Canada’s Tristan Woodfine ran below the Olympic qualifying standard of two hours 11 minutes 30 seconds on Sunday, finishing the London Marathon in a personal-best 2:10:51.
The native of Cobden, Ont., placed 14th among 29 finishers after pushing the pace around the 25-kilometre mark of the 42.2 km race and putting himself on track for a 2:10:15 finish.
Later, Montreal native Brent Lakatos won the men’s wheelchair race in 1:46:04 to go with his 2018 Berlin Marathon victory.
A year ago, Woodfine clocked a 2:13:16 PB to finish second among Canadian men at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, a two-minute drop from his previous best of 2:15:19 just nine months earlier at the Houston Marathon in January 2019.
The former triathlete was excited to see how he would perform in London after a strong summer of training that included four or five quality long runs of 30-40 km on a 1.8 km flat loop course near his home in the Ottawa Valley.
“I think he’s going to surprise some people,” Canadian record-holder Cam Levins said of Woodfine in an interview with CBC Sports after they trained together earlier this year in Kenya. “If he’s even in similar shape to what he was in Kenya, he’ll do awesome.”
Sunday’s men’s elite-only race was contested in a “secure biosphere” or bubble on a 2.15 km loop sealed off from the public around St. James’ Park in central London, replacing the traditional tour of city streets due to the coronavirus pandemic. Runners completed 19 laps, plus 1,345 metres en route to the iconic finish on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace while 45,000 others from over 100 countries participated in a virtual marathon.
Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata wins in sprint finish
The addition of 5,000- and 10,000-metre track work to his summer training, Woodfine said, made the slower-type marathon workouts “more relaxing and easy.”
“[London] might be the fastest marathon course I get to run in my career so I’m excited to have had the buildup I’ve had,” the 27-year-old told CBC Sports. “I’ve been able to hit times and paces I’ve never hit before. Anytime I do similar workouts to my Toronto build I’ve been running much faster, so I take a lot of confidence from that.”
Mega congrats to former junior triathlete and top university runner Tristan Woodfine on his sub 2:11 Olympic qualifying run today at the London Marathon. Much respect on a big effort in an odd year.
Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata ended Eliud Kipchoge’s four-year winning run on Sunday in a sprint finish in 2:05:41, 1-100th of a second ahead of Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba, while Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia was third in 2:05:45. Kipchoge, the world record-holder from Kenya, was eighth in 2:06:49.
In a women’s race devoid of Canadians, Brigid Kosgei of Kenya took a commanding lead entering the final lap and retained her title, stopping the clock in 2:18:58 in cold and wet conditions.
WATCH | Kitata, Kosgei capture men’s, women’s races in London:
Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata outsprinted Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba to win’s the men’s London Marathon while Kenyan world record holder Brigid Kosgei cruised to a dominant victory in the women’s race. 1:42
Levins, who was spotted walking late in Sunday’s race, dropped out of his third marathon before the finish. The Black Creek, B.C., native was 12th through 35 km and on pace to finish 5-100ths of a second off his 2:09:25 national mark from his debut marathon in 2018 at the Toronto event.
Sorry everyone I ended up frozen out there today. Won’t let this fitness go to waste though and I’ll be back out there soon! Congrats to Tristan Woodfine. You the man!
The 31-year-old, who has yet to achieve the Olympic standard, had only ramped up his training for London in late August — a typical marathon buildup can last 12 to 18 weeks — yet was “ready for something really quick with the right day.”
Levins didn’t gain entry to the 40th London Marathon until Aug. 23, two days after running a 1:02:12 half marathon in a time trial on a non-certified flat course on Sauvie Island near his home in Portland, Ore. His 1:02:14 PB was set on Jan. 19 in Houston.
Calgary resident Trevor Hofbauer is the only other Canadian male to have secured a spot for Tokyo after he gained an automatic berth as top Canadian in the men’s race at last year’s Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
New racing wheelchair pays instant dividends
Lakatos, who lives about 140 km northwest of London in Longborough, England, finished 12th at last year’s London Marathon, so it’s safe to say testing the racing wheelchair the University of Texas engineering grad designed earlier this year paid off in a big way Sunday.
In 2019, the 40-year-old Montreal native won two gold medals and a silver at the World Para Athletics Championships. In all, Lakatos has won 18 WPA medals, including 13 gold.
A seven-time Paralympic medallist, Lakatos is hoping to make a fifth Summer Games appearance in Tokyo.
In June, the 11-time world champion was named Para-athlete of the year by Athletics Canada.
Sara Hall achieves rare American feat
Meanwhile, Sara Hall became the first American woman to finish on the podium since Deena Kastor won the London Marathon in 2006, placing second in a personal-best 2:22:01 ahead of world champion Ruth Chepngetich (2:22:05) of Kenya, whom she overtook with metres remaining.
Sara was in 3rd, Chepngetich in second but her last 5k (to 40k) was 18:13, Sara’s split was 17:11. <br><br>Sara kept the momentum going and closed on Chepngetich, AND PASSED her in the home stretch! So proud of her build up and her effort today! <br><br>2nd place at the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/LondonMarathon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#LondonMarathon</a> <a href=”https://t.co/Pb1v5ndJTO”>pic.twitter.com/Pb1v5ndJTO</a>
Kosgei, the 26-year-old world record-holder, comfortably won her duel with Chepngetich, the world champion. Kosgei broke for home with 11 km remaining to leave Chepngetich, who had looked the stronger in the mid-stages of the race, far behind.
“The weather was not good so we struggled,” Kosgei said. “I struggled up to the moment I finished.
“We have not prepared well due to the pandemic. I will be prepared for good results next year.”
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
