The streets of Toronto have been buzzing on Saturday as Ottawa’s operating neighborhood stole the present on the 2025 Beneath Armour Toronto 10K. With a file 8,500 runners on the course, native athletes pushed by way of a stiff headwind to earn large wins—and a bit redemption.
Nyirarukundo breaks by way of
For Salome Nyirarukundo, this victory was a very long time coming. After ending second in each 2023 and 2024, the 27-year-old lastly claimed the highest spot, crossing the road in 34:05. The circumstances weren’t precisely variety, with runners battling headwinds alongside Lake Ontario, however Nyirarukundo didn’t again down, Canadian Working Collection reported.
“It feels wonderful. I’ve been chasing this win for 3 years,” Nyirarukundo mentioned post-race. Residing in Ottawa for the previous 5 years, the Rwandan Olympian knew she needed to push early to remain away from veteran racer Rachel Hannah, who chased exhausting, ending second in 34:17. Ottawa’s Teagan Robertson rounded out the rostrum in 34:52.
Nyirarukundo, who nonetheless holds Rwanda’s nationwide information within the 5,000m and 10,000m, mentioned the win was further particular as a result of she needed to make her transfer early and maintain it. “After 3K I used to be actually pushing as a result of I do know Rachel is so sturdy,” she mentioned. “Often, I don’t end properly, so I knew I couldn’t wait.” Hannah is not any stranger to the Beneath Armour Toronto 10K, having completed third right here in previous years. “This was my finest run at this race,” Hannah mentioned. “It’s at all times nice to have somebody like Salome to chase. It retains you sharp.”
Nobbs nails it
Within the males’s race, it was one other Ottawa win. Thomas Nobbs surged within the closing kilometre to interrupt away from Lee Wesselius, taking the tape in 29:35. Nobbs, a former UBC standout who’s initially from Vancouver, not too long ago ran to a stable sixth-place end on the Canadian 10K Championships. He discovered himself main early, towards his coach’s recommendation.“I used to be on the entrance earlier than I even realized it,” Nobbs mentioned. It wasn’t the smoothest morning: a poor night time’s sleep and shoelace hassle at first may have derailed him, however he stored it collectively.
Wesselius, who works full-time as a big animal vet, completed 5 seconds again in second, blissful together with his enchancment from Ottawa’s nationwide championships just a few weeks earlier. Toronto’s Alex Cyr took third in 29:45.
