Ottawa 10km and Ottawa Marathon – News – Korir, Chelangat Take Ottawa Marathon Titles

KORIR, CHELANGAT TAKE OTTAWA MARATHON TITLES
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2025 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved – Used with permission.

OTTAWA (25-May) — After several days of rainy and unseasonably cold weather, the sun finally came out here in the Canadian capital and it shone brightest on Albert Korir and Mercy Chelangat.  The two Kenyans won the 51st edition of the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon by comfortable margins.  For Korir, who clocked 2:08:22, this was his second victory here (he also won in 2019).  For Chelangat, who was timed in 2:23:33, today’s race was her first-ever marathon.  Both winners earned CAD 20,000 in prize money (=USD 14,560).

KORIR GOES IT ALONE

The men’s race began with a tightly-bunched pack following two pacemakers through 5-K in 15:06 and 10-K in 30:08, on pace to run in the 2:06’s.  Korir was right in front of the pack along with Canadian Rory Linkletter, American C.J. Albertson, and Ethiopians Demeke Tesfaye and Belay Tilahun.  Everybody looked comfortable.

But Korir –who had originally planned to run the Boston Marathon last month, but had to withdraw due to an ankle injury– was itching to run faster.

“I was feeling good so I was seeing the pacer was, like, slow,” Korir told Race Results Weekly.  “I had to push and I had it on my mind that I had to win this one.”

The pack held together on the climb up Alexandra Bridge where the runners move from Ontario to Quebec, but soon after Korir decided to make his move.  He ran 2:56 for the 20th kilometer, dropped his pacer, and opened up a gap on the rest of the field.  By the time he hit halfway (1:03:12) he had an 18-second lead on Linkletter and Albertson.  The two Ethiopians had fallen even further behind.

From there, Korir ran alone.  Wearing bright red adidas kit, he clicked off the kilometers and repeatedly looked at his watch and shot glances behind him to see if anyone was catching up.

“I was trying to keep the distance, and I was also trying to track them not to close the gap,” Korir explained.

Korir’s lead inched-up to 22 seconds by 30-K, and 28 seconds by 35-K.  He seemed to have the win in his pocket, but Linkletter felt he had enough energy left to try to close the gap.  The Canadian Olympian picked up his pace.

“Honestly, I didn’t feel that good the first 30-K,” Linkletter told reporters.  “Like, it was fine, but I wasn’t full of confidence that I was going to make the distance.”  He continued: “Like, at some point I’ve got to see if I can…