Yr in Review Podcast

In a special yr end bonus podcast for our SC members, Rojo gives you his biggest story lines of the year. For the women (at least for Americans), it was the year of Jane Hedengren. On the men’s side, Cole Hocker’s 5000 gold finished off a wild Worlds where African born men won zero distance golds on the track, which hadn’t happened since the very first Worlds in 1983. Plus in 20 years, will we be talking about GST’s demise? And is the suspension of the coaching legends Art & Linda Kranick justified? What about NCAA D3 runner Mohammed Bati?

Post-Christmas Headlines
More 2025 Review
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?

World XC Will Be Happening in 2 Weeks
Marathon News
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Pics?
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 At least 4 T&F athletes make the cut including Gout Gout and Sifan Hassan.

Upcoming Indoor Action
Distance News
Non-Distance News
GST News
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Looking Ahead To The New Year
News From The BBC
World XC Is January 10th in Florida
The Marathon Project

The leaders hit 30k on 2:08:05 pace but faded late as the Flavin, the former NC State runner now running for Hansons-Brooks, got the win out of the second pack. 45-year-old Priscah Cherono of Kenya, who won world championship bronze in the 5000 way back in 2007, led the women's race throughout and won in a new pb of 2:25:17.
*MB: Official 2025 Marathon Project Live Discussion Thread

  • Pre-Race:  LRC Ben Rosario Pod - The Marathon Project 2.0 Ben broke down the elite men’s and women’s fields and talked why any serious runner looking for a PB should run the race. Can you say - super fast course, perfect weather, personal bottle service and free super shoes?
    More Weekend Distance Results
    Fast Times From Young Talent
    Nuguse Q&A

    Article here. Podcast here. Video here.

    Doping / Ban News
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    The Bowerman

    Marathon News
    Inside Scoop On Quincy Wilson's College Choice

    The story as to how Maryland, which is a doormat in the Big 10 track standings, landed the star 400m recruit is on the front page of the Baltimore Sun sports page.

    Links That Passed Our Human Editor
    Race For An NIL Deal

    Diadora is offering a $40,000 NIL to the first high school boy to go sub-4 in its spikes and the first high school girl to go sub-4:35.

    The Latest LRC Exclusive
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    Nuguse, who set a (since-broken) WR of 3:46.63 last year, will go for a 4th straight Wanamaker mile title and will be up against Hobbs Kessler and Australian teen sensation Cameron Myers. He also reveals he's going to take a crack at a hot 5000 this year and maybe the outdoor mile WR.

    Coe Speaks

    The nomination of Femke Bol as a finalist in 2025 over Beatrice Chebet and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden sparked outrage among fans. Coe also weighed in on World XC in Tallahassee, Grand Slam Track, and the World Ultimate Champs in his end-of-year media call.

    Non-Distance News
    Distance News
    GST Update

    New bankruptcy filings reveal that Grand Slam Track owes millions for TV production, million to athletes including $356,250 to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and $272,915 to Citius Mag for coverage and related services

    Cross Country News
    Weekend Distance Action

    Johnson ran 4:21.66 to break the US record of 4:23.98 (set by Krissy Gear in April) and came in well ahead of runner-up Nikki Hiltz (4:24.50). Hoey won in 3:54.77 to beat out Hobbs Kessler (3:56.21). Johnson also won the battle of the sexes, coming in ahead of all the men after the women got a 31 second head start.
    *MB: Josh Hoey 1st place male at Kalakaua Mile

      Hauger-Thackery won over two-time defending champion Cynthia Limo (2:31:33) and Weldlibanos also beat the defending champ, Yemane Haileselassie (2:14:29).

      European XC Champs

      Battocletti got a comfortable 15 second win over GB's Megan Keith while the men's race came down to a dramatic sprint finish with Ndikumwenayo beating Gressier by 3 seconds. The Spanish men and the Belgian women won the team titles.

      Brooks (Foot Locker) XC Champs

      Spencer ran 15:10.7 to edge out Mantecon by just .2.

      Just like at NXN, it came down to a duel between her and Blair Bartlett, with the winning margin ending up exactly the same. Dudek won 16:55.5 to 16:57.1 and she beat Bartlett by 1.6 seconds at NXN. Jaelyn Williams also repeated her finish from NXN, coming in 3rd place with 17:17.2.

      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."

      NCAA / HS News
      Doping / Ban News
      Friday 15

      US Cross champ Parker Wolfe talks about his big US XC win, Swoosh TC life, training with Nico Young, trash talk with Ethan Strand, and makes his case for Tallahassee. Plus: Grand Slam Track files Chapter 11 and we dig into the Emmanuel Korir mystery. For Supporters Club members.

      GST is bankrupt but still dreaming of a 2026

      This was the most likely outcome the moment they cancelled the 4th meet. "With every altenative fully explored, moving into a court-supervised reorganization - which is what GST did today became the clearest path to protect our community and our mission," wrote GST.

      Mid-D News
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      The 1500m world champ is currently a free agent on the coaching front but was recently seen training with Tomasz Lewandowski's group. Will he also switch shoe companies from Asics to Nike? "Of course it’s not often [someone changes coaches after winning Worlds], but it happens. I’ve been in this business for 42 years and he’s not the first one to change coaches after a big success. But they are still very close, they are good friends, there isn’t any type of problem between them. Enrique understood Isaac’s decision," said his agent.
      *MB: Shock 1500m world champ Isaac Nader makes a shock decision - he's leaving his coach. Will he switch to Tomasz Lewandowski? 

      Spring Will Be Here Before You Know It

      It's the first time since 1978 that both American record holders will both be in Boston.
      *MB: Defending champs John Korir & Sharon Lokedi plus American record holder Conner Mantz and Emily Sisson to run 2026 Boston Marathon

      Interesting Reads

      Durham magazine's Renee Ambroso profiles the Puma group in North Carolina that has had an unreal 2025. From Taylor Roe's 10-mile WR to Alex Maier's 2:08 debut win in Germany, to Dorcus Ewoi's WCs silver, to Fiona O'Keeffe's 2:22 American course record in NYC, to Molly Born's 2:24 course record at CIM, the group rocked it all year long.
      *MB: Behind the scenes with LRC's coaches of the year, Amy and Alistair Cragg - How have they led Puma Elite to get so good so fast?

      More Marathon News

      The former New Mexico Lobo has had an incredible year as she broke 15:00 for the 1st time (14:55), 30:00 for the 1st time (30:50) and 67 in the half (66:58). She wants to make up for her biggest blemish of the year - a DNF in Chicago.

      Week That Was

      In our weekly recap, we note that Katelyn Tuohy still hasn't made at a US team as a pro. How rare is that for an NCAA XC champ? We also uncover the #1 thing that nearly all of the fastest marathoners in Europe share and wonder if altitude or the Mormon faith is the key to winning the boys' individual NXN title. And much more.

      Upcoming Indoor / Road Action
      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.

      Tebogo Updates
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      Assorted Distance News
      Triathlon Running News
      Catching Up On Some Recent Results
      Doping News
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      Valencia Marathon

      Jepkosgei beat world and 2020 Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir who ran 2:14:43 (#6 all-time). On the men's side, Korir won handily, coming in 1:39 ahead of second place.

      USATF XC

      Parker Wolfe ran down Rocky Hansen to win USATF Cross Country, while pre race favorites Nico Young and Graham Blanks rounded out the strong Team USA for Worlds.

      Kelati dropped Katie Izzo to win USA XC, with Kurgat, Schweizer, Venters and Hartman rounding out Team USA. Recap, results and link to race replay.

      More Weekend Distance Results
      BU

      Hoey's 1:12.84 crushed Donavan Brazier's previous 1:13.77 indoor WR and almost bettered the outdoor record, too. Hedengren ran 14:44.79 to take 7+ seconds off the NCAA women's 5,000 record.

      NXN

      Spencer ran 15:01.1 to come in 2.2 seconds ahead of Yohanes Van Meerten. Niwot dominated the team race with a meet record of 61 points. Dathan Ritzenhein's son Jude was their 4th man in 40th place (15th in the team scoring).

      Both were ranked #1 coming into the meet, but only just barely. That ended up being accurate as they only won by the narrowest of margins. Dudek, younger sister of 2019 Foot Locker champ Zofia Dudek, came in 1.7 seconds ahead of Blair Bartlett while Wayzata beat Niwot by 5 points.

      Is the US winning too many relay golds? Is it fair to make a rule change aimed directly at them?

      World Athletics has reversed course from seven years ago and is capping relay substitutions at Worlds and the Olympics at two per team. This is a direct shot at Team USA which is basically the only country that regularly uses more than two subs in the relays.

      USATF Awards
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      Triple world gold medalist Jefferson-Wooden beat out Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for the award, despite SML winning World Athlete of the Year. Cooper Lutkenhaus was named youth athlete of the year and Dennis Mitchell coach of the year.

      Valencia Marathon is Sunday
      Pre-NXN News
      LRC Prediction Contest
      LRC Prediction Contest
      Valencia Marathon is Sunday
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      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.

        Marathon Analysis

        Did you know everyone who has won a women's major since the start of 2022 has a pb under 2:18? Have we already found the heir to Eliud Kipchoge?

        O'Keeffe Had A Great NYC

        O'Keeffe ran with the leaders through 19 miles and finished 4th in 2:22:49, the fastest time by an American woman in NYC by almost two minutes.

        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.

        Doping Bust?
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        In the latest update, Iowa State has confirmed that none of the suspended runners were in their top 7 but cited FERPA regulations and won't name the suspended runners. It appears that in a separate incident, their #3 runner was arrested last week for leaving the scene of a traffic accident.

        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."

        Chicago Marathon
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        Kiplimo and defending champ John Korir hit full send on this one and went for it. They ran the fist 5k in 13:58 (1:57:52 pace). They hit halfway on world record pace (60:16) and the next few miles were even faster than that pace. By 30k (1:25:31 - 2:00:16 pace), Kiplimo was all alone. Still on WR pace at mile 22, he slowed a lot late however and had to settle for the #2 time in Chicago history. Tokyo 3rd placer Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia (2024 Frankfurt champ) had a big day as she lowered her pb from 2:17:00 to 2:14:56.  It was a tough day for the American women. Natosha Rogers was 6th in 2:23:28. *Full race broadcast

        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
        2025 Worlds
        2025 Worlds

        Hocker is the second American distance man to win multiple global golds, the third to win a global 5,000 title, and just the fifth from any country to win global titles in the 1500 and 5,000 after Paavo Nurmi, Hicham El Guerrouj, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Bernard Lagat.


        Cole Hocker won 5000m gold in Tokyo ahead of Isaac Kimeli and Jimmy Gressier. Nico Young and Grant Fisher ended up 6th and 8th. Jakob Ingebrigtsen was 10th. The Kenyan women’s unreal meet continued and Cole Hocker was GOLDEN yet again. We broke it down for you live from right after it ended.

        • AW: Lilian Odira's surge takes her to shock world 800m gold Odira came out of nowhere to give Kenya a sweep of the women's distance medals, passing favorite Keely Hodgkinson in the final meters to win in 1:54.62. Hodgkinson's teammate Georgia Hunter Bell also passed her to take silver in a photo finish, 1:54.90 to Hodgkinson's 1:54.91.
        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
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        Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
        Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
        LetsRun Classics
        LetsRun Classics
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