By Paul Gains
Leonard Langat arrived in Toronto for last year’s TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon largely unheralded. But after winning this World Athletics Elite Label race, he left with both the respect of his competitors and the $25,000 CDN first‑place prize money.
The 30‑year‑old Kenyan will defend his title on October 18.
A year ago, his winning time of 2:08:04 was hampered by uncharacteristically strong winds coming off Lake Ontario, but the fact he beat athletes with much faster personal bests was a clear indication of his potential. Indeed, at the 2026 Cape Town Marathon this May, he finished 4th in a new personal best of 2:05:26.
“About last year, I was happy because I ran well. I am happy to come back to Toronto,” he says while sitting alongside his coach, Josphat Bett, following a training session. “I loved the city of Toronto. I loved the beauty and the people I met there.
“I want to improve my time and try to win the race again. I will try to defend my title because the training this year—we have improved and increased the mileage.”
The Toronto Waterfront Marathon course record of 2:05:00 was set in 2019 by his countryman Philemon Rono. It seems natural to draw a line between Langat’s personal best and that record. Could he beat Rono’s time on the streets of Canada’s biggest city?
“If the weather is good that day, I will try to improve my personal best,” is all he will allow—apparently not wanting to get ahead of himself.
Langat is represented by Volare Sports Management, a Dutch‑based firm specializing in distance running. He trains with a group of about twenty athletes under Bett’s program in the town of Keringet. Another large Volare group—which includes athletes such as Fanny Kiprotich, the 2026 Vienna Marathon winner who will also run this year’s Toronto Waterfront—is based in Iten, the “Home of Champions,” three and a half hours away.
Bett was himself a world‑class runner with a personal best of 26:48.99 for 10,000m and also claimed the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medal in that event. He remembers being approached by Langat when the latter keenly observed Bett and his training partners running past his village.
“I am a runner, and he was interested in running,” Bett recalls with a smile. “He loved the way we were training and he asked, ‘How can I start to run?’ So I gave him a training program to start. Now it has been about ten years.”
With money earned from running, Langat has begun preparing for life after his competitive career comes to an end. He and his wife, Sharon Chesang, have two children: 4‑year‑old Emmanuel Kipkoech and 2‑year‑old Dorcas Chebet. Although Volare has a camp where many athletes live during the week, he prefers to go home after training sessions.
“I want to be a farmer for cattle—a dairy farmer,” he explains. “I bought five acres of land, and I have five cows.”
A successful title defence would mean increased financial stability for his family’s future. There is also a $10,000 CDN bonus for breaking the course record. Although he seems hesitant to talk about the record, he’d be a good bet to dip below 2:05:00 under the right conditions.
“In Cape Town, after 40km, after taking water, I lost the steps of the leading group,” he admits. Race footage supports his account: he slowed to grab a bottle while the other three contenders opened a gap. Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa won that race in 2:04:55, with the 2022 Toronto Waterfront champion Yihunilign Adane second in 2:04:59. What might have been is not something Langat dwells upon.
Defending a title is never easy. Langat can no longer slip under the radar, as his performances have been watched around the world. His Toronto Waterfront Marathon victory alone had 140,000+ views last year in 75 countries. And he will face a strong field, including compatriot Noah Kipkemboi, who finished second just 24 seconds behind him last year.
But Langat’s confidence will be high, setting up a compelling battle along the streets of Toronto.
