Langat, Cheboi and Kiprotich lead the Kenyan challenge in Toronto
The defending champion, the 2023 winner and the Vienna champion all race the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday 18 October.
In short: Kenya's Leonard Langat defends his TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon title on Sunday 18 October 2026 against compatriots Elvis Cheboi, the 2023 winner, and Fanny Kiprotich, who won Vienna in April in 2:06:53.
Leonard Langat, 30, won Toronto last year in 2:08:04 despite strong winds off Lake Ontario. He ran a personal best of 2:05:26 for fourth at the Cape Town Marathon in May, the organisers report. "I want to improve my time and try to win the race again," he said. Noah Kipkemboi, second to him last year by 24 seconds, is also in the field.
Elvis Cheboi won Toronto in 2023 in 2:09:20 and won the Ottawa Marathon in May 2026 in 2:09:22, Athletics Illustrated and LetsRun report. "I can't say I will come and win, but I am in good shape," he said.
Fanny Kiprotich, 24, from Mount Elgon, is two from two over the marathon: he won Tallinn in 2025 in 2:11:21 and Vienna in April 2026 in 2:06:53, the organisers report. "My target for now is under 2:06 if the weather will be good and if the course is good," he said.
The course record is 2:05:00, set by Kenya's Philemon Rono in 2019. Toronto is a World Athletics Elite Label race, and Pimeys will publish the results after Sunday's race.