‘Not convinced this is the right move’: Malindi Elmore objects to removal of marathon from athletics worlds

A trio of Canadian elite road runners expressed disappointment to CBC Sports following World Athletics’ decision last month to remove the marathon from the World Athletics Championships after 2029 for a standalone event.

Malindi Elmore, a former track runner who raced her first marathon in 2019, expects negative consequences to follow.

While the 46-year-old has never competed at worlds, she understands the importance of being named to a national team and representing your country at a major championship.

“It’s a special experience and something athletes work hard for,” said Elmore, a two-time Olympian in the marathon who has raced at the Pan American and Commonwealth Games. “I think this proposed change is essentially “shuffling” it away and burying it in a major mass participation marathon.”

The World Marathon Championship will be an annual competition, beginning in the fall of 2030. The international governing body has opened talks with Athens to host the first competition, according to Reuters.

A World Athletics spokesperson told CBC Sports the marathon is being moved to conditions where it can thrive “and expanding World Athletics’ presence in the broader running ecosystem.”

Climate change, the spokesperson stressed, is a driving force behind the decision. The world championships are usually held in July, August or September.

“Many city venues are simply too hot during the summer months to host marathons that attract the best athletes,” said the spokesperson. “We are considering a standalone autumn [marathon] championships that would combine the best elite athletes with our age groupers and mass participation runners.”

Elmore, who once held the Canadian record in the women’s marathon, believes including a “world championship” elite field to a standalone event would appeal to mass marathon racers but wondered how it would benefit elite athletes.

“I still have more questions than answers. I am not convinced this is the right move for the marathon,” said the Kelowna, B.C., native. “Having the marathon as part of the world championships connects the athletics family of track, field and road events in one marquee event.

Pros, cons to World Marathon Championship: Athletics Canada

“I think fans enjoy experiencing the full track, field and road race experience as a package at the same location, and it is good for the athletes, in terms of support from the event, fans and sport.”

There are pros and cons to a World Marathon Championship, with several key details being confirmed, Athletics Canada CEO Mathieu Gentes wrote in an email to CBC Sports. He added, “World Athletics has given us adequate time to plan and prepare for this change.”

While acknowledging the world championships marathon is competitive, World Athletics noted the participation of the highest-ranked athletes is lower compared to other disciplines.

“The successful move of the world championships to mid-September has had the side effect of requiring leading marathoners to choose between the World Athletics Championships and a big-city marathon, which is in no one’s best interest,” the spokesperson said.

Cam Levins, Canada’s record holder in the men’s marathon, wasn’t certain the marathon would be included at the 2027 worlds in Beijing until World Athletics’ announcement in early April.

“The marathon is an Olympic distance and should be maintained with the other Olympic events for the world championships,” he said. “I would wager we see a mass participation marathon event that helps create revenue for World Athletics like we currently have for the other road running championships.”

There is so much team camaraderie and knowledge sharing that happens at a world event that will be missed and lost when [marathoners] are removed from the world championships.– Canadian record holder Cam Levins

The Black Creek, B.C., native doesn’t have fond memories of the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. He wasn’t comfortable early on and struggled to accelerate out of drinking stations during the race held in Sapporo, about 1,170 kilometres north of the Japanese capital. He faded down the stretch and finished 71st in a field of 106.

“I can attest to how much I missed having the other athletes around,” said Levins, who has also raced two world championship marathons. “Success is contagious, and the effect of team morale shouldn’t be understated.

“There is so much team camaraderie and knowledge sharing that happens at a world event that will be missed and lost when [marathoners] are removed from the world championships.”

Ben Preisner agreed.

‘Dining area creates memories’

The 30-year-old from Milton, Ont., made his Olympic debut in Sapporo and was top Canadian in 46th. He’s also been a Team Canada member at each of the past three world championships.

“It’s always a great time to cheer on fellow Canadian athletes at the track during their races,” the Vancouver resident said. “I feel like the dining area always creates great memories from the simple conversations you have with athletes you normally wouldn’t see.”

However, Preisner said athletes might appreciate the cooler temperatures of a fall marathon.

Elmore raised a question of logistics, that funding a small team for a separate marathon is quite different than including them with a track and field squad at worlds.

“For example, training camp leading into the event, IST [Integrated Support Team] support [from] physiologists, psychologists, dietitians, and coaches] will likely be scaled back or disappear,” she said. “Perhaps in the worst-case scenario, the event is not supported by some federations.”

Added Levins: “I anticipate it will be difficult to justify the cost and time to send many coaches with a team of six athletes maximum [at a World Marathon Championship], which could compromise performance.”

Gentes attempted to ease their concerns, stating Athletics Canada would “continue to support the preparation and on-site support of a Canadian marathon team at the new championship as we do for all existing World Athletics Championships.”

In its April 7 news release, World Athletics also mentioned men and women would compete in alternate years at the World Marathon Championship, matching the current frequency of the event at worlds.

“I do not support the idea of separating men and women,” Elmore said. “I do not understand the rationale for this change, and I am concerned it has not been adequately thought through or communicated to stakeholders [i.e. athletes, coaches, sport federations, fans, etc.].

“It reminds me of how [they were separated] for [triathlon’s IRONMAN] World Championship [from 2023 to 2025] that ultimately failed for a number of reasons.”

For this year’s competition on Oct. 10, men and women will compete together again in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.