Pair Of Locals Wins Brisk Toronto Marathon
Posted October 14, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was a cold one in Toronto Sunday but organizers of the Toronto International Marathon insisted they couldn’t have asked for better weather for the race’s the 13th annual installment.
“This is a perfect day. I go to about 40 marathons a year for my job and this is the most ideal weather. The runners are in for a treat today,” said official starter Bart Yasso.
The race kicked off at 9am Sunday behind Mel Lastman Square in North York. More than 2,000 runners took part in the event, which wound its way through 42.2 kilometres of the city to the finish line at Queen’s Park.
And when the ribbon was finally broken, the winners were both local competitors, Charles Bedley and Leslie Black, who each took first prize for their respective gender.
Bedley finished in two hours, 21 minutes and 59 seconds while Black, also a Torontonian, clocked in not far behind at two hours, 51 minutes and 34 seconds.
“This was my first time running this marathon,” Black admitted after crossing the finish line. “My goal was to break three hours and I did it.”
And while it was a good day for running, it wasn’t be nearly as good for drivers travelling along routes in the downtown core as dozens of roads were blocked off until about 4pm.
For some the Toronto race is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, though for many, including 86-year-old Odino Solido, it was just about having some fun and showing they’ve got what it takes.
“I feel good,” Solido said upon finishing the half marathon. ” I started at 65 and I kept going.”
