LRC Editorial

Can you imagine the Kansas City Chiefs being placed into the NFL playoffs because they won the Super Bowl two years ago? Of course not, it would ruin the drama of the regular season. And the byes in track totally ruin the drama of US championships - one of the best meets on planet earth. Across the last four US championships in Worlds years (2019, 2022, 2023, 2025), almost half of the US's reigning world champions have either skipped the final or not participated seriously. LRC's proposal would make USAs better while keeping Worlds great.

5th Avenue Mile

Nuguse won a close race over Parker Wolfe (3:48.1) and Drew Hunter (3:48.4) while Gracie Morris (4:15.5) won with a comfortable gap ahead of Kayley Delay (4:17.4) and Karissa Schweizer (4:17.6).  Post-race, stars reflected on breakthroughs, setbacks, and what’s next.

Pre-Worlds Track Action In Bejing
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Fast Times In Germnay
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Attaoui is now only behind Noah Ngeny (2:11.96 in 1999) and Seb Coe (2:12.18 in 1981). Kenya's Festus Lagat finished runner-up to Attaoui in 2:12.96 (#5 all-time).

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She hadn't raced since making the team with her 3rd place finish at USAs a month ago. There she just beat out Brittany Brown for the final spot by one thousandth of a second, but Brown went on to make the team by winning the 200m DL final in Zurich.

USATF 20k Champs

He took 7 seconds off his previous record to beat out defending champ Hillary Bor (56:32). Recent BYU grad Aubrey Frentheway won the women’s race in 1:05:36 ahead of Biruktayit Defega (1:05:42) and Ednah Kurgat (1:05:46).

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    Sydney Joins The World Marathon Majors
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    Kiros, who was 4th in Tokyo earlier this year and 5th in last year, grabbed the lead after 41k while Hassan made a big move after 35k to drop former WR holder Brigid Kosgei on Sydney's hilly course. *Top 20 Results

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    The DL Final Is In The Books
    The DL Final Is In The Books

    Laros, the 20-year-old Dutchman, stayed red-hot with another win in a pb of 3:29.20. Plus Noah Lyles edged out Letsile Tebogo in a 200m thriller, 19.74 to 19.76, as Frenchman Jimmy Gressier outkicked Grant Fisher to win the 3,000 in 7:36.78 to Fisher's 7:36.81.  Jessica Hull tied up big time in the 1500 and lost by 0.03 and Audrey Werro ran 1:55 to win a tight women's 800. Other winners included Femke Bol (52.18), Salwa Eid Naser (48.70) and Christian Coleman (9.97). We broke it down for you live when it was over in the player above/to the left.

    More Zurich

    Ethiopia's Fantaye Belayneh outduelled American Josette Andrews to win $50,000 in the Diamond League 3000m final while wearing Aleshign Baweke's bib. Baweke was announced as the winner but Belayneh was the actual champion and will earn a wild card entry to Worlds in the 5,000 meters.

    Sha'Carri Richardson's Summer Gets Worse

    LetsRun has learned that the case has not been cleared as many media outlets reported and that Richardson is scheduled to appear in court in SeaTac, Wash., on September 2. The first round of the women's 100 meters at the World Championships in Tokyo begin on September 13.

    Zurich Race Replays / Highlights (Need a US IP? Use the VPN we use at letsrun.com/vpn)
    Zurich Race Replays / Highlights (Need a US IP? Use the VPN we use at letsrun.com/vpn)
    HS XC News
    Cooper Goes Pro

    The 16-year-old Lutkenhaus will forgo his final two years of high school eligibility. He is the first American men's middle-distance runner to turn professional while still in high school.

      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.

      Podcast & Highlights

      Coach Chris Capeau was our podcast guest and shares how he guided Cooper Lutkenhaus to a record-breaking 1:42.27 in the 800m,  in his first year coaching him.

      The Latest LetsRun Feature By Jonathan Gault

      Three years ago, USATF published a document on its website titled "Journey to Gold: Strategic Roadmap to 2028." The idea: capitalize on a six-year window bookended by two rare opportunities -- a home World Championships in 2022 and a home Olympics in 2028 -- to grow the sport domestically. The aim, spelled out in a purple box on page 1, was to make track & field the country's fifth-most followed sport by LA28. As part of this initiative, USATF launched a series of professional meets known as the "Journey to Gold Tour." Three nationally-televised meets stood at the heart of those efforts. Last year, the USATF Bermuda, NYC, and LA Grand Prix meets were all shown nationally on NBC. In 2025, none of those meets were even held. What happened to them? And what should USATF's role be in promoting/staging professional track meets?

      Weekend Listen

      Deena Kastor, the Olympic bronze medallist in the marathon, shares stories of the coach who shaped her as a runner and  human being.

      If it's too good to be true....

      Suspicion of Chepngetich was sky high last October when she ran 2:09:56 in Chicago and now she's been popped.. But since Chepngetich tested positive for a masking agent, she could be competing again as soon as April 2027 even if her ban is upheld. Is that fair? Plus is the AIU nearing a breaking point with Federico Rosa and Kenya?

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      Meet Phanuel Koech

      Koech's coach Claudio Berardelli says his talent could be comparable to that of his two biggest stars, marathoner Sabastian Sawe and Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi. "I’m still trying to figure out exactly what happened and what is the potential of this boy," Berardelli said.

      Our Latest Feature

      Freeman found incredible success in an event that has often plagued American relay squads, but USATF chose not to renew her contract at the end of 2024. Why? Jonathan Gault investigates.

      The 800 Gets LetsRun Love
      The 800 Gets LetsRun Love
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      Kersee doesn't talk often to the media but he talked to our Jonathan Gault about his plans for Athing Mu. Kersee said he believes racing the 1500 will help make Mu a better 800 runner but said he also hopes she can run more 400s moving forward and that she can eventually break 49 seconds in that event.

      Hoey's career had stagnated until connecting with Rinaldi in 2023. Within minutes of seeing him train in-person, Rinaldi knew he was special: "I said, if I can’t get this guy to run 1:44, there’s something wrong with me." (SC paywall lifted)

      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."

      Jonathan Gault pays tribute to two legends

      Simpson and Centrowitz, who both 1st medalled in 2011 and retired in 2024, leave the sport as two of the faces on the Mt. Rushmore of American 1500m running after piling up a combined eight medals at global championships. And despite not ever finishing in the top 3 on the yearly 1500 list (Simpson's best was 4th, Centro's 9th), they will be remembered as two of the better milers of their generation.

      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.

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      Best of Jon Gault
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