TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon 2025: Shure Demise and Leonard Langat dominate as Ben Flanagan claims Canadian title

Toronto once again showed why its marathon ranks among the best on the North American circuit. On Sunday, October 19, more than 31,000 runners lined up for the 36th edition of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, taking over a lively city where enthusiasm for running continues to grow. Under grey skies and winds blowing in from Lake Ontario, the African favorites delivered as expected: Leonard Langat and Shure Demise triumphed in 2:08:05 and 2:21:04. At the same time, Canada’s best runners battled for the national titles. Ben Flanagan made a successful marathon debut, while Rachel Hannah claimed the women’s crown. Here’s a look back at a festive event that delivered plenty of spectacle despite difficult conditions.

Leonard Langat delivers a commanding win

In the men’s race, Kenyan Leonard Langat made a highly impressive return to Canadian soil. Crossing the line first in 2:08:05, he ran his fastest time in three years and the second-fastest of his career, behind his 2:06:59 personal best. In a tightly packed race where the top five finished within a minute of one another, Langat showed patience and superb control to triumph on the streets of Toronto. Already the winner of the Milan Marathon in the spring in 2:08:38, he completes a perfect season, underlining his consistency and ability to perform on the biggest international stages.

Behind him, fellow Kenyans Noah Kipkemboi (2:08:29) and Sila Kiptoo (2:08:46) completed an all-Kenyan podium. Defending champion Mulugeta Uma dropped out, while Dominic Ngeno, runner-up last year, finished sixth. Toronto had its king back, and Langat had rediscovered his best form.

Shure Demise, a queen reborn

Nine years after her first two victories in Toronto, Shure Demise of Ethiopia produced an exceptional performance. Her 2:21:04 was her fastest marathon since making her debut over the distance a decade ago, just five seconds shy of the junior world record she set in 2015. After stepping away from the marathon for three years, Demise had already made a statement this spring by winning the Milan Marathon in 2:23:31. Toronto confirmed her return to the top: composed, relaxed and once again making it look easy. Kenyan Betty Chepkorir (2:23:46) and Ethiopian Almaz Kebebe (2:26:41) completed the podium.

The women’s race also produced a highly unexpected moment: three Ethiopian athletes, Gojjam Enyew, Dibabe Beyene and Nigsti Haftu, missed the turn separating the half marathon from the marathon, around the 20 km mark. Enyew and Beyene, who were in the lead group at the time, followed the half-marathon field all the way to the finish line... twenty-two kilometres too soon. Footage of their visibly confused finish quickly spread across social media.

Ben Flanagan makes a winning debut and takes Canadian title

One of the weekend’s main attractions was Ben Flanagan’s marathon debut. The track specialist and Paris 2024 Olympian over 5,000 m, as well as Canadian champion over 5 and 10 km, took on the classic distance for the first time. The result was a painful finish but a successful gamble: 2:15:41 and, above all, a national title over his first 42.195 km. The local runner managed his race intelligently, reaching halfway under control in 1:06:49 before gritting his teeth through the closing stages. He finished 10th overall, ahead of Phil Parrot-Migas (2:17:16) and Andrew Alexander (2:18:16), both of whom clocked strong times despite the headwind in the second half of the race.

Ben Flanagan confirmed that he now belongs among the Canadian marathoners to watch. With this national title, his first experience over the distance marks an important step in his transition from the track to the road. The 30-year-old’s goal is to represent Canada in the marathon at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Rachel Hannah finally becomes Canadian champion

In the women’s race, veteran Rachel Hannah finally had her moment. On her fifth attempt in Toronto, the Port Elgin runner claimed her first national marathon title. Her 2:33:47 was her fastest time since 2016. At 39, Hannah showed that she remains one of the most reliable distance runners in Canada, drawing on exemplary experience and consistency. She finished ahead of Makenna Fitzgerald (2:38:59) and Brittany Moran, who returned to competition after becoming a mother (2:42:46).

Nobbs and Mawhinney win the half marathon

In the half marathon, held alongside the full distance, two young Canadians stood out: Thomas Nobbs (1:03:28) in the men’s race and Erin Mawhinney (1:13:30) in the women’s. Both already familiar with national podiums, they won convincingly against a deep field. Mawhinney claimed her second Toronto victory in three years, further confirming her consistency at the highest level. Nobbs, meanwhile, bounced back impressively from his disappointing race two years ago and is already looking ahead to December’s Marathon Project in Arizona.

In brief

Men’s marathon: Leonard Langat (KEN) – 2:08:05
Women’s marathon: Shure Demise (ETH) – 2:21:04
Canadian men’s championships: Ben Flanagan – 2:15:41
Canadian women’s championships: Rachel Hannah – 2:33:47
Men’s half marathon: Thomas Nobbs – 1:03:28
Women’s half marathon: Erin Mawhinney – 1:13:30

A marathon blending performance with popular enthusiasm

This edition of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon confirmed the quality of an event that combines a fast course, flawless organization with World Athletics Elite status, and the atmosphere of a major North American city. The route follows Lake Ontario before returning to downtown Toronto, appealing to elites and recreational runners alike. The wind can be unpredictable, but the crowd’s support is everywhere, helping runners make it through all 42.195 km. With elite runners from East Africa, rising stars of Canadian distance running and thousands of everyday athletes pushing their limits, Toronto once again delivered the perfect mix of performance and passion. In total, 31,000 runners took to Toronto’s streets, turning the city into one huge running festival.

Toronto once again proved that it knows how to blend performance with passion. Between Leonard Langat’s return to the top, Shure Demise’s renaissance and Ben Flanagan’s promising debut, this 2025 edition will be remembered. Wind, records, emotion and 31,000 runners combined to write another chapter in the history of Canadian running.

✔ Find all the results from the 2025 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.