Top 10 Canadian performances from 2018

Despite 2018 being what’s known as a down year in running, Canadians had one of the best years yet. We saw multiple breakthroughs, records set, and identified stars on the rise. With 2019 only six days away, we’ve rounded up what we consider to be the top 10 individual Canadian performances from 2018.

10. Lyndsay Tessier 2:30:47 Berlin Marathon

Canadian women had an amazing day in Berlin, but Tessier’s performances stood out. The teacher ran a huge personal best and also set a new Canadian W40 record. 

9. Brent Lakatos’ win at Berlin Marathon 

Lakatos took his first marathon win in Berlin. Lakatos has competed at four Paralympics and five IPC World Championships. 

8. Darbykai Standrick is trail runner of the year

In her 2018 race season Standrick achieved six course records, seven female wins, and two overall wins.  In 2018 she won overall and set course records at the Lost Lake 50K, Light at the end of the Tunnel 42.2K, Wandering Moose 42K, and the Valley Vertikiller 25K.

7. Ben Flanagan’s NCAA 10,000m win

BEN FLANAGAN WITH THE CRAZY KICK FTW & #ncaaTF 10K ?! pic.twitter.com/agTOqynodF

— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) June 7, 2018

Flanagan changed his life when he won the NCAA 10,000m this past June. The Michigan student came from behind to take the race in an extremely exciting final 100m. Flanagan overtook Vincent Kiprop of Alabama for the win.

6. Cameron Ormond at OFSAA XC

The grade 12 student from Aurora, Ont. became only the second woman in history to win four OFSAA cross-country titles and the first to win four consecutive titles. 

5. Mohammed Ahmed’s double silver at Commonwealth Games 

An epic battle right to the very last stride. @Moh_Speed collects his second silver medal of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in a thrilling finish to the Men's 10,000m! ? #GC2018 #GoldCoast2018 #GoldCoastGoldRush pic.twitter.com/WRbX9rtuB4

— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) April 13, 2018

Ahmed finished second in the 5,000m and followed that up with another silver in the 10,000m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. 

4. Damian Warner breaks his own Canadian record 

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

Damian Warner broke his own Canadian record this summer at Gotiz. Warner’s previous Canadian record was 8,695 that he set in Beijing at the 2015 World Championships. He eclipsed his previous record in his performance in May where he scored 8,028.

3. Rachel Cliff Berlin Marathon debut

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrCII5RB0wg/

Cliff, who’s the Canadian half-marathon record holder, ran her marathon debut in Berlin only 53 seconds off of the current Canadian marathon record held by Lanni Marchant. 

2. Brandon McBride’s Canadian record 

NATIONAL RECORD‼️⚠️???@mcbride46 bests the Canadian Men's 800m record set 10 years ago
1:43.20 @Diamond_League @cbcsports pic.twitter.com/8DOO8gcUTZ

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) July 20, 2018

McBride of Windsor, Ont. broke Gary Reed’s 10 year-old Canadian 800m record at the Monaco Diamond League. McBride’s new record is 1:43.20. 

1.Cameron Levins’ Canadian marathon record

Levins broke Jerome Drayton’s 43 year-old Canadian record at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon this October. The track-turned-road runner ran a 2:09:22, breaking Dayton’s record by nearly one minute.