Edmonton Marathon Course Found 674.7 Meters Too Long After Official Review

Race officials for the Edmonton Marathon have admitted that both the marathon and half-marathon courses were 674.7 meters longer than certified due to an error in adjusting for a construction detour. The acknowledgment follows scrutiny from athletes, including Canadian Half Marathon champion Rory Linkletter, who questioned the course distance on social media.

## Course Measurement Error Acknowledged

Initially, race director Tom Keogh defended the certification process, stating the routes were correctly measured and set up. However, a subsequent review revealed a miscalculation in accounting for the detour around the Wellington Bridge. The intended adjustments to the west-end turnaround did not fully compensate for the added distance.

Keogh issued a statement taking full responsibility for the error, explaining that the turnaround point only partially offset the detour. The admission aligns with Linkletter’s earlier claims on X (formerly Twitter), where he argued that organizers had removed insufficient distance at the turnaround.

## Impact on Athletes and Next Steps

The error had significant consequences for runners chasing qualifying marks, such as Mitch Walz, who was aiming for the Boston Marathon standard. Walz expressed disappointment to CBC News, stating that the news undermined his achievement.

Keogh announced that the Edmonton Marathon is collaborating with Athletics Canada to determine how to recognize this year’s results. The race will also review its certification processes to prevent future errors.

| Issue | Details | |---|---| | **Course Error** | 674.7 meters too long | | **Cause** | Miscalculation in detour adjustments | | **Affected Races** | Marathon and Half Marathon | | **Response** | Apology, review of certification processes |