Canadian runner Rory Linkletter made history by becoming the first Canadian to finish a half marathon in under one hour at the Houston Half Marathon. Linkletter completed the race in 59 minutes and 49 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Cam Levins by 69 seconds.
Expressing his excitement, Linkletter stated that breaking the 60-minute mark was significant to him and being the first Canadian to achieve this milestone held special meaning. He mentioned that Houston was a place he visited specifically to achieve fast running times and that it felt like the perfect stage for his performance.
Cam Levins finished the race in 1 hour and 58 seconds, placing 18th overall. This marked the second time Linkletter had broken the national record in Houston, previously setting a new record in 2022.
Linkletter, who was accompanied by his coach and training partners during the race, acknowledged Levins’ influence on his career and the inspiration he provided. In return, Levins congratulated Linkletter and acknowledged him as the new standard setter in Canadian distance running.
Looking ahead, Linkletter plans to participate in more races, including marathons and the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. His recent achievements have solidified his position as a top Canadian distance runner, setting new records and continuing to push his limits in the sport.