Cam Levins shatters Canadian men's marathon record in 4th-place finish at worlds

Cam Levins posted a Canadian record-finish and shattered his own national record with his fourth-place result in the men's marathon at the World Athletics Championships Sunday in Eugene, Ore. 

Peter Maher had the previous best Canadian finish in the men's marathon at the world championships in 1993 with a 10th-place result in Stuttgart, Germany.

"I really just took a lot away from the last Olympics and realized I need to be better in every way," Levins, who finished 72nd in the men's marathon at the Tokyo Olympics, said. 

"I really worked and changed myself as an athlete from last year to this year. I know I've earned this and I deserve to run with these guys. I felt great. I would have only been happier if I was one place higher but it's the best race of my life so I can't be disappointed with it."

Cam Levins (<a href="https://twitter.com/CamLevins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CamLevins</a>) knew he was a 2:07 runner before anybody else did. <br><br>Today, the BC athlete with unwavering confidence and focus is fourth in the world. <br><br>2:07 low. Slashed more than two minutes off his Canadian record. <a href="https://t.co/sgPyIY9wTi">pic.twitter.com/sgPyIY9wTi</a>

The 33-year-old said he "had no idea" his performance had been historic.

"I was here trying to medal and that's what I wanted," he said. "But that's wild."

Tairat Tola of Ethiopia pulled away over the final kilometres to win gold in 2:05.36. Teammate Mosinet Geremew won the silver in 2:06.44, while Bashir Abdi of Belgium took bronze in 2:06.48.