Natasha Wodak becomes first Canadian woman to run under 1:10 for half-marathon
Wodak ran a Canadian half-marathon record of 1:09:41 Sunday morning in Houston

Natasha Wodak broke Rachel Cliff’s Canadian half-marathon record on Sunday morning in Houston, running a 1:09:41 to finish the race. Wodak becomes the first Canadian woman to run under the 70-minute mark for the half.
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Cliff broke her own Canadian record only one month ago, finishing the Sanyo Ladies’ Half-Marathon in Okayama, Japan in sixth place in 1:10:06, two seconds under her former record of 1:10:08.
Today's Houston Half Marathon was the deepest half marathon ever on US soil.
NINE guys broke 60:00, just the fourth time that has happened, anywhere.
And 14 American men broke 62:00.
Nine women broke 69:00 — just the seventh time that's happened (and never on US soil).
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) January 19, 2020
Wodak is a B.C. native, and 17-time Team Canada member who’s also the Canadian 10,000m record-holder. She’s coming off the year of her life. That year included travel from Denmark to Doha for two World Championships, along with countless trips between Canada and the U.S. to race. In that time, Wodak won the Pan Am 10,000m title and ran a 5K PB. Up next for the runner is the Pan Am Cross-Country Cup.
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The women’s winner was Hitomi Niiya, who set a Japanese record in 1:06:38. Her time is the third-fastest women’s half-marathon ever run in the U.S. Niiya ran away from the women’s field, finishing nearly two minutes ahead of second place. That spot went to Brillian Jepkorir Kipkoech in 1:08:08 and third place to Caroline Kipkirui in 1:08:13. The Houston Half-Marathon is where nine of the top 10 fastest half-marathons in America have been run.
Top Canadian results
Natasha Wodak – 1:09:41
Rachel Cliff – 1:10:13
Sarah Inglis – 1:10:24 (PB)
Emily Setlack – 1:11:40 (PB)
Dayna Pidhoresky – DNF
Full results can be found here.