A LOT Happened last week - Let us break it down for you and tell you what it all means

It was quite the weekend for American mid-d and distance runners and we break it all down for you. Cooper Lutkenhaus 1:44.03, Cole Hocker 3:45.94, + Elle St. Pierre is now the world leader in three events just nine months after giving birth. Are you ready for a men's American sweep of the golds in the distance at World Indoors? What's up with the disappearing Africans, and what does it mean to break 2:10 in the year 2026? Plus crazy fast women's NCAA times and let us introduce you to Alisa Vainio, the Finnish marathon star who has run 4 marathons in 5 months, setting national records in the last 3 after placing 5th at Worlds. And a 400m WR, is Cordell Tinch the next Carl Lewis, and more.

Sprint Stuff
More Weekend Distance Results
Distance News
Embed from Getty Images
Big Weekend at BU / ASICS Sound Running
Big Weekend at BU / ASICS Sound Running

Cole Hocker was sensational in the men's mile, and Cooper Lutkenhaus moved to #6 in indoor world history in the 800. Nico Young and Nikki Hiltz won the 3ks. 16-year old Sam Ruthe ran 3:52. We share our 5 biggest takeaways.
*Hocker race video

And ESP did it just nine months after giving birth. Behind her, BYU's Riley Chamberlain (4:20.61), Oregon's Wilma Nielsen (4:21.04), and BYU's Jane Hedengren (4:22.22) ran the three fastest times in NCAA history.

BU Valentine day 1: Marco Langon wins controversial 3000m thriller Langon (7:34.00) was fortunate not to be DQ'd after veering into lane 3 in a home straight duel with North Carolina's Colton Sands (7:34.05) as 19-year-old Tayvon Kitchen of BYU ran 7:36.23. *Full results

Cole 3:45
Nico 3000
Cooper 1:44
Boston Mile
UK Champs Day 2
Faith Kipyegon 10k Debut

The time puts her 14th on the world all-time list. European 10,000m silver medalist Diane van Es ran a Dutch record of 14:33 to win the 5K.

XC / Trail News
More Road Action

In the end, former London winner Shura Kitata Tola was given the win over compatriot Asrar Hiyrden Abderehman as both ran 2:03:59. Three Americans broke 2:10 led by Daniel Mesfun's 2:08:24 and a 4th ran 2:10:06. *Results

UK Champs Day 1
RAK Half
  • Multiple-time world champion Kamworor first won this race 13 years ago and came within 13 seconds of his PB from 2019. Ethiopia's Asmarech Anley won a close women's race in 67:22 with the top 5 separated only by 13 seconds.
The First Record Of The Weekend

He took .05 off the record Kerron Clement set back in 2005 (Michael Norman with 44.52 and Christoper Morales Williams with 44.49 had both ran faster, but their times weren't ratified as records.) In the 60m, Jordan Anthony (6.43) and Olympic 100m champ Julien Alfred (6.99) both won with world-leading times. World 110H champ Cordell Tinch won the long jump with an 8.29m PB.

BU Day 1

Langon (7:34.00) was fortunate not to be DQ'd after veering into lane 3 in a home straight duel with North Carolina's Colton Sands (7:34.05) as 19-year-old Tayvon Kitchen of BYU ran 7:36.23. *Full results

Friday 15 Live
Weekend Preview - BU / Sound invite / UK Champs

In 1965, a US teenager (Jim Ryun) stunned the Olympic 1500 champ from New Zealand (Peter Snell).  Now 60.5 years later, the roles are reveresed. Can Ruthe take down Hocker? Plus Jane Hedengren (mile) and Doris Lemngole (5k) will chase NCAA records in Boston. Updated: Elle St. Pierre has been added to the women’s mile field and may be going for the American record.

Links That We Found Worthy of the Front page
Grand Slam Track has filed its bankruptcy plan

Grand Slam Track’s bankruptcy plan proposes paying athletes about $6 million, or roughly 85% of the $7 million they are still owed while paying other creditors only 1.5%. If approved, this would open up the possibility for a season 2.

USAs are going to the NE for the 1st time since the 90s

USAs will be at Icahn Stadium from July 23-26, the first time the meet has been held outside of Eugene since 2019. Meanwhile the USATF Grand Prix is relocating from New York to Texas A&M.

Assorted Olympic News
Distance News
This Week's Action
NCAA News
International Indoor Results: Bol's 800m Debut

Bol blitzed the first 200 in 27ish before basically running 30s all the way home. Rojo had her in an unofficial 27.4, 57.4 (30.0), 1:28.3 (30.9), 30.7. Watch it above.

Kelati won't be joining Mike Smith

Kelati has left Under Armour's Dark Sky Distance team in Flagstaff which is coached by her agent Stephen Haas. Who coaches her moving forward is TBD but we do now she won't be joining Mike Smith's Nike group in Flagstaff. 

US Indoor Action
On The Roads / Grass
Sprint Stuff
Another Indoor World Record for the Americans

Sean Dolan ran a sensational anchor leg of 1:45.79 all alone as the Atlanta Track Club team beat the old record by 1.01. He did it on the UPenn track where his father is the coach.

Surgery For Jakob

After a recent setback with his left Achilles which has been bothering him since last April, Ingebritsen went under the knife. Ingebrigtsen's surgery was on the sheath around his left Achilles tendon, not the tendon itself. He said the recovery time is "somewhat short," but his spokesperson Espen Skoland did not say when his next race would be.

Weekend listen

This week’s Friday 15 dives into Jakob’s Achilles surgery, Cole Hocker’s status, Sam Ruthe’s plans and Femke Bol’s 800 debut. Listen with a Supporters Club membership.

Weekend International Action
USATF GP Comes To Texas

This meet replaces the USATF NYC Grand Prix. It will be held at Texas A&M on June 6 and have more than $200,000 in prize money. After not having it in 2025, USATF is also bringing back the LA Grand Prix which will be at USC on June 13-14.

This week's pod
Kiplimo's Record Not Ratified

RW Spain has the story. One of the most impressive records will not go on the books. World Athletics determined Kiplimo was too close to the car with the clock on it.

2026 Millrose Games

Olympic 1500m champ Cole Hocker earned the biggest non-championship win of his career in a stacked 2-mile while teenage sensation Cam Myers showed while he might be a future Olympic champ in winning the men's Wanamaker mile. The women's Wanamaker mile was won for the 1st time by Nikki Hiltz. Collegiate records went to Colin Sahlman and Doris Lemngole while highschooler Cooper Lutkenhaus continued to roll in the men's 600 where he set an U20 world record.

Hocker Speaks

Cole Hocker is ready for the Millrose 2-mile showdown, a fast mile in 2 weeks, and world indoors. Plus he responds to Jakob Ingebrigtsen's comments about Paris.

Richardson Arrest Video

Video of Sha'Carri Richardson pleading not to be taken to jail for excessive speeding has been released.

London is less than 3 months away (April 26)

After going 1-2 last year and winning in Berlin & Chicago last fall, Sawe & Kiplimo will renew their rivalry in London in April. Former half marathon WR holder Kejelcha (57:30 PR) will debut.

Ignoring Ruth Chepngetich, four of the five fastest women in history are running 2026 London: Tigst Assefa, Sifan Hassan, Joyciline Jepkosgei, & Peres Jepchirchir. Plus Hellen Obiri is making her London debut. The men's field comes out Thursday.

Grant Fisher talks

Fisher was the guest on the LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast.

Rewriting The Record Book

From 600m to 5,000m, there have now been six world indoor records by four separate American men over the last 12 months. Jonathan Gault asks, "What explains it?"

The 2026 NBIGP was fantastic
The 2026 NBIGP was fantastic

St. Pierre won her first track race since the Paris Olympics by outkicking Linden Hall in the 3,000. Myers looked incredible in the men's 3,000. And Lyles got the pre-race attention but lost the 300 to Jereem Richards.

Hoey called his own shot before the race and then backed it up, breaking Wilson Kipketer's 1:42.67 that had stood since 1997. And he was paced by his brother Jaxson.

Kesler exploded past Grant Fisher in the final 125 and got the WR thanks to a 26.31 final 200 and 13.02 final 100.

Getting ready for Millrose

Cooper Lutkenhaus started 2026 in fine form with a 1:45 win in New York. Meghan Hunter went sub 2 in the 800 (Ajee Wilson 2:00.92), Wilma Nielsen won the mile at Katelyn Tuohy faded. *Race video
Discuss: UPDATE: Cooper Lutkenhaus DESTROYS pro field. Opens in 1:45.23!!! 

2k Shot #1 Fired on Friday

Cole Hocker opened his indoor season in stunning fashion at the Hokie Invitational, running 4:52.92 to break the American 2,000m record of Bernard Lagat, which Cooper Teare tied in 2nd place, as George Couttie smashed the collegiate record in 3rd. The Olympic champion now turns his attention to a loaded Millrose Games 2 mile featuring Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman, Parker Wolfe, and more.

Age Group Mile WR

He finished runner-up to Sam Tanner (3:53.36), breaking Cam Myers' previous record. *Race Video

Grant is Moving Up
Grant is Moving Up

In an exclusive with the NY Times, Fisher says he wants to run 13.1 to see if he might run 26.2 in LA.

The Latest Jonathan Gault Feature

Midway through 2024, Brazier had begun to accept he may never race again; in 2025, the former world champ returned faster than ever. Hear from Brazier and coach Mike Smith about how he pulled off one of the sport's greatest comebacks.

Boston 2026

The 2026 Boston Marathon elite fields are out and we break it down for you. From a US perspective, the fields are sensational, but what top pros from Africa are entered? Benson Kipruto vs  John Korir leads the way for the men. Does American Fiona O'Keeffe have a shot for the win? *Full fields

The 1980 and 1981 World XC champ gives a passionate defense of cross country. He also admits he is concerned about the state of World XC given the lack of support from several federations and the three-year gap until the next championships in 2029 but is hopeful it can be added to the Winter Olympics: "If they can have breakdancing in the Summer Olympics, then we can certainly have cross country in the Winter Olympics."

A final look at the fantastic 2026 World XC Champs
A final look at the fantastic 2026 World XC Champs

World XC in the USA was amazingly fun to attend. How do we transform World’s Greatest Footrace into a spectacle / event that tens of thousands want to attend? How can we make it our sport's version of the Kentucky Derby - or maybe the grass version of the London Marathon?

XC legends Kenenisa Bekele & Beatrice Chebet were in Tallahassee as was Cooper Lutkenhaus, who left with the LetsRun.com flag. 

More World XC News

2028 OT

USATF confirmed that St. Louis (who hosted the women's Trials in 2004) and Phoenix (who have never hosted) are the only two bidders for the 2028 Trials.

World XC Was Saturday
World XC Was Saturday

Jacob Kiplimo put on a show and won his third title by 18 seconds as Ethiopia took the team title. The US led by Parker Wolfe (12th) was 4th.

World XC Video Analysis + Discussion
This is Disgraceful

The NCAA has done a lot of stupid things over the years but this has to to appear near the top of the list. They have stripped all remaining eligibility for NCAA D3 XC runner-up (and 2:12 marathoner) Mohammed Bati, who works a full-time job 5 days a week at an assisted living facility from 11 pm to 7 am while attending school and running track/XC. His sin? The local community came together and raised $6k for him.

Another controversial ban

Art and Linda Kranick built a dynasty at Saratoga Springs as they won 3 national titles and 28 NY state federation titles. Many runners RAVED about them. Many also HATED them. Banning them for life even though one of them is dead seems the definition of administrative over reach. SafeSpot has a policy not to ban dead people. Does USATF even know Art Kranick is dead?

Two LRC Exclusives On The 2021 Olympic 800m Champions

After three years with Kersee that included an American record in 2023, a devastating injury in 2024, and a failure to make the US final in 2025, Mu-Nikolayev has left Kersee and moved from LA to Dallas.

The Kenyan 800m star has largely disappeared since winning Olympic and world titles in 2021 & 2022. And the physiotherapist who treated him twice a day, every day for 6 months leading up to the Olympics is worried for him. "We’ve been trying to help him, but he hasn’t been willing to receive the help."

A wearable that helps you train smarter and avoid injury (Sponsored)

Aletheia Run turns every run into real insight. The small sensor gives you a personal Force Portrait so you see how your body loads, moves, and reacts with each stride. Get clear feedback, form fixes, and training tips that help you run faster and avoid injury. Use code LETSRUN10 for 10 percent off your first year.

Jager Q&A for Supporters Club Members

Evan Jager retired this week and then sat down with LetsRun.com for his most candid interview ever. He opened up about the Paris fall, the Olympic silver, the Fancy Bears leak, and the tension between Alberto and Jerry that shaped parts of his career.

Message Board Q&A

Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson, runner, best-selling author, and host of “The Most Interesting Thing in A.I.", just ran over three hours in the marathon for the first time in 20 years. He joins LetsRun Friday to talk running, life, and his new book The Running Ground. If you'd like a book for free, just join our Supporters Club. Click for more info.

    Josh Hoey parts ways with yet another coach

    Somehow Justin Rinaldi transformed Josh Hoey, who couldn't break 1:47 for 6+ years, to a 1:42.01 world indoor champ and DL winner. How has he been rewarded? With a pink slip. Rojo thinks it's hard to think of a dumber decision than this but then again Jerry Jones once did fire Jimmy Johnson.

    After disagreements on training philosophy, Justin Rinaldi will no longer be coaching Hoey despite engineering one of the greatest turnarounds in American middle distance running history, taking Hoey from 1:47 to 1:42 and World Indoor champion in two years. Plus get the inside scoop on a key workout Hoey overcooked before USAs.

    Great listen/read

    Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, joins the LetsRun.com Podcast to talk about his new book The Running Ground, how he ran 2:29 at 44, his late father, and why he still checks LetsRun every day.

    LRC Q&A

    The US achieved its most successful relay medal haul since the introduction of the mixed 4x400 with four golds and a silver at the 2025 Worlds. We asked Woodson about Team USA's performance in Tokyo. Plus we asked USATF about what really happened with Rai Benjamin, who said he went out on the town the night before the men's 4x400 final.

    Paywall lifted

    After five coaches, six states, and hundreds of hours of listening to the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast, steepler Dan Michalski will make his World Championship debut in Tokyo. He dedicated his runner-up finish at USAs to the grinders who keep going without a big shoe contract. "They know the grind, they know what it’s like to fight through injuries, what it’s like to feel like you have the talent to make a team and keep coming up short," Michalski says. "This is for them, in a sense."

    IF you are going to play a video game, play this one

    XC Racing 2 is now out and free to play on ios and android and in this version you get to race the famed Detweiller Park course in Illinois.

    Random Links A Human Found Interesting
    Sean Brosnan & Chris Lear & Andrew Greif's book is here

    In Beyond Fast, Sean Brosnan, with Chris Lear and Andrew Greif, traces the unlikely rise of Newbury Park High School from an overlooked program to a distance-running powerhouse. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories, training insights, and cultural shifts, the book shows how Brosnan and his athletes rewrote the high school record books.

    Sean Brosnan Podcast

    From BMX to building the greatest HS team ever, Sean Brosnan tells us how he did it at Newbury Park, plus what really went on at UCLA, and what’s next. Don’t miss this one.

    Data doesn't lie

    We've run the numbers by comparing Lutkenhaus's run against every other age-16 world record, and the data is clear.

    Who?

    Jonah Koech wasn't even supposed to be in Sunday's 1500. As they approached the bell, he was in 13th out of 17. A lap later, he was the champion. He is just the third American man to win a Diamond League 1500/mile and the first runner sponsored by Under Armour to win a DL race. His 3:37.27 pre-race pb is also the slowest of any man to win a DL 1500/mile.

    How Josh Hoey Rose To The Top Of The World

    For five years, Hoey cylced through coach after coach but barely improved from his 1:47.67 high school 800m pb. Learn why he moved around so often -- and why he never gave up. Part I of JG's 7,000+ word feature.
    *MB: Josh Hoey profile by JG

    Stop Obsessing Over Your Diet

    The US indoor 1500m/3000m champion overhauled his fueling in workouts before the 2024 season. Now he swears by his routine.

    The Record Books Are Getting Rewritten In 2025

    In the span of one week in February, runners broke five world indoor records and every American men's middle-distance record from 800m to 5000m. Jonathan Gault spoke to some of America's top athletes and coaches to find the reasons behind all of the fast times.

    One More Look at a Legendary Race

    From novice fans to running diehards, there was something for everyone (except perhaps Brits and Norwegians) to enjoy about one of the greatest middle distance races ever run.

    Blanks = NCAA XC x 2

    Just before Blanks chases a 5,000m pb and collegiate record in what is likely his final NCAA race at Boston University on Saturday, he told LetsRun about the key session of his 2024 XC season -- one he described as "probably the best workout I've had so far in my career."

    Best of the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast
    Best of the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast

    Your latest American stars share their insights.

    Three legends of the sport.

    One of the greatest US runners ever.

    We chatted with Frank on the 50th anniversary of his Olympic Marathon gold

    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.

    LetsRun.com Pro Coaches Tour
    LetsRun.com Pro Coaches Tour

    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
    Embed from Getty Images
    Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
    Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
    LetsRun Classics
    LetsRun Classics
    Message Board