Rory Linkletter, a track athlete in his third year at Brigham Young University on a scholarship, witnessed Cam Levins break a 46-year-old Canadian marathon record at the Toronto Waterfront event in 2018. Linkletter, who had already represented Canada at international events, felt drawn to the marathon despite his achievements in other track events.
Under the guidance of Coach Ed Eyestone, a former Olympic marathon runner, Linkletter transitioned to marathons. Inspired by Levins’ remarkable performance in Toronto, Linkletter made his marathon debut in Toronto after completing his studies, finishing with a time of 2:16:42.
Over time, Linkletter improved significantly in the marathon discipline, clocking times of 2:08:01 to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics and achieving a personal best of 2:07:02 in Boston earlier this year. Now, at the 47th Chicago Marathon, Linkletter aims to break Levins’ Canadian and North American record of 2:05:36 when he starts his race in the professional men’s group.
Expressing his ambition to be recognized as one of Canada’s top runners, Linkletter emphasized his dedication and progress in pursuit of this goal. Despite his past experiences, including a humbling Olympic debut in Paris, Linkletter remains focused on pushing his limits and competing against top-tier marathoners like Levins.
As Linkletter prepares for the Chicago Marathon, he reflects on his training and previous races, aiming to improve his performance and potentially set a new record. With camaraderie and competition fueling his drive, Linkletter looks forward to the challenge ahead, acknowledging the significance of this opportunity in his running career.