The AIU defended its decision to keep Hodge's ban a secret, saying "announcing her case earlier could have jeopardized the other investigation." Hodge led Georgia to the NCAA title just weeks after her doping ban was ended.
*MB: AIU: Newly-crowned NCAA 200m champ Adaejah Hodge just finished serving a silent ban for GB501516
Mantz Out Of Boston
Mantz's statement read, "Unfortunately, my fitness has not progressed well enough for me to be able to race the upcoming Boston Marathon at my best." Mantz had planned on running US and World XC Champs, but got injured back in November and had to pull out and had a long road to recovery, only posting his first workout in mid-February.
Mantz Injury Timeline:
This week's pod
Josh Kerr is going all-in on a 3:42 mile world record attempt. We break down his chances, recap Shelby Houlihan’s 10k win at The TEN, and dive into the bizarre Berlin Half Marathon pacing controversy.
On The Boards
On The Boards
Doping News
Korir tested positive in three separate out-of-competition tests in Kenya. His results since October have been disqualified, including his third place finish at the 2025 NYC Marathon. He received a one-year reduction in his ban for admitting to the violations.
- French heptathlete Auriana Lazraq-Khlass suspended for whereabouts violations She won silver at the 2024 European Championships.
FLAGSTAFF COACHING CLINIC is Loaded (SPONSORED POST)
The FLAGSTAFF COACHING CLINIC will feature Diljeet Taylor, Marius Bakken, and Mike Smith, as well as Greg McMillan and Ben Rosario. Mental performance consultant Shannon Thompson is also scheduled to speak. The clinic, sponsored by Nike and Final Surge, will take place in Flagstaff from July 13-15 with opportunities to meet athletes from the Nike Swoosh Track Club, run on the beautiful Flagstaff trails, and learn from some of the world’s best coaches. Space is limited so sign up today here.
Jamaica Boys' and Girls' Champs In The books
- Full Meet Recap: World U20 200m bronze medalist Shanoya Douglas stars at Jamaican Boys' and Girls' Champs Douglas won the girls' 17-18 100m in 10.98 and doubled back in the 200m with a national U20 record of 22.36. Riquelme Reid won the boys' 16-19 100m in 10.12. Another highlight was 15-year-old Jason Pitter winning the class 2 400m with a championship record 45.76.
- Jamaica Observer: Jamaica College boys and Edwin Allen girls secure Champs team victories It was Jamaica College’s 23rd boys’ title and Edwin Allen's 11th girls’ title. Jamaica College beat Kingston College 345 to 282 points while Edwin Allen won over Hydel, 338.5 to 259.5.
- Kingston College alum were a popular vendor at the Champs, selling KC merchandise to support the school They sold tons of items including women's leggings even though it's an all-boys school
The Ten
Shelby Houlihan never challenge Alicia Monson's American record after the first mile, but won her 10,000m debut at The TEN in 30:50.10 while Mohamed Abdilaahi broke Germany’s national record (26:56.58) in a tight men’s race.
Weekend Road Action
- Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera wins Prague Half-Marathon in 58:16 course record Kenya's Caroline Makandi Gitonga won the women's race in 66:16.
- Kenya's Andrea Kiptoo wins Generali Berlin Half-Marathon in 59:11 after his pacemaker steps aside in the final strides Pacemaker Dennis Kipkemoi was also timed at 59:11, but let Kiptoo cross first as this was apparently his first race outside Kenya and he didn't fully understand the "race protocol." World marathon silver medalist Amanal Petros finished 3rd in a German national record 59:22. Ethiopian Likina Amebaw won the women's race in 65:07 over Kenya's Daisilah Jerono (65:21).
- Kenyans Alex Nzioka Matata (59:11) and Miriam Chebet (66:27) win at the Yangzhou Half Marathon in China Matata now has the three fastest half marathon times ever recorded on Chinese soil.
Josh Kerr Going For El G's Mile WR
Hicham El Guerrouj’s 3:43.13 record was set back in 1999 and Kerr is currently 6th on the all-time list with 3:45.34. Kerr is leaving no stone unturned in this attempt with new shoes and speed suit from Brooks designed specifically for him and he's even choosing his own pacers. Talking about running the mile in 222 seconds, Kerr says, "I’m not afraid to tell you my goals. And I’m not afraid to fail. It’s a fast record. There’s a reason it has stood since 1999. ... I actually think, because it has stood for so long, it’s the most important track and field world record to go after right now."
- MB: Josh Kerr Announces Project 222 Targeting 3:42 Mile World Record at London DL
- Josh Kerr says it was "a non-negotiable" to go for the mile WR in the UK "I think that's massively special. It's time to bring the mile world record home."
Maurie Plant Meet
It's the second fastest time of his career () and he dominated the race coming in over 7 seconds ahead of world indoor bronze medalist Adam Spencer. In the women's race, Aussie Claudia Hollingsworth beat world indoor 1500m champ Georgia Hunter Bell 4:01.30 to 4:01.52.
- MB: Cam Myers runs solo 3:30
- Lachie Kennedy upstages Gout Gout to win Maurie Plant Meet 200m Running in the pouring rain, Kennedy finished in 20.38 to beat Gout's 20.43. This after Kennedy won the 100m earlier in the meet in 10.03.
- Wide World of Sports: "Report of a rift between Jessica Hull and Australian Athletics 'fabricated', 'bizarre' and a 'shame'" A report published earlier in the week said Hull wasn't racing at the Maurie Plant Meet because of a "thawing in the relationship" between Hull and Australian Athletics. But Hull's father and coach strongly denied there was any truth to the report and said she wasn't racing Maurie Plant because she needed to recover from World Indoors.
Better Late Than Never
Athletes will have to take a one-time SRY gene screening test which will block transgender and DSD (difference in sexual development) athletes from competing in the women's category. IOC president Kirsty Coventry said, "At the Olympic Games even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe."
Your opinion counts
We'd love to know a little more about you and how we can improve Letsrun.com.
Recommended Read
- Chengdu marathon bans runner who took hundreds of energy gels and ran with them in a plastic bag
- Chengdu marathon bans runner who did the splits mid-race for 2 years She “committed obstructive fouls during the race, affecting the safe participation of other runners,” the Sichuan Athletics Association said in a statement.You can see a picture of her splits here.
- Recommended Read The Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Interview: From Dunbar, South Carolina (population 923) to the fastest woman in the world. Barely recruited out of hs, she's had quite a ride to the top.
- London's big for 2029 World Championships may be derailed as West Ham has rights to the stadium so Keely Hodgkinson takes a shot at West Ham "The GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history," said the world record holder.
- MB: Slew of NC State stars past and present are running the 5000 at Raleigh Relays this weekend Katelyn Tuohy, Elly Henes, Sadie Engelhardt, Hannah Gapes & Angelina Napoleon are all in the 5000. In the 10,000, Hilda Olemomoi is running. In men's action, Michigan's Trent McFarland and Harvard's Ferenc Kovacs may clash at 1500.
A Ridiculous Solution To The USATF Half Wrong Turn Debacle
After a formal request by USATF CEO Max Siegel, World Athletics has agreed to give USATF 7 spots instead of 4 at the World Road Running Championships in September. This will allow the three women led off course during the USATF Half Champs, Jessica McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat, to race as well as the women who officially earned their spot. As part of the exception, only 4 of the athletes will count in the team scoring and USATF will cover all expenses for the additional entries. On this week's Track Talk podcast, we explained why we think this is a ridiculous decision.
More Road Racing News
- London Marathon may be a two-day 100,000 entrant for one year only in 2027 We have no idea why ‘Double London Marathon’ would take place next year. If you are going to do it, do it for the 50th. Have 50,000 women on day 1. 50,000 men on day 2.
- Polls reveal Seb Coe might be London's next mayor if he runs Most Londoners have said they don't want Sadiq Khan to run for a 4th term.
Controversy And Negative News
- MB: Emma Bates says UCAN dropped her after telling them she was pregnant; they say it was before Fueling company UCAN's statement read, "The partnership decisions for 2026 were made in September 2025 as a part of regular business planning and before any knowledge of her pregnancy. We made an effort to continue working with Emma under a new agreement, but she ultimately chose not to move forward with that option."
- At World Indoors, organizers gave Cooper Lutkenhaus's medal to Keely Hodgkinson by mistake
- Tanzanian Olympic marathoner Jackline Sakilu handed 10-year suspension for microdosing scheme The doping appeared to work as she ran a huge 2:21:27 pb in 2024 at age 37 after having a 2:37 pb as recently as 2021.
- US 60H champ Alia Armstrong given warning after testing positive three days before World Indoors USADA officials accepted her explanation that the substance was for medical purposes, but she didn't know she needed a TUE. The decision is controversial as in the past, other athletes, including Allie Ostrander, were banned and had results annulled after similar failed tests.
- South Florida track coach Darius Tremayne Lawshea gets 50 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old The victim said Lawshea had sex with her three times back in 2010 and other athletes have made similar allegations.
Indoor Season Is Over, Get Ready For Outdoor
- MB: Shelby Houlihan making 10,000m American record attempt at the Ten on Saturday The American record is 30:03.82 by Alicia Monson from this meet in 2023. Houlihan has never ran a professional 10,000m, but according to Jack Daniels' VDOT, her 14:23 PR would be worth a 29:52. The 14:45 season best she ran last year would be worth 30:37. Jess McClain is also in the field.
- Georgia Hunter Bell opening her outdoor season this weekend at the Mauri Plant Classic in Melbourne, Australia She'll race the 1500m against Aussie sub-4:00 runners Sarah Billings, Abbey Caldwell, Linden Hall and Claudia Hollingsworth.
- Kip Keino Classic will be held Friday night, not Saturday afternoon for 1st time in 2026 Organizers think it will juice tv ratings. "In the evening it is actually much better. Especially when it comes to the TV production…and also the TV viewership. It is during the evening when the viewers are at home."
- Kip Keino Classic will have wavelight for 1st time in 2026
- Josh Kerr to compete in Emsley Carr Mile at London Diamond League (July 18)
- Noah Lyles to headline the Rome Diamond League 100m (June 4)
- Global sprint champions announced for Xiamen and Silesia DL meets Olympic champ Quincy Hall, world champ Collen Kebinatshipi and DL champ Jacory Patterson will race in the Xiamen 400m on May 23. Olympic champ Julien Alfred vs world champ Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the Silesia 100m on August 23.
- Mondo Duplantis will jump lakeside at the Lausanne DL in August The pole vault will be an out-of-stadium event, on the shores of Lake Geneva.
World Indoors Leftovers
- Video: Pole vaulter wipes out heptathlete at World Indoor Champs Brazil heptathlete Jose Fernando Ferreira was hit by a stray pole during the 1000m. He eventually got up and finished the race, but in a distant last place.
- Josh Kerr celebrated his 3000m win by copying Cole Hocker's "night night" gesture from Millrose Hocker said, "I can’t even be that mad. I flexed him at Millrose. All I can say is at least come up with your own celebration. But I’ll remember that one, for sure."
- What was the arm strap Josh Kerr was wearing when he won World Indoor 3000m gold? It is the Amazfit Helio Strap which gives "health insights such as continuous real-time heart rate measurements and sleep statistics." Amazfit is one of Kerr's sponsors.
- Keely Hodgkinson's training group has branded her "Keely 2.0" this year She says she feels reconnected to her "fearless" 19-year-old self and is making up for lost time.
- The Guardian's Sean Ingle: "Cycling, crystals and cutting-edge science: the secrets of Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell’s success"
*The Telegraph: Secrets behind GB’s golden girls: Cycling, staggering splits and beating male athletes - Jessica Hull after double medal, but no gold at World Indoors: "I know my time is coming."
*MB: Jess Hull appreciation? - After winning World 1500m gold Josh Kerr thought he "was untouchable and would never lose again" He continued, "But sport is brutal and Tokyo reminded me that athletics doesn't owe me anything, regardless of how hard I work and the sacrifices I make. Winning gold at a major championships is maybe something I took for granted for a little bit, so this one was really special.
- World Athletics shares stats and highlights from World Indoor Champs The US topped the medals table with five gold, seven silver and six bronze medals. There were more than 20,000 spectators with both the Saturday and Sunday evening sessions sold out. 323 female atheltes received SRY gene screening tests.
Latest GST News
The group of vendors who had threatened to sue GST reached a deal that will see them get paid about 14% to 15% of what they’re owed from GST. However, under this new plan, athletes will only get 70% of what they are owed. (The original plan would have seen athletes get 85% of what they are owed, but vendors only 1.5%.)
London Update
She hurt her Achilles training on the treadmill six weeks ago and hasn't recovered in time to race next month.
Day 3 @ 2026 World Indoors
Day 3 @ 2026 World Indoors
Lutkenhaus won gold at the age of 17 years, 93 days, younger than any individual men's gold medalist at not just World Indoors, but World Outdoors and the Olympics as well.
Hodgkinson set a championship record of 1:55.30 to win the 800, then ran the fastest split on the 4x400 (50.10) less than an hour later as her training mate Georgia Hunter Bell won gold in the 1500. Plus a look at why the meet was a TOTAL DISASTER for Africa. Africa had won at least one gold in each of the last 19 editions, and at least two golds in every edition since 1995. Yet in Torun, African athletes didn't just fail to win a distance gold; they failed to win a medal -- of any color -- in any event. Hell, Africa didn't even produce a finalist in the men's 1500.
Cooper Race Video & MB Talk
- MB: World Indoor Championships Day 3 Discussion Thread + Live Reaction Show at 4 pm ET When Worlds came to a close, we broke it down for you live from Poland and coach Chris Capeau joined the LRC Track Talk show to tell you how Cooper Lutkenhaus won gold at age 17.
- Cooper MF Lutkenhaus is World Champ He ran like a seasoned veteran. WHAT. A. RACE. Watch it above in the video player. Need a VPN for a US IP? Use the VPN we use.
*Lutkehaus talks to LRC post-race - Keely She dominated the 800 and then came back with the fastest split in the 4 x 400.
- Thoughts on Devynne Charlton WR seemingly out of nowhere? She equalled the 60mh WR.
- Nikki MF Hiltz Bronze! And a PR too.
- Is Cole Hocker the worst tactical distance runner in the world over the past 6 years?
- Emily Mackay Deserves a THREAD!
- Hull deserves a DQ She most definitely didn't get a DQ and left with two medla.s
- Cooper Lutkenhaus Will Break Josh Hoey's WR Tomorrow
- Who has the better all-time resumé: Mu or Keely?
- Ben Pattison will humiliate Cooper in the final
World Indoors Final Day Non-Distance Recaps
- USA breaks championship record in men's 4x400m (3:01.52) They were just .01 off the world indoor record. Belgium was a distance silver in 3:03.29.
- Team USA wins women's 4x400m gold 3:25.81 to Spain's 3:25.85. Keely Hodgkinson raced for GB raced less than an hour after winning 800m gold and had the fastest split of the race (50.10).
- The Netherlands' Sofie Dokter beats out US's world hepathlon champ Anna Hall in World Indoor Pentathlon Hall ran a 2:06 800m, but it wasn't enough as she lost, 4888 points to 4860 points.
- New Zealand's Tom Walsh wins shot put gold with final round throw of 21.82m US's Jordan Geist (21.64m) and Roger Steen (21.49m) took silver and bronze.
- Bahamas' Devynne Charlton equals her own WR (7.65) to win 60H gold
- GB's Molly Caudery regains her world indoor PV title with 4.85m The event had record depth for an indoor meet with nine women clearing 4.70m.
- Portugal's Gerson Baldé wins surprise LJ gold with 8.46m Greece's two-time Olympic champ Miltiádis Tentóglou finished back in 6th (8.19m).
- Portugal’s Agate De Sousa wins World Indoor LJ with 6.92m
- USATF recap: Golden hat trick for Team USA on final day
- World Athletics final day PM short event-by-event recaps
*Final day AM event-by-event recap
Day 2 @ 2026 World Indoors
Day 2 @ 2026 World Indoors
Kerr won his second world indoor title in three years in 7:35.56. Hocker was way back with one lap to go and came on strong, but was too far behind to catch Kerr. He nipped France's Yann Schrub at the line by .01 with 7:35.70 for silver. Yared Nuguse was 5th (7:37.08). Italy's Nadia Battocletti (8:57.64) won a tactical women's final ahead of the USA's Emily Mackay (8:58.12) and Australia's Jessica Hull (8:58.18).
Josh Kerr wins a tactical 3000m showdown over Cole Hocker, Cooper Lutkenhaus runs the fastest World Indoors 800 semifinal since 1997, and Emily Mackay earns silver — we break down all the action from Day 2 in Toruń.
Lutkenhaus, who won his 800m semi comfortably in 1:44.29 -- the fastest time at World Indoors in 29 years -- will try to become the youngest medalist in the history of the World Indoor Championships on Sunday.
- Discussion: Lutkenhaus just jogged a 1:44.2 The teen was SENSATIONAL in his semi.
- World Indoor Championships Day 2 Discussion Thread
- Real test for Cooper LUTKENHAUS in semifinal Try again doubters.
- Ben Pattison will humiliate Cooper in the final
- Wiley is top US runner She has made the final.
World Indoor Day 2 Field Recaps
- Switzerland's Simon Ehammer breaks WR to win heptathlon gold He scored 6670 to break the record US's Ashton Eaton set at the 2012 World Indoor Champs by 25 points. Talking about Eaton, Ehammer said, "I cannot even count how many times I've watched Ashton Eaton compete in the decathlon and heptathlon. I learned a lot from him and now I have broken his world record. I've already spoken to him on the phone. It was a pleasure. It's incredible."
- Mondo Duplantis soars to 6.25m championship record to win fourth world indoor pole vault title
- Cuba's Pérez Hernández retains world indoor triple jump title with 14.95m
Meet Fotyen Tesfay
Tesfay, who has a half-marathon best of 63:21 (#3 all-time) is the latest star in the group of famed Ethiopian coach Gemedu Dedefo, who has now coached five of the 11 fastest female marathoners in history.
The winners of our prediction contests
World indoors are this week. The LetsRun.com prediction contest team for Worlds is set. Meet the winners from the USAs contest and some of our other recent contests as well. They highlight the best of LRC.
LRC Exclusive
Since he stopped racing in the middle of the 2025 cross country season for Iowa State, Seth Clevenger has taken DIII by storm. The Rowan University athlete is the DIII leader in three events. But following the release of a video of an alleged EPO order, multiple former teammates told LetsRun.com that Clevenger said he took banned substances in 2025 while at Iowa State and admitted as such to the coaching staff. The situation raises questions about a potential hole in the NCAA’s anti-doping policy. We investigate how a star could allegedly admit to banned drug use and remain eligible to compete.
Your latest American stars share their insights.
American Record Holders
American Record Holders
Keira D'Amato, the new American record holder in the marathon, was joined by Deena Kastor, who held the record for 15 years.
Sisson was the guest on the LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast after she became the first American to go sub 67 in the half marathon on a record-eligible course. Podcast highlights above. Full pod here.
Woody Kincaid joined us after he broke the American record indoors at 5000. He talks above why he left the Bowerman Track Club. Podcast highlights and link to full podcast here.
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.
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
