Toronto was not the only city watching fast marathoning on Sunday. In Beijing, Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola won in 2:03:10, ahead of compatriots Muktar Edris (2:04:34) and Adana Kebede Gebre (2:05:10), one of the quickest winning times recorded anywhere this season.
Amsterdam produced a similarly deep race. Lemi Berhanu of Ethiopia won the men's event in 2:03:33, holding off Kenyans Nicholas Kipkorir (2:03:39) and Patrick Mosin (2:03:58), while Ethiopia's Buze Diriba won the women's race in 2:16:12 from Ayanlam Desta (2:17:06) and Meseret Belete (2:18:06).
In Ljubljana, Kenya's Enock Ochari won in 2:04:55 ahead of Hilary Kipkoech (2:05:08) and Eritrea's Oqbe Kibrom (2:05:46), with Ethiopia's Haftamnesh Tesfay taking the women's race in 2:19:17. In Gyeongju, Ethiopia's Mulugeta Uma won the men's marathon in 2:06:56.
The half-marathon circuit was just as busy: Charles Matata ran 58:52 to win in New Delhi, Alexander Mutiso clocked 59:51 at the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon, and Kenya's Agnes Ngetich won the Tokyo women's race in 1:04:23 — a weekend sweep that underlined East African distance running's grip on the global road calendar.
