2018: The Year of Personal Bests and Canadian Records for Rachel Cliff!
Rachel Cliff en route to a new 10,000m personal best (31:56) at the Payton Jordan Invitational. Photo Credit to: @john_doenut_foto
It may only be May, but long time Thunderbird athlete, Rachel Cliff, is on a roll this season setting personal bests from the 5k-half marathon.
On March 3rd, Cliff shattered Lanni Marchant's previous Canadian half marathon record of 1:10:47, winning the Woodland's Half Marathon in Texas in a time of 1:10:08. Cliff used this race as a major training preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games 10,000m on April 9th, where she raced to a top 10 performance in a (then) season's best time of 32:11.
One week later, Cliff took to the roads on April 22nd for the Vancouver Sun Run, where she was the top Canadian in a new road PB of 32:41, and third overall.
On May 3rd, Cliff laced up her spikes again in Palo Alto, California for the 2018 Payton Jordan Invitational. Here she placed third amongst a highly competitive, international field, earning a new life time best of 31:56 over 10,000 metres.
Moving down in distance, Cliff most recently set another life time best in the 5,000m at the USATF Distance Classic in LA, placing second overall (top Canadian) in 15:20.66 on May 17th.
Thunderbirds were also represented at the USATF Distance Classic by BC Endurance Project teammate, Lucas Bruchet (3:47.20, men's 1500m), UBC Varsity Male Athlete of the Year, John Gay (8:47.30, men's 3k steeple chase), Natalia Hawthorn (4:18.62, women's 1500m), and Kirsten Lee (4:24.43, women's 1500m).
You can be sure to watch these Thunderbirds, and many more on June 26/27th at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, where Thunderbirds will host the 2018 Harry Jerome International Track Classic!
Volunteer and receive FREE trackside access to watch Canada's best by registering here. Fun for the entire family!
#gothunderbirdsgo #athleticscanada #bcathletics #BCEP #ubc #ubcvarsity