Leslie Sexton and Luc Bruchet win Canadian 10,000m championships

At the first Canadian outdoor championship of the year, the reigning 10K road champion, Leslie Sexton, doubled up to win the Canadian 10,000m title on the track at the Lululemon Pacific Distance Carnival last night in Burnaby, B.C. Sexton ran over a one-minute personal best in 32:31.89 to win the women’s championship, while Vancouver’s own Luc Bruchet continued his impressive form this outdoor season, winning the men’s championship in a time of 28:01.30, only five seconds off his personal best of 27:56.

Bruchet and Charles Philibert-Thiboutot pushed the pace early, establishing a pack of three at the halfway mark with Canadian half-marathon record holder Rory Linkletter. Bruchet and Philibert-Thiboutot continued to knock off 67 to 68 second 400s, taking Linkletter off the lead group with 3 km to go. Bruchet made his move with less than a mile left and never looked back, winning his second straight Canadian 10,000m championship. Philibert-Thiboutot was second in a personal best time of 28:11.81, and Linkletter third in 28:26.27.

Félicitations @Chuck_PT 2eme des championnats canadiens de 10 000m et nouveau recordman québécois en 28:11.81 et bat la marque détenue par Alain Bordeleau depuis 1984. Charles détient maintenant les rec QC du 1500, 3000, 5000 & 10 000m @AthleticsCanada @Athl_FQA pic.twitter.com/J6UiP97VRj

— Classique d'athlétisme de Montréal (@MtlClassique) May 15, 2022

Sexton controlled the women’s race early, running 78- to 79-second laps, sharing the pace with Toronto’s Sasha Gollish. The two women worked away at the front until Sexton made a move with less than 3 km to go. Sexton knocked the pace down to 76 seconds per lap, which ended up being too swift for Gollish. Sexton stormed to her third 10,000m championship and her first since 2014. Gollish was second in a personal best time of 32:56.89, and Annie-Marie Comeau of Quebec City was third in a personal best time of 33:19.89.

Aux championnats canadiens de 10 000m à Burnaby, Anne-Marie Comeau et Elissa Legault sont maintenant 4e et 5e Québécoises de tous les temps. Bravo mesdames! @Athl_FQA @AthleticsCanada pic.twitter.com/Yqsz0Q7W40

— Classique d'athlétisme de Montréal (@MtlClassique) May 15, 2022

Sexton and Bruchet will both look to take home another national title two weeks from now at the Ottawa 10K. In a month, Langley, B.C., will play host to the 2022 Canadian Track and Field Championships, where champions will be crowned from 100m to 5,000m. The championships will begin on June 22 and run until June 26.

You can view the full results from the Lululemon Pacific Distance Carnival here.