:27:54.
Even after struggling with nausea and getting down fluids during the race, she still pulled through to clock her best time in 2 years! 🏃♀️💨#chooseToRun pic.twitter.com/vjLe9wMHdb
— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) October 20, 2024
Top 10 women’s results
1. Waganesh Medasha ETH 2:20:44
2. Roza Dereje ETH 2:21:26
3. Afera Godfay ETH 2:21:50
4. Mesert Gebre ETH 2:24:50
5. Natasha Wodak CAN 2:27:54
6. Rediet Daniel ETH 2:33:05
7. Leslie Sexton CAN 2:33:15
8. Lydia Simiyu KEN 2:33:49
9. Rachel Hannah CAN 2:34:33
10. Anne-Marie Comeau CAN 2:35:16
For full results from the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon and Marathon, check here.
