Canadians Coolsaet and DuChene run Olympic qualifiers at Rotterdam Marathon

Top Canadian marathoners Reid Coolsaet and Krista DuChene both headed to the Netherlands in search of what could be an Olympic qualifying time, as well as a shot a Canadian record.

Exactly one year ago, Krista DuChene broke her femur running a half-marathon in Montreal. On Sunday in Rotterdam, she flirted with the Canadian record, and finished with her second fastest ever marathon time in 2:29:37. Although the 2016 Rio Olympic qualifying times have yet to be formally announced, the women’s time has historically been 2:29:55. This will be DuChene’s first Olympics.

Coolsaet also came to the pancake flat Rotterdam course in the hunt for the Canadian record (2:10:09). He ended up with a strong seventh place finish in a tough field, finishing in 2:11:23. In previous years, the Canadian Olympic standard for the men’s marathon has been 2:11:29.