For the first time the Canadian Marathon Championships take place in Toronto this Sunday October 18 in conjunction with Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is the only marathon in Canada that holds the prestigious IAAF Gold Label distinction.

The women’s Canadian Championship elite fields includes Lanni Marchant of London, Ont., Natasha Labeaud of Kelowna, BC., Leslie Sexton of London, Ont., and Rhiannon Johns of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Marchant represented Canada this summer at both the Pan American Games and World Championships. In the spring she won the 2015 Canadian Half Marathon title, and holds Canadian records in the half (1:10:47) and marathon (2:28:00). Lanni set the Canadian marathon record at the 2013 edition of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Leslie Sexton enters the event ranked as the fourth fastest Canadian over the marathon distance with a time of 2:39:34. Rhiannon Johns is the reigning Canadian marathon champ with a victory at the 2014 Ottawa Marathon. Labeaud raced to a time of 2:35:33 at the last edition of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

The men’s national championship should be decided between Eric Gillis of Guelph, Ont., and Kip Kangogo of Lethbridge, Alta. Gillis was the top Canadian in the event last year with a time of 2:11:21, Kangogo was second behind Gillis in 2:17:12. Earlier this year Kangogo won his first Canadian title taking the Half Marathon Championship in Calgary.  

Toronto Waterfront offers $20,000 to the overall winner and features a deep international field that includes defending champion Laban Korir of Kenya. 

You can catch all the action live on www.athleticscanada.tv beginning at 8:45 a.m. ET Sunday.

Prize pool – click for full details

Open men and women 

1st - $20,000 2nd - $12,000 3rd - $8,000 4th - $6,000  5th - $4,000 6th - $3,000 7th - $2,500 8th - $2,000 

Men’s course record (2:07:05) bonus of $35,000

Women’s course record (2:22:43) bonus of $35,000

Canadian Championship men and women

Gold - $5,000 Silver - $3,000 Bronze - $2,000 4th - $1,000 5th - $300 6th - $200

Visit Athletics Canada at the Running, Health & Fitness Expo Thursday and Friday at the Direct Energy Centre. We’re on-site with an assortment of special gear including limited edition Team Canada running shoes and a wide array of race singlets and shorts.

-AC-