Canadian Rachel Hannah runs huge PB at Houston Marathon

All smiles! @RachelHannahRD after her 2:32:09 PB @HoustonMarathon @houmarathon #runcrs #acroad #canadianrunning pic.twitter.com/cuGox7pFCy

— alan brookes, CRS (@alnbrookes) January 17, 2016

Rachel Hannah was the top Canadian at the Chevron Houston Marathon in Texas on Sunday morning finishing sixth overall in a huge personal best time of 2:32:09.

In just her third race at the 42.2K distance, Hannah bested her previous lifetime mark by 81 seconds.

She debuted at the Ottawa Marathon in May (2:33:30) to qualify for the Pan Am Games in Toronto where she finished third overall in 2:41:06 (upgraded from fourth after the winner was busted for doping).

Hannah’s 5K splits: 17:44, 17:42, 17:56, 21:44 (6.1K), 14:26 (3.9K), 18:20, 18:23, 18:22, 7:32 (2.2K)

RELATED: World standards for Canadians at Houston half-marathon.

Fellow Canadian Dayna Pidhoresky got after it early throwing down a 17:13 5K through the 10K (34:52) mark, well below 2:29:50 Olympic standard pace.

RELATED: Canadian Rachel Hannah to receive upgraded Pan Am bronze this Saturday.

Unfortunately the Vancouver resident was forced to drop out just before 30K citing stomach issues (Pidhoresky went through the halfway point in 1:14:50).

After 3 pit stops before 25k @DaynaPidhoresky pulled the plug. We will fight another day

— Josh Seifarth (@JoshSeifarth) January 17, 2016

Calum Neff was the top Canadian male in the race on Sunday running 2:23:19.

Meanwhile, plenty of Canadians achieved the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championship standard running the Houston half on Sunday.

2:32:10 P. 6th @HoustonMarathon for @RachelHannahRD . Jovana De La Cruz @PeruRunners 5th 2:31:33 pic.twitter.com/bFu0UFgcha

— alan brookes, CRS (@alnbrookes) January 17, 2016

RELATED: Rachel Hannah’s incredible marathon debut.

Congrats @RachelHannahRD on your 6th place finish in Houston!! #TeamNB #AlwaysInBeta

— New Balance Canada (@NewBalanceCan) January 17, 2016