Canada’s top two marathoners went head-to-head on Sunday at the national half-marathon championships, held during the Edmonton Marathon weekend, with Rory Linkletter edging out Canadian marathon and half-marathon record-holder Cam Levins by a single second. “[The] sprint finish was electric,” Linkletter told Canadian Running. “I knew Cam was gonna fight tooth and nail for it, and he delivered a lot of punches over the final 2K to test me. It felt like a great fight and I’m proud to have won this one. It means more winning against good competition.”
After sneaking by Levins in Edmonton, Linkletter’s next battle with him will be on the clock, when he aims for Levins’s Canadian marathon record of 2:05:36 this October in Chicago. “I think I still have a lot of work to do to give the record a crack, but I believe I can do it if I’m healthy and can put together a strong build, and of course, the conditions co-operate,” he said.
Milton, Ont.’s Ben Preisner followed Linkletter and Levins in, crossing the line in 1:03:15.
Half-marathon top 5 men
1. Rory Linkletter 1:03:002. Cam Levins 1:03:003. Ben Preisner 1:03:154. Andrew Alexander 1:04:145. Nageso Nyafaro Tuse 1:05:24
Women’s race
On the women’s side, British runner Lauren McNeil (who lives and trains in Kelowna) claimed the half-marathon title in 1:11:25, while Natasha Wodak, Canada’s marathon record-holder, finished second overall, and first Canadian, in 1:11:40. Quebec’s Florence Caron followed close behind at 1:11:57. Ontario’s Lanni Marchant was the fourth finisher and third Canadian, in 1:13:15.
Top 5 women
1. Lauren McNeil (U.K.) 1:11:252. Natasha Wodak 1:11:40 (Canadian half-marathon champion)3. Florence Caron 1:11:57 (second Canadian finisher)4. Lanni Marchant 1:13:15 (third Canadian finisher)5, Maria Zambrano 1:18:34
For full results of the Edmonton Half-Marathon, head here.
