Eric Gillis wins Canadian marathon title

Courtesy Glenn MacDonald, The Chronicle Herald

OTTAWA — Eric Gillis and Rhiannon Johns won the men's and women's Canadian marathon titles on Sunday.

Antigonish native Gillis won the men's title in two hours 13 minutes 46 seconds, while Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native Johns took the women's championship in 2:47:11.

"Objective accomplished," Gillis said in an interview Sunday.

"I came in with a goal of trying to really work the back half of this course and run as close as even pace for the first half and second as possible. And that's what I did. It was a pretty even split race and an OK time. I was within the ball park of my personal best. It was a good competitive race."

Gillis, who finished 22nd at the Olympics two summers ago, has battled hip alignment problems since the London Games. He withdrew from last year's Canadian marathon.

But he bounced back last fall and posted a personal best time of 2:13.29 at the Scotiabank Waterfront race in Toronto.

The 34-year-old also won the Canadian half marathon championship last month, running a personal best 63 minutes 30 seconds.

"It was a year ago at this time that I was pulling out of this race," said Gillis, who lives and trains in Guelph, Ont. "I just wasn't progressing the way I wanted to.

"But I had a pretty good race in the fall at the Toronto marathon and had another solid one here today. I feel like I'm in control now. I feel on the ball and ready to knock out another good effort this fall and go after a personal best."

Vancouver's Rob Watson was second in 2:16:37. Philippe Viau-Dupuis of Montreal won the bronze medal in 2:23:21. Watson won the Canadian marathon last year.

Gillis finished eighth overall in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, which was held in conjunction with the Canadian marathon. Ethiopia's Yemane Tsegay completed the fastest marathon ever on Canadian soil, winning the Ottawa marathon in 2:06:54. Mulugeta Wami, also of Ethiopia, was second (2:08:17), followed by Ishhimael Bushendich Chemtan of Kenya (2:08:35).

Johns took the women's title ahead of Bianca Premont of Ste-Julie, Que., (2:50:26) and Sarah Nagy of Newmarket, Ont., (2:50:52).

"I am thrilled, overwhelmed and it is exactly what I came here to do," Johns said. "The race was a great step in the right direction. It wasn't a great time, but it is rare in running to have the outcome be exactly what you wanted. Any time you become a national champion is pretty exciting."