Ethiopia’s Tariku Jufar returns to Toronto Waterfront Marathon

With the addition of Ethiopia’s Tariku Jufar to the 2014 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Tuesday (7), organisers of the IAAF Silver Label Road Race on 19 October can proudly point to the fact that four men in the field have beaten 2:07 in the past three years.

Two of them have also gone faster than 2:06.

Jufar set a course record in the 2012 Houston Marathon with a personal best time of 2:06:51.

Along with Kenya’s Peter Some (2:05:38) and Laban Korir (2:06:05) as well as fellow Ethiopian Shami Abdulahi  (2:05:42), Jufar will focus on attacking the Canadian all-comers’ record of 2:06:54, set in Ottawa this year by Jufar’s compatriot Yemane Tsegay, and the course record of 2:07:05 set a year ago.

“Of course! If I break the course record I hope it will be as the winner,” said the 30year-old Jufar. “I plan to run to my shape and if God allows me that day to beat the field and win then I will be happy.”

Jufar has won several major marathons during his accomplished marathon career.

Last year, he became the first Ethiopian man to win the Ottawa Marathon setting a then course record of 2:08:05. He also won the 2012 Beijing Marathon.

Source: IAAF.org