Canadian Rory Linkletter Runs 2:08:01 to Qualify for the Olympic Marathon

SEVILLE, Spain — BYU cross country/track and field program alum Rory Linkletter ran 2:08:01 at the Seville Marathon to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Marathon Sunday for Team Canada. 

"It feels surreal to hit the Olympic standard," said Linkletter. "This marks one step closer to Paris, as I have to wait till the official closing of the qualifying window to confirm my spot, but I did my job. It will be incredible to represent my country and my university, as well as compete alongside Clayton (Young) and Conner (Mantz) in Paris. I owe a great deal of my success to the foundation laid by Ed Eyestone and the BYU cross country and track programs."

Linkletter ran under the Olympic standard of 2:08:10 to unlock another spot for Team Canada for the 2024 Olympic Marathon in Paris later this summer. He qualified for a ticket to the Olympic Games, provided that two other Canadians don't run a faster time before the window closes on May 5.  The former Cougar finished 13th overall with the third-fastest marathon ever run by a Canadian.

The 27-year-old will join former BYU teammates Conner Mantz and Clayton Young who secured spots for Team USA in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials just two weeks prior. Mantz took first overall at the competition in Orlando, Fla. with a time of 2:09:05. Young followed immediately behind, coming in just a second later. 

"I am so proud of Rory Linkletter for his amazing marathon run today in Seville, Spain," said BYU director of track and field Ed Eyestone. "To run 2:08:01 and achieve the Olympic standard, is the culmination of years of hard work and commitment. Rory was always the guy on the team holding his teammates accountable in regard to work, rest and nutrition. His attention to detail has paid off and I am looking forward to cheering on three Cougars in the Paris Olympic Marathon."

Linkletter, Mantz and Young competed and trained together in their time at BYU. Linkletter and Young graduated together in 2019 where their last races in a BYU uniform took place at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships in Austin, Texas. Young took home the 10,000-meter title with a time of 29:16.06. Mantz and Linkletter followed, crossing in 29:19.93 and 29:55.21 respectively.

The 2024 Olympic Marathon will take place in Paris, France on Aug. 10.