Elvis had left the building at 3:05 per kilometre pace.
Kenyan Elvis Cheboi won the 2026 Ottawa Marathon in a time of 2:09:22. Gizealew Ayana took second just four seconds back at 2:09:26, and Canadian Rory Linkletter took third in 2:09:43.
The race, typically referred to as “Hottawa” because the spring often launches quickly from cold to cool to hot in a matter of a weekend in the nation’s capital. It didn’t happen on Sunday.
But four athletes finished under 2:10, including Ethiopian Afewerk Mesfin in 2:09:57. The second Canadian, Jon Gay clocked in his debut at 2:14:16. Lee Wesselius took the third Canadian spot at 2:16:21.
The top three women were Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi, clocking in at 2:22:55; Tahir Kuftu of Ethiopia, in 2:25:13; and Kenyan Betty Chepkorir, at 2:25:43, for third place.
The top Canadian was Élissa Legault, who squeezed under the 2:30 benchmark, finishing in 2:29:12, just seven seconds slower than her personal best from the 2025 Valencia Marathon. She placed eighth.
Meanwhile, Natasha Wodak took second in 2:33:15 as the first master athlete over 40. Jade Berube was the third Canadian in 2:36:09. At one end of the spectrum, veteran Wodak, the national record holder, was likely expecting more; it was Berube’s debut. She entered the race with a half-marathon best of 1:14:22 from the 2025 Valencia Marathon in October. Her Valencia half-marathon and Ottawa marathon results are very similar in performance.
