On Sunday, Mississauga, Ont.’s Kevin Smith smashed the Canadian 55+ half-marathon record at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon, finishing in a speedy 1:15:42. Just three weeks after completing the Berlin Marathon, 55-year-old Smith proved he still had more to give, clocking a time that will go down in the books. Smith beat a long-standing record of 1:16:21, set in Toronto on Sept. 29, 1996, by Robert Moore.
Toronto’s Kevin Smith broke the 55+ 🇨🇦 record in the half-marathon at @TOwaterfront42k, running 1:15:42.
This is vindication for Smith, who says he’s been chasing these records for 15 years–ever since becoming a master’s athlete💪🏼#chooseToRun pic.twitter.com/eJMxB6VHlz
— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) October 20, 2024
Smith said he felt both tired and thrilled post-race. “A whole bunch of emotions were streaming through me in the last few minutes when I realized it finally could happen because I’ve been chasing this [an age group record] for 15 years.” On Sunday, Smith finally conquered the elusive goal he’s pursued since becoming a masters runner. “..finally to do it just feels so, so rewarding,” he added.
Smith said he knew he was on track for the record. “I had been planning this for a long, long time and I knew where I was, but there are moments out there when you ebb and flow and I thought I might be losing it,” he explained. “Once I hit a couple of late good kms, and I knew it was just one km to go, I started to go, you know, it’s a few minutes of anguish or whatever just to get there.”
Hunter Grimshaw-Surette and Eliyah Brawdy win TCS Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon
Smith’s success falls only weeks behind a top ten age-group finish in the Berlin Marathon, where he ran 2:42:56 (eighth in M55-59). Although his legs were fresh off a hard effort, Smith wasn’t ready to slow down. “I thought, I don’t know if I’ll recover in time… but I’m in good shape, so I’ll risk it.” That risk paid off.
Sunday’s 2024 Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon crowned two first-time champions: Hunter Grimshaw-Surette of Central Chebogue, N.S., and Eliyah Brawdy of Smithers, B.C. Grimshaw-Surette broke the tape in front of Toronto City Hall, finishing in 65:13 in his debut at the distance, while Brawdy shaved seven minutes off her previous best, crossing the line in 1:13:34.
For full results of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon and associated races, click here.
