Korir chasing second Tartan Ottawa International Marathon win

2021 New York City Marathon champion Albert Korir is one of the favourites on the start line of the 2025 Tartan Ottawa International Marathon, set for Sunday 25 May. 

Making a return to the Canadian capital since his 2019 victorious race where he clocked 2:08:03, then a personal best, Korir has his sights set on reclaiming the title despite facing a quick field.

Expectations are that he will challenge the course record of 2:06:04, set by Ethiopia’s Andualem Shiferaw in 2022.

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In 2019, Korir finished second at the New York City Marathon (2:08:36), and in 2021, he returned to win it (2:08:22), claiming his first World Marathon Major title. 

He went on to finish second in New York again in 2023, where he ran a personal best of 2:06:57.

Korir has also delivered strong results in Boston, placing among the top six three times, including a fourth-place finish in 2023 (2:08:01).

"Known as one of the best championship racers of his generation, Korir brings global experience and proven performance to this year’s elite field, which is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the event’s 50 year history. His return adds further excitement to what is already expected to be a thrilling race," offered the organisers. 

He joins a staked field led by compatriot Laban Mutai, the quickest entrant on paper with a 2:06:40 personal best (PB) from 2019. 

Belay Tilahun (2:06:58) is the other sub 2:07 runner on the field. 

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Canada’s Rory Linkletter, fresh off a marathon personal best of 2:07:02 for sixth place at the 2025 Boston Marathon says his goal heading into Ottawa is to put himself in a position to win. 

“It’s hard not to be objective heading into Ottawa given the context, but I want to walk away from the race feeling I did everything I could to execute," he said. 

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Also lining up is American CJ Albertson, who looks to build on his seventh-place finish at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, where he ran a personal best 2:08:17.

Like Linkletter, Albertson also ran the 2025 Boston Marathon five weeks ago, placing 14th in 2:10:16.

In the women's field Visiline Jepkesho who carries a 2:21:37 PB from 2017 to the race faces stiff competition from Ethiopia's Meseret Gebre (2:23:11) and Philes Ongori (2:23:22).