Toronto Waterfront Marathon: ‘Baby Police’ Rono aims for third Toronto title

From left: 21km men Philemon Rono (3rd place), Wilferd Kimutai (centre) and Hillary Kipchumba poses for the picture on March 6, 2016 at Nyayo Stadium.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STADARD]

Kenya’s Philemon Rono will return to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 21 intent on winning this IAAF Gold Label race for the third consecutive time.

Only his compatriot Kenneth Mungara has enjoyed more success in Canada’s biggest city, winning four times (2008-2011).

But Rono made further history a year ago when he also ran the fastest marathon ever on Canadian soil. His time of 2:06:52 was also a personal best.

Despite his rapidly increasing value on the running circuit and, with it, a growing number of invitations from marathons across the globe, there was little doubt that he would return to Toronto.

“I’m very happy to come to Toronto again,” said Rono, now 27 years old and remembering the euphoria he experienced on his last visit.

“What comes to my mind is that it was a nice race (last year) because I set my personal best and it was a good chance for me. I took the lead between 32 and 35K and I said to myself ‘today is my day’ and I felt good.

“I met friends there from Kenya — they came from many different places in Kenya — and we went to a shopping mall (two days before the race). There are a lot of nice buildings and roads in Toronto.”

Although he is one of the few elite athletes to venture well outside the hotel — apart from race duties — he had other reasons to be delighted with the occasion. Setting a Canadian all-comers’ record earned him CDN$50,000 in addition to his CDN$25,000 first place prize money.

Like many of the world’s best marathon runners, Rono prefers to race just two marathons a year. Although he started Boston in April, the dreadful conditions put paid to his plans there and he failed to finish. That might well prove to be a positive development in his build-up to Toronto. Now his focus is completely on getting his Toronto hat trick.

“It is important for me to want to write history, to become the man to win three consecutive Toronto races and to set a course record again,” he says. “Yeah, it’s possible to run faster and if the weather is good then, maybe, another PB.”

The diminutive Rono is nicknamed ‘Baby Police’ due partly to his youthful face and the fact he is also a policeman.