Despite frigid cold temperatures and a biting northwest wind that proved an impediment to many competitors, the 2018 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon yielded a new course record as Bahrain’s Mimi Belete claimed victory in 2:22:29.

Tsegaye Mekonnen’s marathon debut four years ago stunned running aficionados across the world as the Ethiopian youngster won the Dubai Marathon in 2:04:32, the fastest time in history by an U20 athlete.

Eritrea’s Teklemariam Medhin confirmed his status of favourite to pull out a convincing victory at the 72th Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza, the sixth of this winter’s IAAF Cross Country Permit meetings, in the Spanish town Elgoibar on Sunday (25).

Timothy Toroitich scored his third victory on Spanish soil this winter at the 35th edition of the Cross Internacional de Venta de Banos on Sunday (21).

Kenya’s Japhet Korir showed something of the talent that made him the youngest ever IAAF World Cross Country Championships senior men’s winner just over nine months ago, when he triumphed at the Antrim IAAF International Cross Country, an IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting, on Saturday (4).