2019 NCAA xc champ Edwin Kurgat won the men's individual title over Yared Nuguse who was a surprising second and led OAC to the team battle. Alicia Monson and Puma Elite were the winners for the women.
Valencia Is Sunday (2:15 am ET)
There was a buzz at the pre-race press conference in Valencia today and for good reason - these fields are loaded.
You won't believe how fast Haile Eyasu thinks Letesenbet Gidey can run for the marathon. "Best event for her, I think, as her coach: marathon. When I give her the training, her performance is best on the long run."
If you're not a Supporters Club member, now is your chance to become a true Olympic track and field fan.
On The Boards
On The Boards
NXN Is Saturday *TV/Streaming *Results
- Tully Runners NXN Team and Individual Previews They have Irene Riggs as a MASSIVE individual favorite.
- Dyestat's Boys Race Preview Can anyone stop Newbury Park and Lex Young who looks to join Nico Young as an NXN champ.
- Dyestat's Girls Race Preview FM isn't there but Saratoga Springs will be looking for its 4th title.
RIP To An Olympic Champ
1960 Olympic 5000 champ Sir Murray Halberg dies at 89 Off the track, the first Kiwi sub-4 miler may have made an even bigger impact with his "his inspirational work in transforming the lives of children with a disability through sport as the founder of the Halberg Foundation."
- MB: RIP: Kiwi Murray Halberg Passes -- Inspiring Runner and Great Dude Dies at 89
- Friend and teammate of Barry Magee raves about his old teammate - ‘He was one in a billion’: “Halberg had a mind and attitude that was unbeatable. He was never beaten in his mind," said Magee of Halberg who almost died in a rugby accident at age 17 that caused his arm to be withered and for him to take up track.
- Tributes from around the globe pour in
Distance News of Note
- Outside Mag: Why Twitter Is Good for the Running World Every argument they state also applies to LRC messageboard. The live tweeting of splits, placing, and other important info during races is huge for fans and for brands that understand the space,” said Jesse Williams.
- Laura Muir will go for 1k WR in Birmingham on Feb. 25 Jake WightmanandKeely Hodgkinson are also in the meet.
- Kenyan Cabinet Secretary says they were close to being banned for doping “We were very close to being suspended by World Athletics. We were on the brink. But as a government we have given our assurances and we have told World Athletics of the plans we have,”
- 18-yr old 13:22 5000 meter man - the new HS record holder in Japan - Hiroto Yoshioka - wants to make Paris Olympics Ever since 10th grade, he's been planning to run in the 13:20s in HS. Wow.
- NCAA steeple champ Ahmed Jaziri signs with Under Armour's Mission Run Baltimore Distance Team While he'll be based in Baltimore, sadly he won't be coached by Rojo.
2023 Boston Looks Amazing as Does 2022 Valencia
For the 1st time in his life, Kipchoge will run a hilly marathon in April. It will be his first US marathon in 3,109 days, since 2014 Chicago
Will Kipchoge Win the 2023 Boston Marathon?
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Wow - We Didn't realize Max Siegel coached Sydney McLaughlin
Speaking exclusively to Ken Stone of the Times of San Diego, Siegel said, “The eight years before I got here, the organization’s actual revenue was about $129 million. Since I’ve been here [it’s been] $359 million. Those are just facts. That’s not my hyperbole, right?” We don't care. You pay is way higher than what the head of non-profit the size of USATF should make. The CEO of USA Tennis which has 10 times the revenue of USATF makes 1/3rd of Siegel.
*MB: Max Siegel lashes out defending his $3.8 million pay: “Have you seen one gold medalist in there that’s been critical of me?"
NCAA XC News
- Vin Lananna reveals Gary Martin made the decision to run xc this year “For years I have bounced between running our milers and not running our milers in cross country. The decision for him to run this fall was made by him. I would have been fine with him training with our fall conditioning program, but he didn’t want any part of that. He wanted to be in the cross country thing, jump right in. And he did, and did a great job."
- John Hayes Q&A where he explains how Wake went from 14th at ACCs to 5th at NCAAs in 5 years Threshold, threshold, threshold.
- Will Sumner has been thriving this fall at Georgia
- 9:50 HS 2 miler Dalia Frias didn't do much at Duke this fall but her coach says she's very underdeveloped
Valencia is Sunday and We Have Boots On The Ground
A world record? No athlete has ever debuted in the marathon while holding the 5k, 10k, and half marathon WRs. Until now. Paywall lifted.
How fast will Gidey run in Valencia?
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Important Administrative News
- Seb Coe says Kenya won't be banned even though they make up 40% of world-wide doping positives The Kenyan govt has pledged $5 million per year to combat PEDs. We think Kenya should be commended for popping so many cheats, not banned. *BBC
- Many decisions made at World Athletics Council Meeting in Rome including the decision to add a road mile WR as an official record No mark will be considered the first WR unless you break 3:50 for the men or 4:19 for the women.
- Ukrainian Athletic Association awarded the President’s Award as part of the World Athletics Awards 2022.
- World Relays to return to Bahamas (its original home) in 2024 to serve as Paris Olympic qualifying event
- Russia expected to be reinstated by World Athletics in March
- Jack Fleming promoted to President and CEO of BAA - And he'll be paid salary that is less than 1/10th of Max Siegel's
- Max Siegel's $3.8 million USATF salary for 2021 sparks outrage As should. Truly disgraceful for a $30 million organization. The BAA is a $20 million organization and pays its CEO less than 1/10th that.
- Covid-19 Is Over But Race Participation Is Way Down in the UK. Why?
- RRW: 2022 US Turkey Trots Showed Strong Participation Growth & Were Up From Pre-Pandemic Levels In Some Cases
A Former US Champion Is Banned
The 6-2, 138-lb Mead says a pre-workout drink he bought from a vending machine was the likely source of the PEDs. "I was out there just lifting to gain a bit of muscle."
- MB: Hassan Mead popped - Tests positive for ostarine and is banned for 3 years.
- 2:32 Marathoner Lindsey Scherf Gets 4-Year Doping Ban After Testing Positive For A Steroid This is the second ban for the former Harvard runner.
- MB: Lindsey Scherf, too??
This Week's Pod
We talk about Max $iegel getting paid and Kenya possibly getting banned as well.
10,000 News
London 2012 was his #1. He also said he realized in college he needed to get serious if he wanted to be great
Random But Interesting
- New Study Finds Caffeine Makes You Sprint Faster Athletes who took caffeine before racing improved their 100m sprint times by an average of 0.14 seconds. They did this by running faster over the first 60m and reaching a greater sprint velocity.
- Toyo University Men Run Hakone Ekiden Tune-Up In Non-Super Shoes "As Part Of The Process For Adapting To Using Thick Shoes"
- In Japan, Even Junior High Runners Can Get On TV: National Junior HS Ekiden To Be Broadcast Live On TV For First Time
- Yoga for feet, toes and ankles: give your neglected lower limbs some love Try these stretches to give your feet and ankles some well-deserved TLC.
2022 Review
- A Review Of Shericka Jackson's 2022 Diamond League Season Jackson only had three DL wins to her name before 2022, but wracked up three this year to take the DL 200m crown.
- Ukraine Coach Gennadii Zuiev Wins World Athletics Coaching Achievement Award Zuiev coached Andriy Protsenko to world and European HJ medals.
- Former British Olympic Sprinter Donna Fraser Named World Athletics Woman Of The Year
International XC News
- December 11: Jakob Ingebrigtsen And Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal To Defend Titles At European Cross Country Championships Will it be double good for Norway again in 2022?
- Emile Cairess And Jess Warner-Judd Win GB Euro XC Champs Trials Cairess, the UK road 10k record holder who is coached by Renato Canova, beat out a field that included Marc Scott (3rd place).
- Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera And Kenya's Lucy Mawia Win Alcobendas, Spain XC Meet
- Serbia’s Elzan Bibic And Sweden’s Sarah Lahti Win Warandecross XC Race In Tilburg, Netherlands
Thanksgiving Leftovers
- Update: Runner DQ'd After Collision At Troy Turkey Trot The DQ'd runner claims he was veering right to avoid a manhole cover.
*MB: Dirty move at Local Turkey Trot - MB: CJ Albertson Runs 13:52 At His Local Turkey Trot Second place was 15:01.
High School XC Action
The time was also the second-fastest XC 5k in high school history, only behind Jenna Hutchins' 15:58. *DyeStat Recap
*MB: Irene Riggs 16:02 5k @ WakeMed!!! Broke a Tuohy record by 20 seconds!
- California State Meet: Four Straight For Newbury Park Boys, Three-Peat For Buchanan Girls Lex Young lead a Newbury 1-3 sweep, winning in 14:27.9 over his twin brother Leo Young (14:38.4) and Aaron Sahlman (14:41.1). *Results
*MB: Leo's last 500 at State
- DyeStat: Great Oak Boys Remind California Of Greatness Once More With Seventh Division 1 State Title
- #1 Kinetic (Saratoga) Girls Score 19 Points To Win NXR New York
- Champs XC Regional Round-Up: Midwest, Northeast, South Regions
*MB: Champs Northeast is done - Champs Sports XC Champs Qualifiers
- Full Nike Team Nationals Team And Individual Qualifiers
- MB: 8 California teams will be at NXN this year
Japan Distance News - Deepest 10,000m Ever
- Emmanuel Kiplagat Wins Deepest Ever 10,000m In 27:07.59 At The Hachioji Long Distance The top 24 broke 28 minutes, breaking the previous record of 21. A total of 116 men broke 29 minutes at the meet.
- Margaret Akidor Breaks Japan 3000m All-Comers Record By 3 Seconds Nittai University Time Trials Akidor took almost 20 seconds off her PB to win in 8:32.53.
- Shiseido Wins First National Corporate Women's Ekiden Title Since 2006
Good And Bad News For Kenyans
- Bad: World Athletics Discussing Kenyan Doping Situation At Council Meeting Next Week Right now Kenya is one of the seven countries deemed a "Category A" federation by the AIU (the highest doping risk) which means Kenyan athletes need to have at least three doping tests in the 10 months before a major event.
*AP: Kenya Faces Threat Of Athletics Ban For Doping "Crisis" A Kenyan government minister has written to Seb Coe urging him not to ban the country. - Good: US Embassy Reduces Visa Wait Time For Kenyans Last summer sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala almost missed the World Championships in Eugene because of visa delays.
Tuohy Goes Pro
The NCAA's NIL guidelines blurred the lines between collegiate and professional track & field, and Tuohy is the first top athlete to cash in. Jonathan Gault talked to Spencer Nel, head of sports marketing at adidas to find out what Tuohy going pro really means.
Other News
- InsideTheGames: "Has FIFA World Cup Already Ended Hopes Of Doha Hosting The 2036 Olympics Games?" There have been multiple controversies including deciding at the last minute not to sell beer at the FIFA stadium.
- Japanese Advertising Company Dentsu Raided Over Suspected Bid-Rigging For Tokyo 2020
- 2023 Budapest World Championships Tickets Go On Sale December 12th
Cross Country News
- 10 Storylines To Follow At California State XC Championships Newbury Park twins Leo and Lex Young could become the first brothers in state history to go 1-2 at this meet.
- Preview: Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Kenya's Lucy Mawia Lead Fields For Alcobendas XC Meet On Sunday
- Athletics Kenya Is Having A Separate World XC Trials Due To Australia Visa Deadline The Kenyan national XC champs are on January 21st, but the deadline for an Australian visa for World XC is December 11th, so they are having a separate trial race on December 10th.
- National High School Boys XC Team Rankings Newbury Park is #1.
- National High School Girls Team XC Rankings Saratoga is ranked #1.
- Rundown Of The European XC Trial Races This Weekend
Manchester Road Race Was Super Fast
The top 5 men broke Edward Cheserek's old course record of 21:15.
- MB: 10 am ET. Manchester Road Race - Best Turkey Trot of them all. Official Discussion Thread
- Pre-Race: Weini Kelati had a monster race last year at Manchester- going out in 4:30 - and says she's in similar shape this year
- Conner Mantz admits he jumped into training too quickly after Chicago, already running more than 100+ admits he jumped into training too quickly after Chicago, already running more than 100+. “My workouts have been off and on. I’ve had some of the best of my life and some of the worst since high school. It’s been kind of frustrating.”
NAU edged Oklahoma State on the tie breaker as Charles Hicks outlasted Nico Young.
Katelyn Tuohy ran down a game Parker Valby to get the win and help lead NC State to the win over the New Mexico pack.
Women's NCAA Talk
- KATELYN TUOHY AND NC STATE WINS
- Can Tuohy and Valby fans agree to a truce?
- OFFICIAL 2022 WOMENS Individual NCAA D1 XC Championships Predictions
- This is Katelyn Tuohy's world and were just living it
- Katelyn Tuohy wins first NCAA XC Individual Champion !!!!
- U of Colorado investigating running program over weight management program.
Meet Teshome Mekonen
Teshome Mekonen became a US citizen in August and beat Conner Mantz by a minute earlier this year at the NYC Half. Learn about his story from Tigray to Harlem.
Post-NYC News
2022 was a historically fast year for women's marathoning, the #2-4 men's marathoners in the world might all train together, and the NYC Marathon has a security problem.
Rojo and Mara Yamauchi Editorial
For nearly 40 years, the NYC Marathon has been known for being a trailblazer that paid its male and female athletes the same prize money. Sadly, that changed on Sunday. Guess what sex dominated the new non-binary gender division at Sunday's 2022 New York City Marathon? Olympian Mara Yamauchi joins Robert Johnson in this guest column.
WMM
The WMMs seemingly don't want anyone to know who won the series title, and for good reason, as the winners are being screwed out of $200,000 each.
Trials Awarded
What will the course be like? What type of weather can we expect? We break it down for you.
Post NYC Updates
The good news is the Brazilian star is recovering well after going to the hospital. His agent explains what he thinks happened.
- Which Super Shoes Did The Best In NYC? While Nike shoes dominated in numbers, there were plenty of other shoe brands to finish in the top-10 men and women including a surprise win by Under Armour on the feet of Sharon Lokedi.
- NYRR's Post-Race Release Specifically Omits Nonbinary Winner's Time They listed the winning times for the men's, women's, and wheelchair divisions, but not the nonbinary. Maybe they didn't want to highlight the fact that they gave thousands in prize money to biological men who ran significantly slower than many women who got nothing?
Engels Speaks
Engels says he enjoyed his time with UAC but needed to train in a place where he either had consistent training partners or a coach with him every day.
How Would You Attack The Doping Problem?
Instead of just complaining about anti-doping it's time to try and do something about. Submit your best anti-doping proposals.
Has Kenya found a new super drug? What is going on?
And have the Kenyans found a new super drug? Kipyokei is one of 10 athletes in the last two years to test positive for the same substance, triamcinolone acetonide, a drug once used by Lance Armstrong and Brad Wiggins. Why are they suddenly all testing positive for it now?
- MB: Has Kenya found a super drug? 2021 Boston champ is one of 10 Kenyans to test positive for triamcinolone acetonide since 2021
- 23 Kenyans Have Been Banned For Doping In 2022 2:23:40 marathoner Betty Wilson Lempus (won the Paris Half in 65:46 last year) was also banned and both she and Kipyokei were charged with obstructing the AIU’s investigation by providing false information or documentation.
Disturbing Stuff
Allegations regarding the Huntington University track and field team where Nick Johnson used to coach and his wife Lauren Johnson now coaches continue to come out thanks to the great reporting by David Woods and continue to get more grim. Two national champions for Huntington claim their coach gave them unknown injections and have asked that their national titles be invalidated. One claims she was raped by Nick. Police reports show Nick, who had already pled guilty to a felony after admitting to impersonating a University of Oregon staffer so he could take a teen recruit on a trip where the teen told police many sexual acts took place, has admitted to having sex with two other athletes and his wife admitted she didn’t tell anyone at Huntington as she didn’t want them to lose their jobs. She’s now the head coach. If that’s not bad enough, there are now allegations of PED usage. Did PEDs cause the Johnsons to leave the Oregon Track Club?
- David Woods' Indy Star Expose: Christian college coach created a culture of doping and sex, star runners allege.
- Gregg Doyel Indy Star: Coach goes to prison, so Huntington hired his wife
- Huntington University places head cross country coach and assistant on leave
- MB: Coach-athlete sex, rape and PEDs at Huntington University? Nick Johnson scandal gets grimmer thanks to David Woods
The series used the elites to build themselves up as the majors in our sport but now is forsaking the pros once the image is established. In the process, they just screwed Eliud Kipchoge out of $200,000 after the fact as the cut is effective immediately. Wow.
Kipchoge loving the LetsRun Shirt in Berlin
History was made 20 years ago
And he ran his marathon PB to boot.
Ross Tucker Speaks
We paid one of the top sports scientists in the world to analyze the Shelby Houlihan doping case and CAS ruling. He has 2 pieces for us, the piece above is an opinion piece where he answers our questions. In a 2nd more technical piece, Ross goes through the CAS decision step by step and outlines in clear terms exactly what Houlihan argued and why he thinks CAS ultimately (correctly) ruled against her.
Coogan's New Balance Boston team had 3 Olympians in 2021 and 2022 could be the biggest year yet for the program with 2 new additions and the TRACK at New Balance coming on March 1st.
Danny Mackey has taken the Brooks Beasts from an unproven club to the Olympic podium in its first decade.
Dathan Ritzenhein is the first of the top pro coaches to sit down and talk about his club heading into the 2022 campaign.
American Marathon Record
American Marathon Record
Keira D'Amato, the new American record holder in the marathon, was joined by Deena Kastor, who held the record for 15 years.
This morning Keira D'Amato, the 37-year old mother of two who spent 7 years away from the sport, became an American distance running legend.
After walking and stuffing her face with gummy bears of the final miles, D'Amato had to sprint to outkick the 3:50 pace group in her debut at the 2013 Missoula Marathon.
2021 Awards / Rankings
2021 Awards / Rankings
Best of Jon Gault
Best of Jon Gault
Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
LetsRun Classics
LetsRun Classics
