It’s no secret that Canadian Olympian Rory Linkletter is chasing each a private finest and a nationwide report at Sunday’s Financial institution of America Chicago Marathon. However at Friday’s elite press convention, Linkletter made one other type of assertion, this time along with his outfit, displaying up in a full Canadian tuxedo as he fielded questions from the media.
Whereas defending Chicago Marathon champion, John Korir, and half-marathon world report holder, Jacob Kiplimo, sported Nike tracksuits, Linkletter walked onto the stage with signature Canadian aptitude: a Levi’s jean jacket, slim denim denims and a protracted blonde mullet, trying extra like he’d simply stepped out of a Bruce Springsteen live performance than right into a marathon elite press convention.
On Sunday, Linkletter will goal the Canadian and North American marathon report of two:05:36, set by Cam Levins in 2023. His private finest stands at 2:07:02 from the Boston Marathon earlier this 12 months, the place he positioned sixth. Only a month later, he completed runner-up on the Ottawa Worldwide Marathon, clocking 2:08:31 behind Kenya’s Albert Korir.
Linkletter says his Chicago buildup has been top-of-the-line of his profession, marked by lifetime-best exercises and peak mileage weeks of 210–220 kilometres. “It’s a distinct beast to be overtly concentrating on one thing this large,” he mentioned. “I’ve discovered some peace because the race approaches.”
His solely tune-up race forward of Chicago got here in mid-August on the Canadian Half Marathon Championships in Edmonton, the place he outkicked Levins to take the win in 63:00.
Chicago may even mark Linkletter’s first flat marathon because the 2024 Seville Marathon, the place he ran 2:08:01 to safe his spot on Staff Canada for the Paris Olympics. His final 4 marathons in Paris, New York, Boston and Ottawa, have been all on tougher, hilly programs.
Linkletter gained’t be the one North American eyeing a report on Sunday. His former Brigham Younger College (BYU) teammate, Conner Mantz, is aiming for the American marathon report of two:05:38, set by Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. Linkletter mentioned he’s excited to work along with Mantz to chase their shared aim.
Tips on how to watch
To look at the 2025 Financial institution of America Chicago Marathon reside, you may tune into one of many a number of reside streaming choices: NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago or FloTrack (with subscription). These streams will present full reside protection of the marathon from 8 a.m. to midday. ET.
