2021 New York Marathon champion Korir poised to claim his second Ottawa title this Sunday.

With just only three days to go to the 2025 Ottawa Marathon edition to be held on Sunday the 25th of May 2025 in the Capital of Canada, the 2021 New York City Marathon winner, Albert Korir, hopes to reclaim his Ottawa Marathon title.

After missing Boston Marathon in April 2025 as a result of injury, Albert Korir will be running his first race of 2025 as the late addition to the elite men's field.

The organisers of Run Ottawa have announced, "We are thrilled to welcome elite Kenyan marathoner Albert Korir to the starting line of the 2025 edition of the marathon."

Albert Korir, the 2019 Ottawa Marathon champion, is set to make his return to Canada's capital, determined to reclaim his title.

At 31 years old, Albert Korir secured victory in the 2019 Ottawa Marathon with a time of 2:08:03, finishing ahead of Ethiopian runners Abera Kuma (2:08:14) and Tsehat Ayana (2:08:54).

"Following a training setback and the decision to withdraw from Boston, I am excited to compete this weekend," said Albert Korir.

In Albert Korir's absence in Boston, John Korir delivered a stellar performance, securing victory in 2:04:45. Tanzania's Alphonse Simbu (2:05:04) and CyBrian Kotut (2:05:94) rounded out the podium.

 Albert Korir’s most recent race was the 2024 New York City Marathon, where he secured third place with a time of 2:08:00, finishing behind Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands (2:07:39) and fellow Kenyan Evans Chebet (2:07:45). Earlier in the year, he claimed fifth place in Boston with a time of 2:07:47.

A seasoned competitor over the classic marathon distance, Korir boasts an impressive resume. He finished as runner-up in New York in 2023, setting a lifetime best of 2:06:57 while trailing Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola (2:04:58). His career victories include Wien in 2017 (2:08:40) and Houston in 2019 (2:10:02), where he outpaced Ethiopia’s Yitayal Zerihun (2:10:08) and compatriot Justus Kimutai (2:10:25).

Korir has also earned podium finishes at several international marathons, including Otsu (2:08:17 in 2018), Cape Town (2:09:02 in 2018), New York (2:08:36 in 2019), and Barcelona (2:10:08 in 2016).

In Ottawa, he will join a strong Kenyan contingent featuring Laban Mutai, the 2019 Eindhoven champion; Shadrack Kimining, runner-up at the 2022 Riga Half Marathon; and Wisley Kimeli, winner of the Lisbon Marathon.

Mutai will be aiming for redemption following his 17th-place finish in Paris (2:11:39) on April 3. Kimining hopes to build on his strong third-place result at the Houston Marathon (2:08:29) in January.

Meanwhile, Kimeli is chasing his first podium of the year after finishing fourth in Riyadh (2:08:42) and fifth in Riga (2:14:10).