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Mike Chesire from Coon Rapids, MN, and Leslie Sexton of Vancouver, BC won the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Chesire stopped the clock at 2:13:27. Hometown runner Dylan Gearinger finished second in the time of 2:14:54, while the third-place finisher was Donald Cowart of Rustburg, VA finishing in the time of 2:17:24.

Chesire is a 25-year-old Kenyan athlete who entered the race with a 2:16:31 personal best from Honolulu from two years ago.

For Gearinger, a neuroscientist, the performance represents a new personal best at the marathon distance. On Oct. 10 this year he debuted at the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon in New York in the time of 2:20:22. He knew he could run faster, as he completed the marathon with a large negative split of 71:15 and 69:07. His Philadelphia performance was more indicative of his capability. he runs upwards of more than 200 kilometres per week in training.

Cowart is a 3000m steeplechase specialist. He competed in the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games. On Oct. 3 this year he ran a marathon in NY in the time of 2:19:58, however, the course is not certified for records or standards.

Women’s race

Canadian Leslie Sexton won the women’s race in a new personal best time of 2:28:34. She is now the sixth-fastest Canadian all-time and the Philadelphia course record holder. Sexton moved to Vancouver from Southern Ontario recently. Perhaps the new environment is paying off for her. She is just weeks removed from winning her first Canadian 10K Championships. In Toronto, one month ago, she battled Sarah Inglis hard and bettered two Olympians to clock a new personal best road time of 32:04. Inglis, a Scot, was ineligible for the national title finished first.

Sexton’s marathon personal best was 2:31:51 from Prague 2019. She also earned the national marathon title in 2017 when she raced the Scotiabank Toronto Marathon clocking a 2:35:47 finish time.

In Philadelphia, Lexie Thompson finished second in the time of 2:30:37 in her debut marathon. Thompson is an NCAA All-American from Weber State Collegiate, however, has recently raced up to 20K, clocking a 68:46 performance in New Haven in September 2021.

Hirut Guangul finished third in the time of 2:33:44. It was a new personal best for the 29-year-old Ethiopian. She previously ran 2:34:02 in 2012 in St. Paul, MN. Guangul won the IMT Des Moines Marathon on Oct. 17 this year in the time of 2:36:05.

Marathon results are available here>>

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