The temperature barely hit double digits when the race started and it drizzled off and on but no one was complaining at the finish line of the 39th Manitoba Marathon.

"Perfect weather for running, not so much for spectating," said Steffan Reimer. "I was so excited that there were was so many spectators our there. Perfect weather to run fast and things worked out pretty well."

The 28-year-old Blumenort native, who crossed the finish line at Investors Group Field on the University of Manitoba campus in South Winnipeg in two hours, 45 minutes and 13 seconds, was thrilled with his race.

"That was my best by about three minutes so I'm okay with that one. Very excited. I kept looking down, I had a guy (Jeff Sacco) I was running with the whole time. I let him go at mile 18 and I regret that now but it was nice to run with someone for the first 18 miles and chat, have fun and pace yourselves."

Reimer was also okay with the new finish line being near the 45-yard line at the home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

"It was a downhill finish into the stadium to that was kind of nice. You had to watch your step but it was good. I really enjoyed it."

Reimer, who finished third in 2016, missed out being on the podium for the second year in a row as he was 50 seconds behind Sacco.

"There was a lot of elite athletes here today," said Reimer. "I was pretty sure at the start line that the podium was going to be out of reach and then I passed Les (Friesen) at about mile 20 or 21 and I'm like well now it's in reach. I saw third in front of me but I just could not reel him in so it was too bad there. But I'm happy with the time and I'll just have to be okay with the placing."

Teresa Fekensa of Toronto, who came to Canada from Ethiopia in 2015 won the men's marathon in a time of 2:38:04 while Jeremy Walker of East St. Paul finished in second place at 2:39:09.

Shane Warren of Mitchell crossed the finish line in 33rd place at 3:17:21 and Chris Schroeder of Steinbach had a time of 3:18:17 which was good for 35th place.

Emily Ratzlaff of Winnipeg captured the women's marathon in 3:14:45. Ali Cummings of Sudbury was second in 3:16:24 and Rebecca Cunnane of Winnipeg finished in third place in 3:16:45.

Daniel Heschuk of Neepawa and Jaclyn Adamson of Winnipeg won the half-marathons.


2017 Manitoba Marathon results