Rory Linkletter made history on January 11, 2026, at the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, becoming the first Canadian runner to complete a half-marathon in under one hour.
The 29-year-old from Calgary achieved a time of 59 minutes and 49 seconds, surpassing the previous Canadian record by 29 seconds while finishing seventh overall in the race.evrimagaci
This accomplishment represents Linkletter's second Canadian half-marathon record in four years.
On January 16, 2022, he previously broke the national record at the same Houston event with a time of 1:01:08, eclipsing Jeff Schiebler's long-standing mark of 1:01:28 that had stood since January 15, 1999.wikipedia
The improvement between these two performances illustrates Linkletter's continued development as a distance runner. His 2026 time shattered nearly one minute from his personal best of 1:00:57, which he set at the Marugame Half-Marathon in Japan in February 2025.
The conditions in Houston appeared favorable for fast racing, with cool weather and ideal running conditions contributing to the exceptional performances witnessed at the event.cbc
Linkletter's record eclipsed the previous national benchmark held by Cam Levins, who set the mark of 1:00:18 at the 2023 Vancouver Half-Marathon.
Levins finished 17th overall in Houston with a time of 1:00:58, continuing a competitive relationship between the two runners that has defined Canadian distance running in recent years.evrimagaci
The rivalry between Linkletter and Levins has played out across multiple competitions. Most recently, at the 2025 Canadian Half-Marathon Championships held in Edmonton, Linkletter defeated Levins in a thrilling finish by a single second with a time of 1:03:00.
Their head-to-head record in half-marathons favors Linkletter, who has triumphed in all three of their encounters at the distance.cbc
Linkletter's marathon credentials have also established him among Canada's elite distance runners. His most recent marathon performance came in October 2025 at the Chicago Marathon, where he secured a ninth-place finish with a time of 2:06:49.
This result positions him as Canada's second-fastest marathoner of all time, just over one minute behind Cam Levins's Canadian record of 2:05:36, established at the 2023 Tokyo Marathon.evrimagaci
Currently based in Flagstaff, Arizona, Linkletter has developed his running under the guidance of Ryan Hall, himself a former American half-marathon record holder.
The training environment in Flagstaff, home to Northern Arizona Elite and other accomplished distance runners, has clearly contributed to his progression.
Reflecting on the achievement after the race, Linkletter expressed satisfaction with the breakthrough. "I came knowing it was possible—weather and race came together," he stated to Canadian Running.
"Really proud. Felt like it was a long time coming. I've always believed I could run sub-60; it feels great to do it."
The Houston Half-Marathon has become a pivotal race for Linkletter's career, hosting not only this historic performance but also his initial Canadian record-breaking run four years prior.
The fast course and favorable conditions that Houston consistently provides have established the event as a preferred destination for elite distance runners pursuing national records.
This achievement comes amid a sustained period of excellence in Linkletter's career.
Beyond his half-marathon success, he represented Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and has competed at multiple World Athletics Championships, establishing himself as a cornerstone of Canadian distance running on the global stage.
With this record now secured, Linkletter continues to demonstrate his capability to compete at the highest levels of international distance running while redefining what is possible for Canadian athletes in the discipline.
