Canadian Olympian Ben Preisner ran a 2:08:58 marathon on Saturday on the Beppu-Ōita Marathon in Japan, ending fourth and claiming the title of the second-fastest Canadian marathoner in historical past. “2:08:58 for a pleasant and glossy marathon PB!” the Milton, Ont. native mentioned on Instagram. “I felt like this one’s been due and pleased I may put it collectively and compete on the day.”
Preisner was the highest Canadian marathoner on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, ending in 2:19:27 for forty sixth place in what was solely his second marathon, climbing 26 positions from the midway mark to the end. Fellow Crew Canada athlete Cam Levins of Campbell River, B.C. holds the Canadian file and North American marathon of two:05:36, set on the Tokyo Marathon in March 2023.
Preisner lowered his former quickest time of two:10:17, set in his marathon debut at The Marathon Venture in Chandler, Ariz., in December 2020. He completed in twenty eighth place on the World Athletics champs in August 2023, working 2:15: 02.
Ben Preisner, 2:08:58, 2nd quickest Canadian male all-time this morning in Japan. https://t.co/dlSgy8p3UK
— Reid Coolsaet (@ReidCoolsaet) February 4, 2024
The 2024 Paris Olympic marathon normal for males is a speedy 2:08:10, and thus far has solely been achieved (amongst Canadians) by Levins. Canada can ship three marathon contenders to the 2024 Paris Olympics, so whereas Preisner must race one other marathon and obtain the usual to be assured of choice for a spot on Train Canada., proving his skills on this race has elevated strain on different Canadian Olympic hopefuls Rory Linkletter and Trevor Hofbauer.
Linkletter will probably be hoping to attain the usual and higher his quickest time of two:10:24 (from the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Ore.) on the upcoming Sevilla Marathon on Feb. 18 in Spain. Runners may also qualify for the Olympics by putting within the high 5 in a platinum-level race or having a excessive sufficient world rating.
“That Olympic auto normal fell by means of the fingertips in the previous couple of km, which stings, however total can’t complain in regards to the efficiency,” Preisner mentioned post-race on Instagram.
Whereas Preisner doesn’t know what race he’ll sort out subsequent, he’s optimistic and will probably be toeing the road once more. “There are nonetheless ~15 spots open on WA factors (since I final checked) so I believe it’s fairly probably there will probably be individuals in on factors this 12 months,” Preisner informed Canadian Working. “I’ll undoubtedly line up for a race once more, whether or not it’s a half marathon or full marathon (or each) I’m unsure. And how briskly I must run to get in will probably be decided inside the subsequent few months of racing—relies upon what issues seem like for each the Canadian and World rankings.”
