Eric Gillis and Rhiannon Johns take Canadian marathon titles
On a record setting Sunday in Ottawa, Olympian Eric Gillis and emerging talent Rhiannon Johns became Canadian marathon champions.
Gillis, who competed for Canada at Beijing 2008 in the 10,000 metres and then at London 2012 in the marathon, was the top Canadian in Ottawa (8th overall) running a time of 2:13:47.
Johns, 22, clocked in at 2:47:11 and claimed the national women’s title.
The Ottawa Marathon doubled as a national championship while also attracting top talent from outside of Canada.
Ethiopian runners won both men’s and women’s races. Yemane Tsegay set a record attaining the fastest marathon ever posted on Canadian soil with a blistering 2:06:54. His compatriot Tigist Tufa won the women’s race finishing at 2:24:31.
Starting in 2015, the top male and female Canadians at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon will be crowned national champions.
