Canada’s Justin Kent runs a 2:09:28 marathon in New York

© Copying – 2025 – Athletics Illustrated

Canada’s Justin Kent ran the Mckirdy Marathon in the time of 2:09:29, which is a new personal best. The performance makes him the fourth-fastest Canadian marathon runner behind Cameron Levins (2:05:36, 2:07:09, 2:09:25), Rory Linkletter (2:08:01), and Ben Preisner (2:08:58). It was a nine-second win over American Haftu Knight. Aaron Gruen set the Austrian record, finishing in third in 2:09:53.

The race took place in Rockland Lake State Park, NY.

The race dubs itself “Road to Tokyo,” providing athletes an opportunity to attempt to qualify for the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships.

All of the first 11 finishers ran new personal best times. Just the top three ran sub-2:10, while fourth-place finisher Paul O’Donnell from Ireland clocked in at 2:10:17.

The 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships qualification standards are 2:06:30 and 2:23:30, close to Canada’s national records of 2:05:32 by Levins and 2:23:12 by Natasha Wodak.

Four women ran sub-2:30:00, led by Julia Paternain with her 2:27:09 performance. She is from Uruguay and set a new personal best during the race. Taking second was Erin Del Giudice, rolling in at 2:38:51 and for third was Maria Lindberg in 2:39:22.

Results from World Athletics

Men’s Marathon

Final

Women’s Marathon

Final