Huge runs for Setlack, Myrand and Mason at Rotterdam Marathon

It was a great day for Canadians at the Rotterdam marathon. In the women’s race, Lachine’s Melanie Myrand (who was named Melanie Melanie in the results) was the first Canadian across the line in a personal best of 2:33:17, and Emily Setlack of Cold Lake, Alta. wasn’t far behind her in 2:35:44.

Myrand has come a long way in the past year. The runner made a huge jump in the fall of 2018 when she ran a five-minute personal best in Chicago of 2:34:08, and has clearly continued that momentum into 2019, running another personal best on Sunday. Setlack has also put together two strong seasons in a row. In 2018 the runner competed at both the World Half-Marathon Championships in Valenica, Spain and the World Mountain Running Championships in Andorra, Spain. Her time from Sunday is a shocking 11 minute personal best.

This guy just ran 2:15:17 and finished 15th at the Rotterdam Marathon. Right on @jwmquality! pic.twitter.com/mnb0UIFfvt

— Reid Coolsaet (@ReidCoolsaet) April 7, 2019

RELATED: Melanie Myrand surprised herself at Chicago in the best way possible

On the men’s side, Guelph’s John Mason finished in 2:15:15 and was the first North American across the line. Mason’s time is a three-minute personal best and the fastest time run by a Canadian in 2019. Fun fact, he’s also the runner pictured in one of our favourite winter running photos (see above).

In the overall results, Marius Kipserem of Kenya won in a new course record of 2:04:10. Kipserem ran the Abu Dhabi marathon in December, running a 2:04:04, but the time didn’t count, as the course was later discovered to be short.

RELATED: There’s speculation that the Abu Dhabi marathon course was short

On the women’s side, Ashete Bekere of Ethiopia won in 2:22:55. She was closely followed by Stella Barsosio of Kenya in 2:23:34.