Kenyan athletes delivered a remarkable performance at the 2026 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon in Canada, taking all five top positions in the men’s race in a display of strength in long-distance running.
Sports Cabinet Secretary **Salam Mvurya celebrated the achievement, congratulating the athletes for representing Kenya on the international stage and flying the national flag high.
Leonard Langat led the Kenyan charge, winning the race in two hours, six minutes and 51 seconds to successfully defend the title he won in 2025.
Langat’s victory was followed by another strong Kenyan showing, with Fanny Kiprotich finishing second in 2:07:21, just 30 seconds behind the winner.
Noah Kipkemboi secured third place in 2:07:25, completing a clean sweep of the podium for Kenya. Asbel Rutto and Elvis Cheboi made it a top-five finish, crossing the line fourth and fifth in 2:07:32 and 2:07:37, respectively.
The narrow gaps between the runners highlighted the competitive nature of the race, with all five Kenyans finishing within 46 seconds of one another.
Langat’s successful title defence further strengthened Kenya’s reputation in marathon running, a discipline in which the country has produced numerous internationally recognised athletes.
The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label event that attracts elite runners from different countries. The 2026 edition took place on October 18, drawing thousands of participants and spectators to the Canadian city
Mvurya’s message of congratulations recognised the athletes’ achievement as a source of national pride, with the Kenyan team delivering a result that placed the country at the forefront of the men’s contest.
The performance also demonstrated the depth of Kenyan marathon talent, with the race not depending on a single athlete’s success but on five runners finishing ahead of the entire field.
For Langat, the win marked another successful outing in Toronto, where he has now secured consecutive marathon titles. Kiprotich and Kipkemboi also reinforced Kenya’s presence among the leading marathon runners, while Rutto and Cheboi completed the country’s sweep of the first five places.
