Top Canadian results from the 2018 Houston Half-Marathon

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd8B1FOjFvP/?taken-by=tasha_wodak

Geoff Martinson and Natasha Wodak, both of Vancouver, were the first Canadians to cross the finish line of the 2018 Houston Half-Marathon.

Wodak was the 13th overall female finisher, stopping the clock at 1:11:31 – ten seconds shy of her personal best. Martinson, running for the BC Endurance Project raced to 33rd place overall in a PB of 1:03:38.

Both these marks are well under Athletics Canada standards of 1:06:00 (men) and 1:16:00 (women) needed to qualify for the 2018 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championship team.

A number of Canadians on both the men’s and women’s side dipped under that time standard.

Evan Esselink of Guelph, Ont. (1:04:08) and Rachel Cliff of Vancouver (1:11:52) were the second Canadians to cross the finish line and both set PBs. Cliff won the Pioneer 8K on Vancouver Island last weekend.

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Cam Levins, the 2012 Olympian in the 5,000m and 10,000m and former Canadian 10,000m record holder, who has spent most of 2017 recovering from surgery, cruised to a 1:05:00 finish, a PB performance. Sunday marked Levins’s first race representing Hoka One One.

Emily Setlack, racing for Saucony, stopped the clock at 1:13:59, and was the 4th Canadian female.

Blair Morgan, 24, was one of the youngest Canadian athletes under standard. He clocked 1:05:06.

Recently back from his trip to Kenya, where he was doing work and raising money for Kenyan and Rwandan children, Yves Sikubwabo posted a PB of 1:05:37.

The race saw overall fast times from runners coming from all parts of the world. Ruti Aga of Ethiopia (1:06:39) and Jake Robertson of New Zealand (1:00:01) were the top female and male finishers, respectively.

Molly Huddle, racing for Saucony, set a new American record of 1:07:25. This clocking eclipsed Deena Kastor’s previous mark of 1:07:34.

Though the race saw many fast times, two of Canada’s top marathoners did not have their best day. Reid Coolsaet, dealing with stomach issues, finished the race in a time of 1:14:18.

Bummed I couldn’t show my current fitness today at #HouHalf but stomach issues got the better of me. I’ll shake it off and focus on the next one. Excited by some strong ?? results #GMartinson @evanesselink @tasha_wodak @Dangerous_Cliff

— Reid Coolsaet (@ReidCoolsaet) January 14, 2018

Leslie Sexton, the 2017 Canadian marathon champion, had to drop out, due to an asthma attack.

Ugh, definitely not how I wanted that to go. Had some asthma troubles at 14k and had to stop. Pissed to have wasted such a great day & racing opportunity. #HoustonHalfMarathon

— Leslie Sexton (@LeslieSexton) January 14, 2018

Six Canadian men and seven Canadian women dipped under World Half-Marathon Championship standard, bringing the total number of athletes under standard to nine men and 16 women. Athletics Canada will name a maximum of four men and four women to the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championship team. The team will be selected and the announcement will be made on Feb. 1.

Full results of Canadian elites

Men

Geoff Martinson 1:03:38
Evan Esselink 1:04:08
Cameron Levins 1:05.00
Sami Jibril 1:05.06
Blair Morgan 1:05:06
Yves Sikubwabo 1:05.37
Kevin Blackney 1:05:43
Thomas Toth 1:06:59
Colin Fewer 1:06:51
Reid Coolsaet 1:14:18

Women

Natasha Wodak 1:11:31
Rachel Cliff 1:11:52
Kinsey Middleton 1:12:30
Emily Setback 1:13:59
Lyndsay Tessier 1:14:29
Cleo Boyd 1:15:46
Melanie Myrand 1:15:50
Shelley Doucet 1:17:10