If Canadian highway, path and monitor athletes carry their momentum from 2025 into the 12 months forward, the Canadian operating scene might be in for some huge performances in 2026. Whereas upsets, accidents and off-days are unimaginable to foretell, listed below are 5 moments we may see unfold–or main limitations poised to fall–over the following 12 months of elite racing.
Rory Linkletter breaks Canadian marathon file
Since 2023, in simply two seasons, Linkletter has shaved greater than 5 minutes off his private finest, dropping from 2:12:16 to 2:06:49. The Canadian marathon file of two:05:36 was set by Cam Levin in 2023–but when Rory Linkletter continues his present upward trajectory, he may, very quickly, be the brand new proprietor of that file.
Linkletter’s greatest soar got here from April’s Boston Marathon, the place the 29-year-old not solely dipped underneath 2:08 for the primary time, clinching a 59-second private finest, however he additionally secured a sixth-place end. The run marked each the quickest time by a Canadian in Boston and the second-fastest time ever run by a Canadian. In October, Linkletter lowered his private finest once more, inserting ninth on the Chicago Marathon in 2:06:49.
Marianne Hogan wins Western States 100
After a powerful and constant previous few years of racing, Canadian path powerhouse Marianne Hogan is a particular risk for this 12 months’s elusive Western States 100-miler title.
Assuming she stays wholesome because the 2026 path season ramps up, the 35-year-old, who has constructed a popularity as one of many world’s finest path runners, has a powerful shot at upgrading her earlier third-place finishes. Hogan took third at Western States in each 2022 and 2025, the place she completed the run in 16 hours, 50 minutes and 58 seconds, crossing 13 minutes behind first and simply three minutes behind second.
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford makes half-marathon debut
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford has held the 1,500m file (3:56.12) since 2019, and the 5,000m mark since 2022 (14:31.38–additionally a North American indoor file). And regardless of her coming back from severe damage simply final 12 months, she certified for each occasions on the 2025 World Athletics Championships–so we all know she nonetheless has vary.
However the 30-year-old has not but dabbled within the half-marathon, or something longer than 5K, for that matter–and the 2026 season is the perfect, quiet 12 months to proceed increasing her horizons and constructing a powerful base. We may definitely see her making her debut within the 21.1K distance–and whereas it’d simply be for enjoyable, she’d certainly be aggressive regardless of the massive soar, doubtless on monitor for 71 minutes–doubtless a top-10 on the Canadian all-time listing.
Ethan Peters will get a top-10 end at UTMB
In 2025, Canadian path runner Ethan Peters actually put his identify on the map, tearing up the nationwide and worldwide trail-running circuit. In 2025, he gained each Snowdonia and Patagonia Bariloche by UTMB; he additionally smashed the 14-year-old Canadian Dying Race 118-km course file by practically 40 minutes, ending in 11:36:52–greater than 90 minutes forward of the following runner.
Already having a ticket for the 2026 occasion (he certified along with his Patagonia Bariloche win), Peters is on monitor for an enormous run that can certainly crack the highest 10.
Foster Malleck breaks nationwide 1,500m file
Foster Malleck‘s first 12 months as a professional was one to recollect. In a last-ditch try to qualify for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, simply days after taking second on the nationwide outside championships, the 24-year-old ran a superb 3:32.38. The efficiency not solely crushed the auto-qualifying customary for worlds (the place he turn out to be the one Canadian to advance to the boys’s 1,500m semi-final spherical), but in addition ranks him #2 on Canada’s all-time 1,500m listing.
Malleck now sits lower than seven-tenths of a second off Canadian legend Kevin Sullivan‘s 3:31.71 mark, which has stood untouched for greater than 25 years–and there’s little question that file is on Malleck’s radar heading into 2026.
