TORONTO - Defending champion Kenneth Mungara of Kenya raced to the fastest time on Canadian soil in winning the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday.
Mungara, 36, ran two hours eight minutes 31.9 seconds over the 42.195-kilometre course to shave two minutes off his personal record he ran in winning last year's race, and almost a full minute off John Kelai's race record 2:09:30 set in 2007, the previous Canadian best.
Ethiopians took second and third with Chala Lemi finishing in 2:08:48.4, and Gashaw Melese Asfaw taking third in 2:09:22.8.
David Jackson of Victoria was 14th in 2:24:03.3 seconds.
Amane Gobena of Ethiopia won the women's marathon in a course-record time of 2:28:30.4, overtaking defending champion and fellow Ethiopian Mulu Seboka over the last kilometre. Seboka was second 2:29:37.2, while Haile Kebebush of Ethiopia was third in 2:30:47.9.
Krista Duchene of Brantford, Ont., was ninth in 2:50:36.9.
Organizers say with two course records set, a sold out race, and over $1.8 million raised this was the most successful race in the marathon's 20 year history.
An estimated 20,000 runners took part in the marathon, half-marathon and five-kilometre races along Toronto's lakefront, under humid and overcast conditions.
