© Copyright – 2025 – Athletics Illustrated
Coaching with Athletics Canada
Long-time 3000 metre steeplechase specialist Matthew Hughes has retired as an athlete. He has now taken up a coaching position with Athletics Canada.
Hughes, the current national record holder with his best of 8:11.64 from the 2013 Moscow World Athletics Championships, had his highest Olympic performance during the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. He finished in sixth place. He also finished sixth twice and eighth during three different World Athletics Championships. The consistent native of Oshawa, Ontario, is a seven-time national and two-time NCAA champion.
In 2020, he ran a fast 5000m performance of 13:13.38, which is rated as a higher performance than his 3000msc national record. Most of his best races were run before super shoes.
Natasha Wodak out of the national 10K
Natasha Wodak will not be competing in the 10K national championships in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday, May 24. She has been battling injury off and on throughout 2025. She announced the withdrawal over social media.
However, some big names are expected to toe the line, including the national men’s record holder in the marathon, Cameron Levins. Ben Flanagan is expected to race too. The nation’s capital will host the country’s fastest 10K runners this weekend, as the Canadian 10K Championships hit the streets of Ottawa.
“Run as part of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, both the men’s and women’s races feature star-studded fields, featuring Olympians, Canadian champions, and national record holders.
On top of racing for the title of Canadian Champion, the race is also part of the 2025 Athletics Canada Road Race Label, so the top results could end up landing the winners on top of that circuit’s leaderboard at the end of the season.”
