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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.

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.

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