It was a cold Saturday night in Ottawa, however Rosseau, Ont.’s Gracelyn Larkin didn’t draw back from bringing the warmth. The 24-year-old made an announcement in her Canadian 10K Championships debut, throwing down a blistering 32:43 for a decisive victory.
Kelowna, B.C.’s Malindi Elmore claimed the runner-up spot in 33:01, whereas Hamilton’s Erin Mawhinney rounded out the rostrum in 33:09.
Though the occasion was stacked with elite competitors, the highest two ladies pulled away from the pack after only a kilometre. Elmore blamed the transfer on her impatient tendencies, admitting that after clocking an preliminary cut up of three minutes and 12 seconds, she took off. Larkin adopted carefully behind.
“I’ve this tendency–nonetheless from my observe days–the place I similar to to go laborious from the gun, and I simply attempt to maintain on,” Elmore instructed Canadian Operating. “And if I blow up, I blow up. I inevitably at all times blow up, and it’s perfect if it’s nearer to the end line than 3K out.”
Larkin overtook Elmore and ran away with the lead with 2.5 kilometres to go. “I used to be centered on her again the entire time and making an attempt to remain sturdy within the center within the laborious components,” she mentioned. “I used to be making an attempt to shut as a lot of the hole as I may. I simply went with it and caught to it.”
“I’m actually, actually glad we’ve obtained some upcoming younger expertise,” Elmore mentioned, giving a nod to Larkin’s excellent run. “I’m excited for this Canadian working season.”
The run marked Larkin’s third-ever street race–she’s recent off the B.A.A. 5K in Boston final month, and in December, she soared to a win in her skilled debut on the Honolulu 10K in Hawaii. Her time from Saturday crushes her former 10K greatest by practically 50 seconds.
“[The 10K] is certainly a unique beast,” she instructed Canadian Operating. “However I actually loved it, so I’ll come again subsequent 12 months hopefully. It is a little bit of a confidence enhance going into the season.”
Larkin, who graduated from Northern Arizona College (NAU) final spring, signed a professional contract with Underneath Armour’s Darkish Sky Distance staff. She previously competed for the College of New Mexico (UNM) from 2019-2023, holding a formidable collegiate resume. Her profession noticed her earn All-American standing seven occasions, earlier than she went on to signify Canada within the 5,000m on the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Ore. Larkin boasts private bests of 15:23.63 within the 5,000m and 32:32.61 within the 10,000m.
The efficiency additionally marks Larkin’s second nationwide title; she gained the 5,000m on the 2022 Canadian Observe and Subject Championships.
Larkin’s highschool coach, Mark Harris, made the journey to cheer her on. “I assumed, I’ve to do it for him,” she mentioned. “He got here out to look at me race for the primary time since highschool–it was actually particular. My household is right here too, in order that’s additionally an enormous second.”
Larkin at present trains along with her new skilled staff in Flagstaff, Arizona. “The [training] group that I’ve–I’m so grateful for them,” she mentioned. “It’s been a tremendous group to work with for the reason that fall–they push me day by day, we pull on one another’s strengths and weaknesses, and we assist one another–that’s the most important factor that’s come out of turning skilled.”
The runner will compete subsequent on the Canadian 10,000m Championships on June 18 in Guelph, Ont. She says she’ll be masking all distances this summer season, including in some 5,000m and three,000m races on the observe as nicely.
For full outcomes from the Canadian 10K Championships and Ottawa 10K, see right here.
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot breaks Canadian 10K file in Ottawa
