Leonard Langat at a previous race/ HANDOUTKenyan distance ace Leonard Langat will be chasing back-to-back triumphs on the streets of Canada when he toes the line to defend his Toronto Waterfront Marathon crown on October 18.
Langat stormed to victory in the 2025 edition, stopping the clock in 2:08:04 to spearhead a Kenyan podium sweep in the men's race. Noah Kipkemboi followed, in 2:08:28, while Silas Kiptoo completed the all-Kenyan podium in 2:08:44.
The 30-year-old says he is relishing the chance to return to Toronto and defend the title he won so convincingly. “About last year, I was happy because I ran well. I am happy to come back to Toronto,” Langat told race organisers. “I loved the city of Toronto. I loved the beauty and the people I met there.”
After making a few key adjustments to his training regimen, Langat believes he is better equipped to retain his crown. “I will try to defend my title because the training this year has improved, and we have increased the mileage.”
Beyond victory, the Kenyan marathoner has another target firmly in his sights: lowering his lifetime best. “I want to improve my time and try to win the race again.”
“If the weather is good that day, I will try to improve my personal best,” he added. Langat's personal best stands at 2:05:26, a mark he clocked earlier this year at the Cape Town Marathon, where he finished fourth. Kenyan Philemon Rono set the Toronto Waterfront Marathon course record of 2:05:00 in 2019.
Langat heads into Toronto after a mixed 2026 campaign. His season opened on January 18 in India, where he finished second in 2:10:10 behind Ethiopia's Tadu Abate (2:09:55), while Eritrea's Merhawi Kesete took third in 2:10:22.
He then produced the performance of his career on May 24 in Cape Town, slicing his personal best to 2:05:26 despite settling for fourth place.
The race was dominated by Ethiopians, with Mohamed Esa winning in 2:04:55 ahead of Yihunilign Adane (2:04:59), while Kenya's Kalipus Lomwai claimed third in 2:05:06. Langat admitted one costly moment denied him a shot at the podium.
“In Cape Town, after taking water at the 40km mark, I lost the steps of the leading group,” he admitted. Despite that setback, Langat boasts an impressive marathon resume, with victories at the Milan Marathon in 2025 (2:08:38) and the Vienna Marathon in 2021 (2:09:25)
