Ethiopian racers dominate at Ottawa Race Weekend marathon

Two Ethiopian athletes shined duringOttawa Race Weekend Sunday, finishing firstin both the men'sand women's categories inCanada's largest marathon.

YemaneTsegay, 33,won the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon with a time of 2:08:52 Sunday.

The first woman to cross the finish line was32-year-old Gelete Burka with a time of 2:22:17 a recordrun for women on Canadian soil.

Winners of Ottawa Race Weekend cross the finish line

6 years ago

Duration 1:10

Watch Yemane Tsegay, winner of the men's category, and Gelete Burka, winner of the women's category, cross the finish line. They're followed by Tristan Woodfine, the first Canadian to finish.

More than 3,300 runners participated in the 42.2-kilometre Ottawa marathon, which got underway at 7 a.m.

TristanWoodfinewasthe first Canadianto cross the finish line, with a time of 2:18:54.

KaitToohey, the top Canadianon the women's side, finishedwith a time of 2:45:05.

Last year, KenyanEliudKiptanuiwon the marathonwith a time of 2:10:14.

Ideal weather conditions

Organizers said more than 200,000 people, including runners from around the world, were expected to arrive in Ottawa for the weekend's races.

They also saidweather conditions were idealSunday, with cool temperatures and low humidity.

It was a sharp contrast to 2016 and 2017, when the scorching heat hadorganizers thinking about cancelling some of the races.