On Thursday, Rosseau, Ont., native Gracelyn Larkin introduced her contract with Below Armour’s professional operating membership, Darkish Sky Distance, which is predicated in Flagstaff, Ariz. The 5,000m Canadian out of doors champion from 2022 is a latest graduate of Northern Arizona College (NAU), and previously competed for the College of New Mexico (UNM) from 2019-2023.
Already positioned in Flagstaff following her commencement, Larkin will proceed coaching at altitude beneath coaches Shayla Houlihan and Stephen Haas. The Canadian will probably be amongst former UNM teammate and Olympian Weini Kelati and 2022 New York Metropolis Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, who additionally signify Below Armour.
The 23-year-old boasts private bests of 15:23.63 within the 5,000m and 32:32.61 within the 10,000m. A profitable collegiate profession noticed Larkin 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.
Over the summer season, Larkin chased a spot on the Canadian Olympic group. On the Harry Jerome Basic 5,000m in Burnaby, B.C., in June, she clocked 15:25.83 to say fifth place in a fast race; the time was simply two seconds off her private greatest. Later that month, Larkin competed on the Canadian Olympic Observe and Area Trials in Montreal, inserting fourth within the girls’s 5,000m last with a time of 15:36.41. The UNM graduate was lower than three seconds behind the winner, Gabriela Debues-Stafford. Regardless of robust efforts, Larkin fell wanting qualifying for Paris 2024.
“I’m very grateful to be becoming a member of such a tremendous group of hard-working people,” Larkin stated within the announcement publish on Instagram. “Working with Below Armour is a tremendous alternative and I can’t wait to signify them over the upcoming years. I stay up for studying from my teammates and coaches whereas I develop as an expert athlete!”
