Kenya's Korir successfully defends Boston Marathon title; Canadian Linkletter posts personal-best time

Defending champion John Korir broke the Boston Marathon course record on Monday, riding a tailwind to outrun the strongest field in the event's 130-year history and win in two hours one minute 42 seconds, the fifth-fastest marathon of all time.

Rory Linkletter continues to close in on the Canadian men’s record after recording a personal-best time on a sunny and cool morning.

On national record pace through 25 kilometres, the Calgary-born runner tailed off by the 32 km mark. However, Linkletter fought his way to the 42.2 km finish in two hours six minutes four seconds, 45 seconds faster than his Chicago performance last Oct. 12.

Linkletter was 14th in his 15th marathon after finishing sixth a year ago in 2:07:02.

Cam Levins of Black Creek, B.C., has held the 2:05:36 Canadian record since March 2023 when he also set the North American mark in Tokyo that American Conner Mantz of the United States lowered to 2:04:43 last fall in Chicago.

Last year’s Boston performance was redemption for Linkletter after an "atrocious" debut there in 2021 led to a 33rd-place finish after the Flagstaff, Ariz., resident was in the lead pack a little over halfway through the race.

Three months ago, Linkletter finished the Houston Half Marathon in 59 minutes 49 seconds, the first-ever Canadian under one hour, and beat former record holder Levins by 69 seconds.

Linkletter also ran half marathons in Mesa, Ariz. (1:02:14), and New York City (1:00:00) during his Boston Marathon build.

On May 24, the 29-year-old is scheduled to headline the Ottawa Marathon.

Linkletter charged late in last year’s race, finishing second in 2:08:31. The now-suspended Albert Korir posted a winning time of 2:08:22. Ben Preisner of Milton, Ont., was the other elite