The complete list of Canadian elites racing this month

As of today, the Olympic qualification window is wide open for track and field athletes (it has been open for marathoners since September) and in the month of December, 10 of Canada’s best are set to race. Here’s a look at where they stand in the race for Olympic qualification and what they need to do to get there. 

RELATED: Runners struggle to find races as Olympic qualification window reopens

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot – December 4

Philibert-Thiboutot, a 2016 Olympian in the 1,500m, is racing Track Meet on Friday evening in California. He’ll be running his first official 5,000m race since December 19, 2019. Philibert-Thiboutot had to sit out the summer 2019 season due to injury, but he’s come back stronger and ready to vie for his position on the upcoming Olympic team. 

While his primary event has historically been the 1,500m, he’s run some strong 5,000m races, but so far he hasn’t achieved the standard in either event. The Olympic standard in the 5,000m is 13:13.50. The start lists and link to watch can be found here. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF-yKDAJxzv/

Andrea Seccafien – December 13

Seccafien is racing a half-marathon in Tasmania on December 13. The Canadian record holder in the event has been dealing with an Australian lockdown for months, but is set to bust the rust in the coming weeks. This will be Seccafien’s first race since February 23, when she ran a 33:05 10K personal best. Seccafien has already run the 5,000m Olympic standard, but she hopes to double at the Olympics in the 5,000m and 10,000m. 

The 10,000m standard is 31:25.00.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGjJBNmnW3L/

Natasha Wodak – December 20

Wodak is taking on the marathon for the first time since 2013. On December 20, she’ll be racing the Marathon Project, where she’ll be looking to qualify for the Olympics. Currently, the third spot on the team should go to Rachel Cliff, who has run a 2:26:56. In order for Wodak to qualify in this event, she’ll need to run at least 2:26:55 and beat Cliff (who’s also running that day). Last month, Wodak ran a solo 1:10 half-marathon, which was the third-fastest in Canadian history. 

At the moment, Dayna Pidhoresky is the only marathoner guaranteed a spot, but Malindi Elmore‘s 2:24 Canadian record is likely to get her to the Olympics. For the women, the standard is not enough to get yourself a spot on the team, since each country can only send three competitors; you need to run in the 2:26 range. It’s a real fight for the third spot, and each woman racing is looking to snag that position. 

Rachel Cliff – December 20

Cliff ran the Canadian record of 2:26:56 in March 2019, but it has since been broken by Elmore. She’s currently in the running for the third spot on the Olympic team, but she’s got several women breathing down her neck – and most of them are racing on December 20 as well. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwWazjn8de/

Kinsey Middleton – December 20

Middleton was the 2018 Canadian marathon champion (which was hosted by STWM) and she owns a personal best of 2:32:09 from that race (which was her debut). She was disappointed in her 2019 STWM showing, but will be looking to run a strong time on December 20. 

Emily Setlack – December 20

Setlack had an amazing race at STWM 2019, where she ran a personal best and narrowly missed the Olympic standard. She crossed the line as the third Canadian that day in 2:29:48 (the standard is 2:29:30). Since then, she’s run a strong 10K time trial, hitting 32:49. 

Cam Levins – December 20

Levins is the Canadian record holder in the marathon (2:09:25) but has since struggled to put a strong time on paper. He ran his Canadian record in October 2018, so it’s too old to count toward Olympic qualification. Levins was hoping to secure standard at the London Marathon, but didn’t finish due to the cold weather. Following that race, Levins quickly pivoted, announcing his second attempt at Olympic standard for December 20. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIBu8HLnmRp/

Rory Linkletter – December 20

Linkletter has run one marathon, a 2:16:42 in Toronto last fall. His debut was impressive, and he’s also clocked a 1:01:44 half-marathon this year. Linkletter may seem a long way off the 2:11:30 standard, but we won’t be surprised if he gets close this month. 

Justin Kent – December 20

Justin Kent is running his marathon debut this month. While he has yet to complete a consecutive 42.2K, he has shown promising results from the 10K through to the half-marathon (1:04:20). Kent even ran the Canadian 20,000m record in November. 

Ben Preisner – December 20

Preisner is the youngest Canadian in the field at the Marathon Project, but he’s also got huge potential. He turned heads when he clocked a 2:15 solo marathon debut at the very beginning of quarantine. Watch out for this 24-year-old runner, as he could certainly achieve standard within the month.