Kenyans Daniel Kipkoech and Gladys Tarus win BMO Vancouver Marathon

by Charlie Smith on May 7th, 2017 at 7:29 PM

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A Kenyan long-distance runner is celebrating his second consecutive win in the BMO Vancouver Marathon.

Daniel Kipoech completed the 42.2-kilometre run through the streets of Vancouver and Stanley Park in 2:19:09.

He was nearly two minutes faster than last year's time.

However, it was still short of the 2:18:49 time he posted in coming second in the 2015 BMO Vancouver Marathon.

“The Vancouver community is why I come back every year," Kipkoech said after the race. "They’re so cheerful, loving and welcoming. It’s a beautiful place, especially the people."

Daniel Kipkoech has two golds and one silver in the last three Vancouver BMO Marathon races.

Richard Lam

Fellow Kenyan Gladys Tarus won the women's competition in a time of 2:39:38.

Kenyan Gladys Tarus was the first woman across the finish line.

Chris Morris

The BMO Half-Marathon-winning male runner was Canadian Kip Kangogo at 1:06:08. The women's winner, Natasha Wodak, is also Canadian and completed the race in 1:12:58.

“BMO would like to congratulate all of the incredible participants, spectators, and volunteers who came together for a great day at the 2017 BMO Vancouver Marathon,” Michael Bonner, senior vice president and regional head of BMO Bank of Montreal, said in a news release. “We’d also like to give a special recognition to Daniel Kipkoech on winning this year’s marathon, and to all BMO employee volunteers who offered their support to make this a memorable event.”

Chris Morris

Canadian Olympian Evan Dunfee race-walked everywhere except the fastest running hills. “Pretty much the entire course was lined up with people cheering,” he noted.

There were 16,000 racers representing 65 countries.

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to carry on this amazing tradition established in 1972, and help showcase Vancouver to the world,” Graeme White, executive director of the Vancouver International Marathon Society, said in the news release. “This historic milestone is only possible because of the passion of a handful of pioneering runners and the first 32 finishers.”

The 42.2-kilometre BMO Vancouver Marathon route travelled through the University Endowment Lands and Stanley Park.

The BMO Vancouver Marathon also hosted its first marriage ceremony during the race.

At the 32-kilometre mark, Anthony Johnson and James Makokis, of the Navajo and Saddle Lake Cree Nations, respectively, said their vows before moving on to complete the race as a happily married couple.