VANCOUVER — Not much weather in Canada bears comparison to the climatic conditioning that produces a marathoner under the searing rays of the east African sun.
But Sunday’s hot conditions felt almost like home to Thomas Omwenga, 33, who grew up in the small town of Kisii in southeast Kenya. The three-time BMO Vancouver Marathon champion broke away from his competition in the final 1,500 metres to grab his fourth Vancouver title. (Omwenga also won the 2011 and 2012 Good Life Fitness Marathons in Victoria.)
About 60,000 spectators looked on as Omwenga sprinted to the finish line, pulling away from fellow Kenyan Benard Onsare to win the marathon in two hours, 24 minutes and nine seconds.
“I feel great. I feel honoured to be a part of this in Vancouver,” said Omwenga, who’s been living in Hamilton, Ont., since last May. Omwenga collected $3,500 for the win.
Organizers expected the day's high of 24 degree to break the 21-degree record set in 1972.
“This the best weather. I have run in Vancouver in the past competitions it was raining a lot and sometimes, in 2010, it was freezing,” said Omwenga, having won the race in 2010, 2008 and 2007.
The sentiment also held true for Onsare – who finished the race two seconds behind Omwenga at 2:24.11 – and 2012 champion Gezahgn Eshetu of Ethiopia who finished third at 2:25.23.
Omwenga and Onsare broke away from the pack at the 39-kilometre mark, taking turns pulling into the lead.
“The last two [kilometres] we didn't know who was going to win. In the last kilometre, I knew Thomas was going to go,” said Onsare, who won the race in 2011.
“The last one kilometre,” said Omwenga, “I knew I’ve got it now.”
Taking kindly to the day’s conditions, Lucy Njeri took the lead comfortably throughout the 42.2-km women's marathon. She won the race with a time of 2:40.34.
“This is the best weather in Canada right now … I was so happy this morning when I saw that it’s warm,” said Njeri, a native of Kenya who has lived in Toronto for two years.
Alice Ndirangu Waraguru finished second in 2:47.20. First Canadian finisher Catrin Jones of Victoria took third with 2:48.19.
In the half-marathon, 2013 Sun Run winner Paul Kimaiyo Kimugui created a gap in the last 50 seconds to take the title from 2012 defender and fellow Kenyan Kip Kangogo, with a time of 1:04.18. Kimugui beat second place finisher Kangogo's record by half a second.
Following up on her 2013 Sun Run win, Vancouverite Natasha Wodak-Fraser also defended her title in the women’s half-marathon with a comfortable win at 1:15.19. Ontario native Dayna Pidhoresky followed minutes later, taking second at 1:17.45.
About 17,000 runners participated in the marathon, half-marathon, and this year’s 8-km event.
