Kip Kangogo and Fawn Whiting Win Royal Victoria Marathon

Kip Kangogo secured his first marathon victory in Victoria on Oct. 12, 2026, breaking through after multiple close calls in a 46th annual Royal Victoria Marathon that drew a record 17,596 participants, the Times Colonist reported.

Kangogo Claims First Victoria Marathon Title

The 47-year-old veteran runner from Lethbridge, Alberta, crossed the finish line along the Dallas Road and Beach Drive waterfront course in two hours, 24 minutes and 28 seconds, according to the Times Colonist. Kangogo is a three-time champion of the Times Colonist 10K, having won that race in 2010, 2012 and 2014, but the full marathon title had previously eluded him.

This is so sweet after so many times here knocking on the door, Kangogo said, as reported by the Times Colonist.

Kangogo previously finished as the runner-up in the marathon, and he came close in 2013 when he ran a sub-2:15 race only to finish behind Lamech Mokono, whose course record of 2:13:42 remains standing. In Sunday’s race, Michael Zahara of Calgary finished second in 2:28:30, and Alex Bowns of Maple Valley, Washington, took third in 2:32:15, according to CHEK News.

Whiting Twins Share Sibling Rivalry on the Course

Fawn Whiting of Duncan captured the women’s division title with a time of 2:48:48, CHEK News reported. Both wore T-shirts reading Sibling Rivalry and dedicated their run to their late triplet brother, Kevin, who died in an avalanche.

It was the perfect day in a great running community.

Charlotte McNair of Banff finished second among women in 2:49:27, and Tessa Ladner of Calgary placed third in 2:52:02. Both Whiting siblings qualified for the Boston Marathon and plan to race together next April.

Record Participation Highlights Weekend Events

The weekend events brought 17,596 participants to the city, an increase of more than 2,000 over the previous standard set in 2025, according to the Times Colonist. Royal Victoria Marathon general manager and race director Cathy Noel noted that 10,000 of the runners traveled from off-Island, leaving local accommodations fully booked.

In the half-marathon events, Canadian women’s marathon record-holder and two-year Olympian Natasha Wodak won the female title in 1:14:32, marking her fourth championship in the event. Brandon Vail won the men’s half-marathon in 1:05:39. Matthew Travaglini captured the men’s 8K in 23:48, and Chloe Hegland won the women’s 8K in 27:39.

The races also featured notable performances by blind runner James Kwinecki, who finished the course in 3:13:58, and Olympic racewalker Evan Dunfee, who walked the marathon course in 3:24:59. BC Emergency Health Services reported responding to a medical incident near Quebec and Menzies streets at 11:18 a.m. Sunday, transporting one patient to the hospital in critical condition, according to CHEK News.

Charity Impact and Future Qualifiers

The Royal Victoria Marathon serves as an official qualifier for the Boston Marathon and includes the CHEK Charity Pledge program, which raised $180,000 for 25 charities this year and $2.7 million total since 2005. Race organizers have not yet announced registration dates for the 2027 event.