In a remarkable feat of endurance and speed, Canadian marathoner Rory Linkletter secured his place for Olympic consideration by hitting the marathon standard at the Zurich Seville Marathon in Spain, finishing the race in 2:08:01, nine seconds ahead of the qualifying benchmark. As it currently sets, only Linkletter and fellow countryman Cam Levins have run faster than the time needed to toe the line for Canada in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Leading up to the Seville Marahton, Linkletter has been on a tear of personal bests. In early December, he set a new PB in the mile, running sub-4 for the first time in his career, finishing the indoor race at Boston University in 3:59.05. After the race, Rory posted to Instagram about the achievement, “Lots of talk of whether the Sub-4 Mile has lost its luster over the last few years.. but for this marathoner, it meant a lot. Yes I did it in the super spikes, yes I did it at BU, but I did it.”
A month later at the Houston Half Marathon, he put on another first-class display of fitness, eying the Canadian national half-marathon record. Linkletter has a history with this race, having previously set the Canadian record in the event in 2022 (61:08), which was then bested by Cam Levins in Vancouver in 2023 (60:18). Though he did not come away with the national record at the 2024 edition of the Houston Half, Rory set a new personal best time with 61:02.
Training in Flagstaff, Arizona under coach Ryan Hall, Linkletter is a likely selection for the Canadian National Team for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Only he and Cam Levins have hit the qualifying mark in the marathon for those Games (2:08:10). The qualifying window ends in April, so barring two others running faster than his time, it is reasonable to believe we will see him on the streets of Paris in August.
Rory Linkletter attended college and ran track and cross country for Brigham Young University. He is sponsored by PUMA and is represented by HAWI Management.
The Zurich Seville Marathon is renowned for its flat, scenic route, making it a favorite among runners seeking to achieve personal bests or qualify for international competitions. Taking place in Seville, Spain, this event attracts athletes from around the globe, drawn by the city’s rich history, mild winter climate, and the enthusiastic support of local spectators. It’s an ideal marathon for both seasoned marathoners and newcomers to the distance, offering a blend of competitive atmosphere and cultural experience. This year’s winners were Deresa Geleta Ulfata (2:03:26) on the men’s side and Azmera Gebru Hagos (2:22:13) for the women, both of Ethiopia.
