Ones To Watch For, at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on october 19, 2014

So here is the low-down on the races up front this year at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The “Ones To Watch For”!

And there are SO many great stories and match-ups!

[click here for full Start List].

• If 2010 was the year of our greatest-ever Women’s Race, will 2014 be our greatest-ever Men’s Race?
• In the Men’s Race, who will win the thrilling head-to-head battle between Peter Some and Shami Abdulahi? Could Tariku Jufar or Laban Korir provide an upset?
• Can our own [plus Antigonsh & Guelph's] Eric Gillis be the one to take down Jerome Drayton’s now-39-year-old National Men’s Marathon Record of 2:10:09 and claim the $39,000 bonus?
• Can debut man Kelly Wiebe claim some “Fastest Canadian Marathon Debut” notches to his belt?                                                                                                                   Saskatchewan record – 2:19:39(Jason Warick)                                                                   Reid Coolsaet debut – 2:17:10
  Rob Watson debut – 2:16:17
  Dylan Wykes debut – 2:15:16
  Eric Gillis debut – 2:13:52
  Canadian debut record – 2:12:07 (Peter Fonseca)
• On the Women’s side, how fast can Aliaksandra Duliba go? Or will the Ethiopian duo of Mulu Seboka and Amane Gobena who’ve both raced and won before in Toronto tag-team her to snatch away victory?
• Lanni Marchant did it last year, taking down Silvia Ruegger’s 28 year old Women’s National Record with her amazing  2:28:00 race. Can she do it again?
• Can the pride of Gibsons, BC race to a World Championship qualifying standard of sub 2:35:00; or a Pan Am Toronto 2015 qualifying standard of 2:40:00

Here’s the scoop! Who’s your money on?

INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES TO WATCH

Boston 2014. Photo: Victor Sailer, Photo Run

Aliaksandra Duliba (Belarus)

Although she is Belarusian Duliba trains in Ukraine with her fiance Vitaliy Shafar (Ukraine) a 2:09:37 marathoner and her coach. She was 4th in the 2014 Boston Marathon in 2:21:29. A year ago she finished 4th in Chicago with a time of 2:23:44. This 26 year old firmly believes the Canadian All Comers’ and STWM course record of 2:22:43 can be beaten.

Mulu Seboka (Ethiopia)

The 30 year old says she is in shape to beat the Canadian All Comers’ record of 2:22:43. She has a personal best of 2:23:43 from the 2013 Daegu (Korea) marathon a race she returned to this year and won. Seboka has twice before raced in Toronto winning in 2008 then finishing second to her compatriot Amane Gobena the following year.

Mulu all smiles with her STWM 2008 victory.

Amane Gobena (Ethiopia)

Gobena, now 28, was the winner of the 2009 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (2:28:30) edging Mulu Seboka. Finished 6th in 2014 Dubai (January 24) in 2:27:05. Her personal best is 2:23:50 from the 2013 Dubai Marathon where she finished 3rd – seven seconds behind Mulu Seboka.

Lanni Marchant (Canada)

The 30 year old Marchant admits to feeling pressure to lower the Canadian record of 2:28:00 she set at the 2013 STWM. Since then she finished 14th at the 2014 Boston Marathon and then placed a credible 4th at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

A practicing criminal lawyer, the London, Ontario native has been residing in Chattanooga, Tennessee ever since she graduated from the University of Tennesse.

Peter Some at 2013 Lisbon Half-marathon. Photo: Victor Sailer, PhotoRun.net

Peter Some (Kenya)

Won the 2013 Paris Marathon in a personal best of 2:05:38 then went on to represent Kenya at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow. At just 24 years of age he has an exciting future at the marathon distance. In preparation for the 2014 STWM he raced and won the Route du Vin Half Marathon in Luxembourg, September 28.

Tariku Jufar (Ethiopia)

Jufar is a proven international competitor and when he is in form he is very hard to beat. He set a course record in Houston 2012 with 2:06:51 which is his personal best. Later the same year he won the Beijing Marathon. Won the 2013 Ottawa marathon in a then course record of 2:08:05 becoming the first Ethiopian to win the men’s race. Earlier this year (March 16) he finished 4th in the Seoul Marathon in a time of 2:07:02. Jufar is now 30 years old.

Shami Abdulahi (Ethiopia)

Came within a step of winning the 2011 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Since then the now 30 year old has developed into a consistent and strong world class runner with a personal best marathon time of 2:05:42 recorded at the 2012 Dubai Marathon. Amongst his training partners is Derissa Chimsa, the 2013 STWM winner and course record holder at 2:07:05.
Laban Korir (Kenya)

Korir has a best performance of 2:06:05 recorded at the 2011 Amsterdam marathon. Earlier this year he had a disappointing experience at the Dubai Marathon where he finished a well beaten 18th but then rebounded to finish 5th in Hamburg in 2:08:04. That was on May 4th. The 29 year old Kenyan is very experienced having finished 6th in the 2012 Boston Marathon and 11th in Chicago the same year. He is prepared to go with the leaders in Toronto.

Patrick Terer, at 2012 Turin Marathon. Photo: Victor Sailer, PhotoRun.net

Patrick Terer (Kenya)

Although he began his running career as a steeplechaser recording a personal best of 8:13.96 he has had great success since turning to the marathon. In May of this year he recorded a personal best of 2:08:07 to win the Prague Marathon. Still just 25 years old big things are expected of Terer.

Eric Gillis (Canada)

A 34 year old resident of Guelph, Ontario Gillis hails from Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Twice he has represented Canada at the Olympic Games. His personal best time of 2:11:28 was achieved in Toronto in 2011. A year ago he was 5th in Toronto with 2:11:49. He won three Canadian championship titles this year: 10km, marathon and half marathon. The only thing missing from his resume is the sub 2:10 time he ultimately covets.

CANADIAN ATHLETES TO WATCH

Lanni Marchant with an authoritative performance to win Scotiabank Vancouver Half-marathon 2014

Lanni Marchant (London, Ontario)

The 30 year old Marchant admits to feeling pressure to lower the Canadian record of 2:28:00 she set at the 2013 STWM. Since then she finished 14th at the 2014 Boston Marathon and then placed a credible 4th at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. A practicing criminal lawyer, the London, Ontario native has been residing in Chattanooga, Tennessee ever since she graduated from the University of Tennessee.

Kim Doerksen (Gibsons, BC)

At 23 years of age Doerksen won the Vancouver Marathon in 2:36:59 in her ‘competitive’ marathon debut. Now she has her sights set on running faster and possibly achieving the Pan Am Games and world championships qualifying standards.

Eric Gillis in his famous, all-out sprint to the STWM Finish line in 2011, that earned him a place at the London Olympics by ONE second

Eric Gillis (Antigonish, Nova Scotia)

A 34 year old resident of Guelph, Ontario Gillis hails from Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Twice he has represented Canada at the Olympic Games. His personal best time of 2:11:28 was achieved in Toronto in 2011. A year ago he was 5th in Toronto with 2:11:49. He won three Canadian championship titles this year: 10km, marathon and half marathon. The only thing missing from his resume is the sub 2:10 time he ultimately covets.

Rob Watson (London, Ontario)

With a personal best of 2:13:29 from last year’s STWM Watson has legitimate marathoning credentials and represented Canada at the 2013 IAAF World Championships at this distance. The 31 year old graduate of Colorado State University raced four marathons last year including an 11th place finish in Boston, the world championships and Toronto. Most recently the Vancouver resident paced American Shalane Flanagan through 41km at the Berlin Marathon. Unpredictable and daring, Watson could still pb at STWM.

Kip Kangogo (Lethbridge, Alberta)

No stranger to the Canadian road race scene, the Kenyan born Kip Kangogo comes to Toronto intent on beating his own personal best time of 2:15:13, a time he achieved at the 2013 Victorian Marathon. Kangogo finished 2nd to Eric Gillis at the Oasis Zoo Run 10k, which doubled as the 2014 Canadian 10k championship. He celebrated another important event earlier this year when he was granted Canadian citizenship. The 35 year old and his wife are proud parents of one year old daughter Emma.

Kelly Wiebe (Swift Current, Saskatchewan)

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon marks this 25 year old’s marathon debut. Has trained in Vancouver the past eighteen months with 2012 Olympian Dylan Wykes and Rob Watson. Overcame a dangerous blood infection this past spring to prepare for this marathon.

Twice he has represented Canada at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Won the Vancouver Eastside 10k in 29:20 in preparation for the marathon.

For a complete START LIST click here >>