Malindi Elmore to run Berlin Marathon
Will she re-emerge as the Canadian marathon record holder after Natasha Wodak took the title on the same course last year?
Photo by:
Victah Sailer
Malindi Elmore will toe the start line at this year’s Berlin Marathon–the same course where Natasha Wodak broke Elmore’s Canadian marathon record last year.
Elmore is among a blazingly fast women’s field the Berlin Marathon has confirmed for the Sept. 24 race. Other runners announced so far include Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui (who finished fourth at this year’s London Marathon) and a strong Ethiopian contingent led by 2022 Berlin champion and course record holder Tigst Assefa, Tigist Abayechew and Workenesh Edesa.
The Berlin Marathon announces more of its field. Race date: September 24. pic.twitter.com/QHe5Vj8AUo
— Fast Women (@fast_women) August 17, 2023
The famously flat and fast Berlin course could lay the groundwork for Elmore to reclaim the mantle as the fastest Canadian female marathoner. Her former Canadian marathon record of 2:24:50, which she set at the Houston Marathon in 2020, was bested by Wodak by more than 90 seconds in the German capital last September (2:23:12). Wodak, who is currently in Budapest for the World Athletics Championships, is not expected to compete in Berlin.
Elmore looks to be in a good position to reclaim the Canadian crown following a string of strong performances. The Kelowna, B.C., native took the women’s title in 2:25:14 at the Canadian Marathon Championship at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon last October. In April, Elmore ran a massive PB at the Gifu Half Marathon in Japan, posting a final time of 1:10:11 and finishing fourth overall.
The following month, she threw down a gutsy performance at the 2023 Tartan Ottawa International Marathon. Going into the race with the goal of the 2024 Olympic standard of 2:26:50, she was on pace for 2:26 through 30K and sat in fourth position. As the temperature climbed to 24 C, she gave everything she had over the final 12 kilometres, moving up two spots to finish second to Ethiopia’s Waganesh Mekasha in 2:27:45.
Elmore has also been making bold statements at shorter distances. Last September she bested her own course record in the tenth Under Armour Eastside 10K in Vancouver, running a blistering 32:37.
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