Ongori wins second Toronto Marathon since seeking asylum in Canada

Philes Ongori of Kenya reacts after she crosses the finish line to win the women's race of the Rotterdam Marathon, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday April 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Ermindo Armino)

TORONTO — Philes Ongori won the women’s competition at the Toronto Marathon on Sunday, marking the second time the Kenyan has won the race since seeking asylum in Canada.

Ongori, who also won the race in 2024, finished in a time of two hours 40 minutes 36 seconds, two minutes and 44 seconds ahead of Anna Carruthers of Creemonre, Ont.

Meghan Foottit of Nepean, Ont., was third in 2:45:16.

Ongori, 39, came to Niagara Falls, Ont., as an asylum seeker with her husband in 2023, citing political persecution in Kenya.

She was a silver medallist at the 2009 world half-marathon championships and won the 2011 Rotterdam Marathon in a personal-best time of 2:24:20.

Austria’s Davide Zanetti won the men’s race in 2:25:08, followed by Rowan Shigeno of the United States (2:31:19) and Toronto’s Alex Hutton (2:35:15).


This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2026.

The Canadian Press