The sequence of events marks an unprecedented run of form for the 70-year-old, who has effectively dismantled the competitive landscape of her age category. Her marathon performance on October 18 broke the previous world record of 3:27:00, a mark held by France’s Laurence Dupont Alnet since 2024. MacDonell’s improvement of more than three minutes was the culmination of a targeted training cycle with coach Steve Boyd, aimed at shaving approximately six minutes off her previous best.
“I was ecstatic and relieved at the same time — and exhausted,” MacDonell said following the marathon. The race, however, was not without its trials. With two kilometers remaining, MacDonell experienced a calf cramp, forcing her to rely on mental resilience to push through the final ascent. “I had started to get a little cramp in my calf muscle and I thought, no, you’re not going to do this right now,” she recalled. “I’m just going to keep going. I’m going to stay positive.”
That mental fortitude carried over to her performance two weeks later in Hamilton. Despite acknowledging that her legs were only at “60 per cent battery charged,” MacDonell took the risk, citing the flat course and perfect weather conditions as key factors in her ability to sustain a pace of 4:44 per kilometer. Her time of 1:39:42 obliterated the previous Canadian W70-74 record of 1:44:31, set by B.C. runner Roslyn Smith at the Comox Valley RV Half Marathon in March 2023.
Statistically, MacDonell’s performance in Hamilton was elite within the broader field. She finished first among the seven women in her age group, 43rd among the 684 female runners, and 172nd overall out of 1,333 finishers. While her previous personal best at this specific race was 1:36:03 when she was 69, this year’s result represents a new benchmark for her current age division, pending final confirmation as the Canadian record.
This dual achievement is part of a historic season for MacDonell, who has also set Canadian age-group records in the mile (6:51) at the Beneva Marathon de Montréal on October 9 and the 5K (21:40) the following day. Her ability to compete at such a high level across multiple distances—from the 5K to the marathon—underscores a versatility rare even in elite professional athletics.
The Olympic-distance marathon record has been submitted to World Masters Athletics for ratification. MacDonell’s journey to this level of performance began modestly in her mid-30s with 15-minute jogs along the Rideau Canal. Since then, she has competed in marathons across North America, including Boston in 1997 and Chicago in 2021. Her success is attributed not only to her own determination but also to a robust support system, including her husband, Norman Marcotte, who runs alongside her and tracks her results, and her coach, Steve Boyd.
“Why not try it? I mean, so many people say, ‘Oh, I can’t do that,’” MacDonell said. “I’m like, you’d be surprised. It’s never easy. You just gotta stick to it. Believe in yourself.”
As the World Masters Athletics committee reviews her marathon time, MacDonell’s focus remains on the next challenge. Her recent feats have redefined the competitive standards for female athletes in the 70–74 bracket, leaving competitors across the globe with a new, significantly higher bar to clear.
