On a heat morning on the 2023 Tartan Ottawa Worldwide Marathon, Lee Wesselius of River Glade, N.B., and Malindi Elmore of Kelowna, B.C., took dwelling prime Canadian honours within the marathon. Wesselius battled the circumstances and used his expertise, crossing the end line in 2:18:26 for 14th total, whereas Elmore ran a gritty second half to complete second total in 2:27:45.
Chasing the Olympic customary
Elmore went into the race with the purpose of the 2024 Olympic customary of two:26:50. She was on tempo for two:26 by means of 30K and sat in fourth place. Because the temperature warmed as much as 24 C round 9 a.m., she gave all the pieces she had over the ultimate 12 kilometres, transferring up two spots, ending second to Ethiopia’s Waganesh Mekasha in 2:27:45. She solely missed the 2024 Olympic customary by 55 seconds.
“At present, it felt just like the race began at 30K,” says Elmore. “I simply stored telling myself to attempt to pull within the folks in entrance. You must take the marathon because it comes.”
Elmore was paced by Kingston’s Kevin Coffey, who additionally paced her when she gained the Canadian marathon championships in Toronto final fall. She handed Germany’s Melat Kejeta with lower than 500m to go–Kejeta was third in 2:27:52. Kejeta and Elmore had prime 10 finishes on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon, with Kejeta, sixth, and Elmore inserting ninth.
“I wish to be on the Olympic staff in Paris, and that was the purpose at this time,” says Elmore. “The circumstances made the course powerful, and I’ve to be proud of my efficiency.”
Ottawa’s Alexandra Hynes was the second Canadian finisher in 2:46:42, and Melanie DesAutels of Sherbrooke, Que. was third in 2:49:23.
Wesselius bounces again
Final month, Wesselius had no intentions of racing the 2023 Tartan Ottawa Worldwide Marathon, however a troublesome day on the Vienna Marathon on April 23 provoked him to provide the gap one other shot. Fortunately, he didn’t must journey too far, at present residing in Mountain, Ont., an hour south of Ottawa. The marathon gave him an opportunity to run in entrance of associates, and he owned the chance, ending as the highest Canadian in 2:18:26.
Wesselius went out with a big group of American, Canadian and Japanese runners till 25K, however then issues began to interrupt aside. The 29-year-old labored together with his coaching associate Blair Morgan of Ottawa till 30K, surging forward to take prime Canadian honours. “The final 5K felt like survival mode,” Wesselius laughs. “It was superb to have a big group early on and work with Blair.”
Blair Morgan was the 🥈 Canadian man at this time in Ottawa!
Dipping below the two:20 barrier in 2:19:50 in entrance of his family and friends!
Congratulations @blair_morgs! #RunOttawa2023 pic.twitter.com/tMkuWTAEVG
— Canadian Working (@CanadianRunning) Could 28, 2023
Heading into the race, Morgan was taking pictures for a sub-2:18 end result, however he achieved his B-goal of breaking 2:20 within the circumstances. Regardless of residing in Ottawa for years, this was Morgan’s first time taking part within the metropolis’s marathon. “I’ve been doing exercises on the roads right here all spring, so it was superior to have all the pieces come to fruition in entrance of my family and friends,” says Morgan. “Given at this time’s circumstances, I believe I executed nicely and ran good.”
One other runner residing within the Ottawa space, Pembroke’s Greg Pigeon, rounded out the Canadian podium on the 2023 Tartan Ottawa Worldwide Marathon, ending because the third Canadian male in 2:31:32.
Ethiopian sweep
Ethiopia’s Yihunilign Adane gained his second consecutive marathon on Canadian soil, taking the win Sunday in 2:08:22. Adane’s compatriot, Gebrestsadik Abraha, completed second in 2:09:13. Abdi Ali Gelchu, additionally of Ethiopia, completed third in 2:10:38, after ending second on this race final yr on his first journey to race in Canada.
You possibly can view the total outcomes from the 2023 Tartan Ottawa Worldwide Marathon right here.
