Benson Kipruto Returns to Defend His 2018 Toronto Waterfront Marathon Win

By Adam Kopet

The 2018 Canadian marathon champions Cam Levins and Kinsey Middleton are set to return Sunday to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, host of the Canadian Marathon Championships.

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The race will act as the Canadian Olympic Trials for Canada's Olympic marathon team selection.

Levins set the Canadian record in this race last year when he finished fourth overall and top-Canadian in 2:09:25. After missing the London Marathon earlier this year due to injury, he returns to Toronto with an eye on earning an Olympic bid.

Rory Linkletter is scheduled to make his marathon debut in Toronto. The former BYU runner and current HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite athlete will also be looking for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team.

Middleton has her eye on and Olympic berth as well, although it will take a personal best or high finish for her to qualify. She set her personal best in last year's race, running 2:32:09 for seventh. Repeating as Canadian champion will not be enough to earn an Olympic bid. She will need to finish in the top-five overall or run under 2:29:30.

There is hope in being able to do both. She is a training partner of Emma Bates with the Idaho Distance Project. Bates ran 2:25:27 last week at the Chicago Marathon. Middleton is not quite at Bates' level, but she is close enough to make the time standard possible.

At this time, Rachel Cliff is the only Canadian athlete with the Olympic standard in the marathon. She ran a Canadian record 2:26:56 at the Nagoya Women's Marathon in March. She competed in the 5,000 meters at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships earlier this month.

The men's race features defending champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya. He won last year's race in 2:07:24. He has a best of 2:07:11 from the 2018 Seoul Marathon.

The women's race is led by Ruth Chebitok of Kenya who finished third last year in 2:23:29. Also in the women's race is Becky Wade who will be looking to improve on her 2:30:41 best from the 2013 California International Marathon.