Rory Linkletter and Ben Flanagan Showdown at the Canadian 10K Championship in Ottawa

April 22, 2024, Ottawa – On Saturday, May 25, the Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa will have Canadian greats Ben Flanagan and Rory Linkletter at the start line.

Both Flanagan and Linkletter have qualified to represent Canada at the Paris Olympics this summer and Athletics Canada Canadian 10K Championships at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is another opportunity for them to face off – their last appearance together in the capital saw Flanagan run away with first.

“I’m excited to compete against Ben in Ottawa. He’s one of Canada’s greatest distance runners – especially at the 10K distance. “I would consider Ben one of my greatest rivals and friends in Canadian running,” says Linkletter. “It’s an honour anytime we can compete head to head.”

Rory Linkletter is coming to Ottawa with a huge win behind him. At the Seville Marathon in February, Linkletter established a personal best, achieved the Olympic standard, and became the second fastest Canadian marathon runner of all time. Earlier in the year he ran a personal best half marathon time of 1:01:02 at the Houston Half Marathon. For Calgary born Linkletter, this will be his third consecutive year running Ottawa’s 10K.

Kitchener, Ontario native, Flanagan is currently the Canadian record holder in the 5K and now shares the 10K road record of 28:11 with Cam Levins, who matched the time recently in Paris. Last year, at the Valencia Half Marathon, Flanagan beat Levins by 4 seconds and broke Linkletter’s Canadian half marathon record with a time of 1:01:00.

“I had an incredible experience at my first Ottawa Race Weekend in 2022 and honestly a ton of FOMO missing last year when Moh Ahmed and Cam Levins got added to the mix. I can’t wait to return this year in the 10k and fully intend on competing for the win and maybe even taking a crack at the Canadian Record if things play out right.

Rory Linkletter and I have become great friends over the years and the two of us have maintained a healthy, competitive rivalry. With his 2:08 marathon earlier this year, he’s shown he’s in the best shape of his life and I know he always brings his best—I’m going to have to make sure to be on my A-Game. It should be a stellar showdown.”

There’s nothing like watching Canadian running greats on Canadian soil in front of Canadian fans. For those who are coming to cheer on the amazing field of runners at this year’s Ottawa 10K, the women’s elite starts at 6:15pm followed by the men’s start at 6:30pm on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

“I love race weekend and think that the organizers and city put on an amazing event. So long as it fits in my schedule I intend to make it a tradition,” adds Linkletter.

Register today to be a part of the startline and run with Canada’s fastest distance runners at this year’s Canadian 10K Championships. Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is celebrating 50 years of running in 2024, be part of the excitement!

About Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is Canada’s largest running and walking festival with six races, including the Ottawa Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 2K and Kids Marathon, as well as three distance challenges, 59.2 kms, 36.1 kms, and 17 kms. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon. The 2024 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will take place May 25-26.

Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend was named Event of the Year at the 2019 Canadian Tourism Awards, and in 2020, its title sponsor Tamarack Homes won the Sport Tourism Canada’s Canadian Sport Event Sponsorship Initiative of the Year Award. The event is host to Athletic Canada’s Canadian 10K Championships and a World Athletics Labeled Marathon. For more information or to register: www.runottawa.ca.