Double Canadian women’s marathon records at Berlin

Outstanding runs by @Dangerous_Cliff RACHEL Cliff) 2:28:53 (debut!) @BCEnduranceProj & @lyndsay_tessier 2:30:47 (masters division) ??. Well done @runmommaster 2:40:11 (W45) & @RachelHannahRD 2:42:31. S/o to @SGollishRuns on a tough debut. You ALL made ?? proud pic.twitter.com/yx9LFMxJVt

— alan brookes, CRS (@alnbrookes) September 16, 2018

The Berlin Marathon was an amazing event for Canadian women. Both Lyndsay Tessier and Catherine Watkins broke their respective age group records on Sunday morning. 

Tessier finished in 2:30.47. Tessier ran a huge personal best, and broke the previous W40 marathon record by just under three minutes, finishing 12th overall. The masters athlete has had an amazing season running personal bests in both the half-marathon and 10K in 2018. 

Congrats to @runmommaster on a PR at age 47: 2:40:11!! ??? @berlinmarathon pic.twitter.com/XZpkVafPFt

— oiselle team (@oiselle_team) September 16, 2018

Watkins finished 22nd overall and crossed the line in 2:40:11. Watkins’ time bested the former W45 record by 9 seconds. 

Rachel Cliff ran her marathon debut this morning in Berlin in 2:28:53 to place 11th in one of the most competitive women’s marathon fields in the world. Cliff’s time is only 53 seconds off of the current Canadian marathon record held by Lanni Marchant in 2:28:00.

Cliff has had a phenomenal 2018 setting the Canadian half-marathon record, and running personal bests in the 1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m, 5K, and 10K. 

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Whether or not Cliff will make the marathon her primary distance remains to be seen, but after a debut like that, the odds are high. 

Rachel Hannah was 28th in 2:42:57. Hannah is coming off of a year of injury with a stress fracture in her foot. 

A year ago I had a stress fracture in my foot. A year later and hard work on my body comp has been full of learning. Positive anthro results now and BIG thanks to the IST @CSIONTARIO and @Speedriver for being so supportive! ❤️ On to @berlinmarathon ? pic.twitter.com/y3yvDsc5vW

— Rachel Hannah (@RachelHannahRD) August 29, 2018

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnypFhACqgt/?hl=en&taken-by=sgollishruns

Sasha Gollish unfortunately did not finish her marathon debut. Gollish does not have splits beyond the 30 kilometre mark. She announced on Instagram post-race, “Still smiling and will see another running day. Thank you for all of the well wishes and notes; I will totally be ok.”