Rory Linkletter, a junior track scholarship athlete at Brigham Young University, witnessed Cam Levins break a longstanding Canadian marathon record at the Toronto Waterfront event in 2018. Linkletter, who had already represented Canada in international competitions, felt a strong pull towards the marathon discipline. Trained by former Olympian Ed Eyestone at BYU, Linkletter drew inspiration from Levins’ impressive debut marathon time of 2:09:25.
After graduating with a degree in political science and communications, Linkletter made his own marathon debut in Toronto, clocking 2:16:42. With improved experience and coaching adjustments, Linkletter progressed significantly, qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics with a time of 2:08:01 and achieving a personal best of 2:07:02 in Boston earlier this year.
Linkletter is now aiming to challenge Levins’ Canadian and North American record of 2:05:36 at the upcoming Chicago Marathon. Expressing his aspiration to be recognized as one of Canada’s greatest runners, Linkletter emphasized his dedication to achieving this milestone.
Reflecting on his past races, including a humbling Olympic debut in Paris where he finished 47th, Linkletter highlighted the continuous learning process in his marathon career. Levins, on the other hand, remains keen on Linkletter’s progress and anticipates a competitive push in the marathon scene.
As Linkletter prepares for the Chicago Marathon, he anticipates a challenging and competitive race, emphasizing the need to push himself to new limits. With his eyes set on breaking records and elevating his running career, Linkletter remains focused and determined to achieve his goals, recognizing the significance of each milestone in his journey as a professional runner.