With a revised route for the  marathon course, a strong contingent of Kenyan andy Ethiopian runners, and favourable weather, the existing Ottawa Marathon records are anticipated to fall.

Teyba Erkesso is the favourite to break the women’s three year old record of 2:27:41. Erkesso will get some hard competition from Yeshi Esayias who placed third in 207, has a personal best of 2:26:00 in Tokyo in February, and continues to improve.

In the men’s category there are six elite runners with personal best times faster than the current event record of 2:09:33 set by Japanese racer Arata Fujiwara in 2010. Laban Moiben of Kenya is a strong contender having won the race last year and most recently in Mumbai. Kenyan Moses Kigen has a personal best time of 2:07:45 . Kenyan Julius Karinga was only 16 seconds behind Moses in Dubai last February. The Ethiopians’ hope will be spearheaded by 2:07 marathoner Negari Terfa.