Ben Flanagan maintained a calm demeanor at the onset of his debut 42.2-kilometer race, a key factor in securing the Canadian men’s championship at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday. Content with his race strategy, Flanagan acknowledged the need for further learning, expressing plans to approach future races differently.
During the race, Flanagan pushed too hard around the 25 km mark to distance himself from Andrew Alexander of Toronto, leading to a challenging final 15 km running solo. Reflecting on the experience, Flanagan recognized the toll of such a move in the later stages of the race, stating that the last 3 km felt particularly strenuous. Despite the physical strain, he managed to maintain a significant lead over his Canadian competitors to clinch victory.
Clocking in at two hours 15 minutes 39 seconds, Flanagan outpaced Phil Parrot-Migas (2:17:15) of London, Ont., and Alexander (2:18:15) to claim the Canadian title, finishing 10th overall. The race featured strong winds reaching up to 53 km/h, prompting Flanagan to emphasize the benefits of running alongside others in challenging conditions.
Looking ahead, Flanagan aims to represent Canada in the 2028 Olympic marathon in Los Angeles. The race taught him valuable lessons about course strategy and the importance of pacing oneself, indicating a desire to improve and compete at the highest level in the future.
As the top Canadian woman, Rachel Hannah achieved a personal milestone by winning the Canadian championship with a time of 2:33:47, surpassing her competitors Makenna Fitzgerald and Brittany Moran. Hannah expressed her joy at fulfilling a long-held dream of claiming the national title in marathoning.
Both Flanagan and Hannah, as Canadian champions, will receive $8,000 in prize money, while the overall winners will take home $25,000. The event also saw Shure Demise of Ethiopia and Betty Chepkorir of Kenya emerge as the women’s top finishers.
The Toronto Waterfront Marathon marked a significant achievement for Flanagan and Hannah, highlighting their dedication to the sport and perseverance in the face of challenges.