Past champions, former Olympians set to battle for Half-Marathon Championships

Defending champion Emily Setlack of Cold Lake, Alta., and Sami Jibril of Toronto, will lead a talented field of distance runners competing on Sunday, May 28, at the 2017 Canadian Half-Marathon Championships. This marks the third year that the championship event will take place in conjunction with the Calgary Marathon’s Centaur Subaru Half-Marathon. 

RELATED: Calgary Marathon named as host of national half marathon championships

In the women’s championship race, Emily Setlack returns to Calgary to defend her title. In 2016, Setlack crossed the finish line in a time of 1:15:45, 50 seconds ahead of runner-up and Olympian Krista DuChene. Setlack will face a challenge from 2016 Canadian 10,000m champion and 2015 Pan American Games bronze medallist Rachel Hannah of Toronto.

In the men’s division, Sami Jabril will lead a strong trio of contenders for the Canadian title. Jibril represented Canada at this year’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships, placing 80th. Geoff Martison of Vancouver has run 1:05:18 and has the pedigree to challenge for the win. Kip Kangogo of Lethbridge, Alta., won the race in 2015 and could be in the mix, and you never want to count out Olympian Dylan Wykes of Vancouver.

For those not in Calgary, the half-marathon will be webcast live on AthleticsCanada.tv.

Edited from an Athletics Canada press release