Ben Flanagan displayed a calm demeanor early on in his inaugural 42.2-kilometer race, a pivotal factor in his clinching the Canadian men’s championship at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon held on Sunday. While satisfied with his race strategy, Flanagan acknowledged the need for further learning and expressed plans to approach the course differently in the future.
During the event, Flanagan felt overly eager in his successful bid to distance himself from Andrew Alexander of Toronto around the 25 km mark. This led to a challenging final 15 km as Flanagan found himself running solo. Reflecting on his experience, Flanagan shared with CBC Sports that he now has a deeper appreciation for the consequences of such a move in the latter stages of the race.
Crossing the finish line in two hours, 15 minutes, and 39 seconds, Flanagan secured victory over Phil Parrot-Migas of London, Ont. (2:17:15), and Alexander (2:18:15), claiming the 10th spot overall, trailing winner Leonard Langat who completed the course in 2:08:04, leading a Kenyan sweep of the top three positions.
Flanagan highlighted the importance of racing alongside others in the challenging conditions, particularly combating strong winds on a warm Sunday. Throughout the demanding moments, Flanagan relied on specific cues to stay focused and maintain his form, emphasizing the need to preserve energy for the final push towards the finish line.
Looking ahead, Flanagan aims to represent Canada in the 2028 Olympic marathon in Los Angeles. Despite the physical toll of the race, Flanagan expressed gratitude for the win, noting the valuable lessons learned for future competitions.
The Canadian champion, residing in Cape Cod, Mass., with his family, expressed appreciation for the support from the crowd during the race. Flanagan, who has excelled in various distances, looks to continue his marathon journey with a focus on further improving his performance and strategic approach.
Rachel Hannah, the top Canadian woman at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, also celebrated her achievement, clocking in at 2:33:47. Reflecting on her win, Hannah expressed her joy at fulfilling a long-standing dream of claiming the Canadian championship.
Both Flanagan and Hannah will receive $8,000 each as Canadian champions, with the overall winners taking home $25,000. The event saw Shure Demise of Ethiopia emerge as the women’s overall winner for the third time, completing the race in 2:21:04, followed by Kenya’s Betty Chepkorir in second place with a time of 2:23:46.