Breaking 4 is Thursday
Breaking 4 is Thursday

In a guest column, former US diplomat James Nealon and Tom Ratcliffe, director of Bannister: Everest on the Track, trace the connection between Roger Bannister's first sub-4:00 mile from 71 years ago and Faith Kipyegon's attempt in Paris on Thursday, and what it means to dream of breaking barriers.
*MB: Faith Kipyegon breaking-4 official discussion thread (+watch party/reaction show at 1:55 pm ET)
*MB: CU Boulder Scientists (Drafting Experts) Call Out & Respond to Rojo's Comments on Sub 4-Mile Attempt
*MB: NY Times: Can Faith Kipyegon's bra help her make history? 

Biomechanics expert Mike Hahn breaks down Kipchoge's run, and the drafting experts at CU Boulder have responded to Rojo.

Nike may use 11 pacers - yes 11 - for entire race to help Kipyegon They don't want to shuffle in and out pacers as it will mess up the air bubble so it looks like all but 2 will be men who will run the whole way. Kipyegon is the yellow dot, running from left to right in the images.


    Will Faith Kipyegon Go Sub-4 in the Mile This Week?

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    Blowout Podcast

    Faith Kipyegon is going for sub-4 on Thursday and the LRC crew broke it down and was joined by Dr. Mike Hahn of the Bowerman Sports Science Center & Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance to discuss it. Plus European record holder & 12:44 man Andreas Almgren was on the show.

    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.

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    High School Nationals & US U-20 Champs

    She won a close race over Emmry Ross (2:00.25) and also Sadie Engelhardt (2:02.50). Dumas and Ross move to #5 and #6 on the HS all-time list. Caleb Winders won the boys 800m in 1:46.85. Elise Cooper won the 200m in 22.44 (#5 prep all-time).
    *MB: Natalie Dumas wins 800 (2:00:11), 400 (51:15), and 400h (55:95) at NBNO

    Boston 10K

    Lokedi held off Gladys Kwanboka for the win as both women ran 31:39. Tanzania's Gabriel Geay (28:14) won the men's race for the third time while Emily Sisson (3rd, 31:42) and Zouhair Talbi (2nd, 28:18) were the top Americans. *Full results

    Previous High School Nationals / US U-20 Champs

    In rainy, cool conditions he broke his own record by more than half a second and now is the fastest high schooler ever by a full second. And as a 16-year-old sophomore, he still has two years to lower it further.

    She just beat out her 8:40.99 record from she set during her 3200m a couple of weeks ago. In the 100m. In other action, Corbin Coombs won the 3000m in 8:03 and Tate Taylor edged Maurice Gleaton Jr in the 100m by .01 seconds, 10.10 to 10.11.
    *MB: Jane Hedengren 8:40 at NON!!!!!!!!

      Friday HS Nationals Coverage
      Paris DL
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      The 31-year-old Habz ran a nearly two-second pb while the 18-year-old Koech, who had never run a 1500 as of two weeks ago, broke the world U20 record. Plus Americans Josh HoeyBryce Hoppel went 2-3 in the 800 and 20-year-old Angelina Napoleon ran another huge pb in the steeple.

      Negative Coaching News
      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)

      Week That Was

      2019 world champ Donavan Brazier is BACK and healthy according to Mike Smith. In the 15+ years of the Diamond League, African-born men had won 78 of 80 Diamond League 5000s. Now for the first time, they are riding a 2-meet losing streak as an American won in Olso and a Swede in Stockholm. Plus can we admit the myth of Track Town USA is officially dead?

      RIP
      Sprint News
      High School Nationals & US U-20 Champs Have Started
      Important Administrative News
      USATF 4 Mile Champs / Paavo Nurmi Games

      Maier won in 18:03 ahead of Casey Clinger (18:06), Biya Simbassa (18:07) and Charles Hicks (18:11). Roe ran an American best of 19:40 to win by over 20 seconds.

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      Ingebrigtsen Verdict Is In

      He received a suspended 15-day prison sentence and has to pay $1000 for the altercation where his daughter says he hit her in the face with a towel. He was cleared of other charges of abuse including those against Jakob. Gjert Ingebrigtsen lawyers said, “The decisive factor in the court’s conclusion was that there was no evidence that created a continuous fear in his children. The court has particularly emphasized that several close family members and outside witnesses have not seen or experienced abuse.”

      Sprint Stuff
      Portland Track Festival - Brazier's Back Baby!

      Donavan Brazier is running in the 1:43s after only 2 races in his comeback. This one was a beautiful victory that reminded us of the Brazier of old. In other action, former high school phenoms Katelyn Tuohy and Drew Hunter got wins, as current high schoolers Owen Powell and Josiah Tostenson ran 3:36 (#2 and #3 on the HS all-time list). Justyn Knight and Luis Grijalva returned to action.

      Stockholm DL

      There were some great performances in this one. In addition to the Swedes, Rai Benjamin (46.54) took down Warholm and dos Santos in the much-anticipated 400H race and Julien Alfred ran 10.75 (+0.9). Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the 800 in 1:41.95 as Josh Hoey PR'd and ran 1:42.43. Georgia Hunter Bell won the women's 800 in 1:57.66 as Mary Moraa ran a BIZARRE race. Linden Hall won the women's 3000 in 8:30.01. Behind Almgren, Cole Hocker struggled in the 5000 but Ky Robinson broke 13:00. Geordie Beamish ran 8:13 in the promotional steeple.  *WA Recap

      2025 NCAAs (Wed-Saturday)

      Doris Lemngole shattered the NCAA steeplechase record with an 8:58.15 while Savannah Sutherland clocked 52.46 in the 400m hurdles to break Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s record on a historic final day of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Championships. Georgia cruised to the team title, and standout wins also came from Sophie O’Sullivan, Roisin Willis, Pamela Kosgei, and Aaliyah Butler.

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      NCAA Men

      Nathan Green kept the Washington Husky streak alive, Sam Whitmarsh cruised in the 800, as James Corrigan got his NCAA title and Brian Musau defended his crown from indoors in the 5000. Texas A&M & USC tied for the team title.

      Want a podcast breaking down NCAAs? Join our Supporters Club today and hear our podcast from Friday night.

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      Oslo DL

      And George Mills broke the British record in 4th (12:46.69) as 9 guys broke 12:50 and 13 broke 13:00. Young's time is the fastest ever outdoors by an American and trails only Grant Fisher's 12:44.09 world indoor record on the all-time US list. Today's run was the first time in nearly 50 years that an American man has gone to Europe and won a 5000 while running within 10 seconds of the world record. Way back on July 4, 1978, Marty Liquori won in Stockholm in 13:16.21 when Henry Rono's WR was 13:08.4.

      LetsRun Oslo Recap Show

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      US distance fans. Pinch yourself. An American-born athlete has won a LOADED Diamond League 5000. Wow. We break it down for you above.

      Other action: WA Recap: Karsten Warholmd breaks 300h world record (32.66), takes down Benjamin and dos Santos I the 800, Emmnauel Wanyoni held on and won a thrilling 800 in 1:42.77 as Sedajti returnde with a 1:43.06 (3rd). Isaac Nader (3:48.25) wins Dream Mile comfortably in 3:48.25 as Cam Myers was 2nd in 3:48.97 as 11 broke 3:50. Faith Cherotich edged Yavi in women’s steeple 9:02.60. Sprints: Julien Alfred "cool and calm" 10.89 (+1.1), Isabella Whittaker took the 400 in 49.58 as Henriette Jæger breaks the Norwegian record (49.62), Cuba's Reynier Mena won the 200 in 20.20 (+1.5), and Dalilah Muhammad crushes field in 400h (53.34)

        NCAAs Day 2

        Pamela Kosgei smashed the meet record in the 10,000m as Michaela Rose got Suzy Favor Hamilton's legendary record in the 800

        Women's Distsance News
        GST LA Cancelled

        After the most successful meet of the year in Philly, there will be no meet #4 in 2025 as it was abruptly cancelled 2 weeks before it was to take place. GST did not give a reason for the cancellation, but claimed there will be a meet in 2026 in LA.

        Kipkurui is the first Kenyan winner since Edward Cheserek in 2016 as Kenyans went 1-3-4-5. Furman's Dylan Schubert was the top American in 7th.

        Jakob should have been leading the Oslo 5000
        LetsRun.com's World-Famous Messageboard In The News
        World XC Will Be Here Before You Know It - Make Your Travel Plans Now

        This is a good idea as you'll save money and have a built in crowd. Plus you'll expose the current edition of US HS talents to the pros. The event will be used to pick the team for the World XC champs to be held in Tallahassee in January 2026. For the U20 teams, the top four finishers at USAs will get a spot, with the final two spots reserved for the NXN and Foot Locker champions.

        Brooks PR - Have We Already Found The Next Brazier?

        Michael Granville's 29-year-old record of 1:46.45 (Granville never ran faster by the way) is history. Owen Powell was 2nd in 1:46.63. Watch it above. In other events, Jane Hedengren's amazing season continued as she ran yet another HS record - this time a 9:17 full 2 miles, which is right in line with her 14:57 5000. NJ's Paige Sheppard ran 2:01.50 in the 800, Texas's Mia Maxwell ran 11.04 (+1.2) in the 100, and middle schooler Camryn Dailey ran 51.67 in the 400.

          NCAA Court Case Finally Approved

          No. But they might be #2. Ethiopia has to be #1 even though they haven't medalled in the event since 2019. But Fisher, Young, Hocker Teare, Blanks, Nur, Wolfe, Jacobs, Kincaid, Beadlescomb, etc. is an impressive group.

          Lots of Team NB Boston News

          MacLean, who improved incredibly from 4:19 to 3:58 under Mark Coogan, was extremely grateful for her time on the team. Team NB Boston will be without 3 Olympic 1500 runners this summer as 1500m Olympian Emily Mackay also recently left and Elle St. Pierre just gave birth.

            The news comes as a surprise as Mackay excelled while training with the group, improving from 4:08 to 3:55 and making the Olympic team in 2024.

            Team NB Boston is hopeful Valby can rejoin the team at altitude camp and run USAs.

            Marathon Trials

            Men's standard lowered from 2:18 from 2024 while women's standard stayed the same.

            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

            Kipyegon opens her season in Xiamen with nearly a WR But...

            On Wednesday, Nike announced that Kenya's Faith Kipyegon will attempt to break four minutes in the mile on June 26 in Paris. Spoiler alert. She's not going to break 4. And it's not going to be particularly close. Did you know the 1k time she ran on Saturday where she just nearly broke the WR is still below sub-4 mile pace?

            Stop Obsessing Over Your Diet
            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.

            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.

            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
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