- LRC Official 2025 NCAA XC Regional live discussion thread + Live NCAA big dance announcement show at 2 pm ET Talk about the action as it takes place. Then when the last region ends, we'll tell you who is going to the big dance with a special live edition of the LRC Track Talk podcast.
- Men's storylines to watch at regionals
- Women's storylines to watch at regionals
It's NCAA XC Regional Weekend
The Latest From LRC
There have been a lot of wild doping cases over the years but this one is especially interesting and potentially important: one of the top sprint coaches in the world secretly turned in one of his top athletes for doping. We beak it down for you.
*Marvin Bracy-Williams (100m sprinter) is currently silently suspended.
Disturbing Allegations
- USATF says timing CEO, who has admitted to child rape, passed the background check check it uses A spokesperson for USATF tells FOS the governing body is “deeply troubled by NCSI’s failure to discover the reprehensible allegations.” A spokesperson for NCSI says: “We cannot comment on an individual’s background check, but this was not a failure of the system.” *Discuss
- Jonanna Harper says Nike pulled out of youth trans athlete study after 'haters got wind of it' According to Harper and reporting by Outkick, Nike was considering funding a trans study but got nervous after the Bud Light fiasco and when people started asking about it.
*MB: Joanna Harper says Nike was going to pay for a study on youth transgender athletes but got nervous and pulled the plug
On The Boards
On The Boards
You can see all three of the finalists above.
Links that a human approved
- Anne Flower is USATF's Athelte of the Week after breaking 50 mile WR Flower, 35, won the USATF 50 Mile Championship at the Tunnel Hill 100 in Vienna, Ill., with a 5:18:57 (6:22.7 mile pace) that chopped almost 13 seconds off the ratified world record of 5:31:56 that was set in 2024 by Courtney Olsen.
- A look at all 7 of Jakob Ingebrigtsen's European xc wins Did you know he collapsed after win #1 at age 16 and spent almost an hour in the medical tent? Now rival Josh Kerr was way back in 14th.
- Under-20 5,000m champion Andrew Alamisi thinks he can win U20 gold in Tallahassee The 13:03 guy was 2nd in an xc meet in Spain over the weekend.
- Amon Kemboi is thriving at Puma Elite and looking forward to 2026 At Arkansas, he was a 13:26 guy, now he's run 12;58 and just won the 5k in NYC.
- It's official. Elise Cranny has joined the M11 track club They released a funny video where she popped out of a box. *Watch
- World Athletics thinks it's World Athletics Ultimate Championship and its $10 million prize purse will be a hit - Get your tickets now Budapest is beautiful. The 1st event is September 11-13, 2026. *Get your tix here.
- Q&A with American mile record holder Sinclaire Johnson on what it's like to be a pro runner
- MB: Mother / daughter set WR at Great North run for fastest mother/daughter half-marathon combined time 51-year old Sarah Flaherty and her teenage daughter Rebecca completed the 13.1-mile race with a combined time of 2 hours, 44 minutes, and 19 seconds, beating the previous record of 2:52:53. Sarah finished in 1:25:31, while Rebecca ran 1:18:48.
Mark your calendars
We're stunned that the 2028 Olympic track schedule makes the 400/400h basically impossible for SML. Bobby Kersee is irate, but World Athletics has been willing to amend the schedule in the past for stars like Michael Johnson and Allyson Felix. Will they do it again? Plus what doubles are doable? Which are difficult? And are there morning finals? Are the repechage rounds back? *Full schedule
*MB: Bobby Kersee is irate about the 2028 Olympic track schedule. Will it/Should it be changed for SML?
*MB: 1500, 5000m, 10000m triple possible for the Men in LA 2028
*Bobby Kersee can't believe 400/400h double isn't an option
*Women's 100m final is focus of day 1 of Olympics
*All 3 rounds of women's 100m to take place on day to kickstart 1st Olympics with more women than men
We should have had this up on Veterans Day
Melvin Pender had never run a race until he was in the military. He was sent back from the Vietnam War to try out for the Olympics and won 4 x 100 gold The 5-minute video above is narrated by Joe Buck.
Another inspirational video
New Terry Fox documentary that will be released in 2026 is unveiled with live performance by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Run Terry Run is built from 96 reels of previously unseen footage and lost audio recordings. Watching the new documentary was John Simpson, who made the original documentary on Fox in 1980 and turns 98 this week. Fox had terminal cancer and ran across Canada with one leg, starting with zero fanfare and ending as a national hero. “Terry Fox is the best Canadian ever,” said a former NHL star.
Olympic News
- Traditional snow and ice sports aren't happy about Seb Coe's proposal to put XC in the Winter Olympics A statement from the Winter Olympic Federation said, "The future of the Olympic Winter Games is not better served by piecemeal proposals, such as the inclusion of Summer IF’s non-Olympic disciplines into the Olympic Winter Games" adding that it would "dilute the brand, heritage, and identity" of the Winter Games.
- Better late than never: IOC edging closer to banning men from women's sports Sources say the ban will likely be announced early next year.
- USAToday: The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are 100 days away, here’s what you need to know
- Munich residents vote 66.4% in favor of bidding for the Summer Olympics (either 2036, 2040 or 2044)
Other International News
- European Athletics: 10 things you might not know about Keely Hodgkinson She has over 15 piercings and is 95% deaf in one ear.
- Italy's world marathon bronze medalist Iliass Aouani announced for the historic Cinque Mulini XC race on November 23
- Mondo Duplantis: “I guess I haven't broken the world record at the European Championships?” He's broken the WR 14 times, but never at Euro Champs, so that's his goal for Birmingham 2026.
- World Athletics announces finalists for 2025 women's rising star award The finalists are Ethiopian distance runner Birke Haylom (world U20 3000m record setter), Chinese javelin thrower Yan Ziyi and Chinese hammer thrower Zhang Jiale.
- LSU signs Australia's world U20 HJ silver medalist Zoe Peacock
- Vote for Athletics Weekly's athletes of the year
Big Doping News
He initially tested positive for testosterone after targeted testing triggered by a whistleblower. He was also caught tampering with the initial investigation, but received a significantly reduced ban (21 months) by admitting guilt and "providing important substantial assistance" to USADA's investigation. However, while the investigation was ongoing, he then had three whereabouts failures which increased his ban to 45 months. On this case, USADA head Travis Tygart said, "This investigation has already resulted in several impactful outcomes which will be announced at a later date."
More Doping Stuff
- The Times: "Doping scandals cast shadow of shame over US sprinting before LA Games" At the home World Championships at Eugene 2022, the US took all six of the individual sprint medals in the men's 100m and 200m, but now three of the six athletes have received doping bans (Marvin Bracy-Williams, Fred Kerley, Erriyon Knighton). Bracy-Williams is just the latest athlete coached by the "2023 USATF coach of the year" Dennis Mitchell to be connected to doping and Mitchell has now been "linked to 15 different anti-doping violations, whether by association to an athlete, a coach, or via his own rule-breaking."
*MB: US Doping problem in sprints
- MB: Banned Kenyan athletes struggling with depression, experts call for help 7 out of 10 athletes interviewed reported having suicidal thoughts during their doping bans. While that is very sad, an encouraging anecdote from the article is that apparently dopers are often mocked by other athletes with nicknames associated with their doping ban like "Mr. EPO."
- CAS dismisses Mohamed Katir's appeal, upholds his 4-year ban The CAS panel stated that they were "fully convinced" that the 2023 world 5000m silver medalist Katir had "deliberately altered several travel documents and submitted them to the AIU" to try and get out of his whereabouts failures ban.
- One of the recently banned Russian athletes was 2014 Russian 800m champ Svetlana Rogozina The long since retired athlete finally received her official ban, 11 years after her original covered-up positive test. She got a 2-year ban (rather than 4-years) for admitting to the violation.
Japanese Ekiden Updates
- Saturday's Tango University Ekiden to be stopped if bears appear on course
*MB: Wild bears are wreaking havoc on the Japanese HS xc season. Top team shuts down season - Big changes coming to Japan's New Year Ekiden They are adding a seeded bracket which means top-placing teams won't have to run the regional qualifying races for the next year's New Year Ekiden.
- Weekend recap: Regional corporate ekidens wrap up New Year Ekiden qualification
Catching Up On Recent Road News
- MB: Kylie Mantz (Conner Mantz's wife) wins Two Cities Marathon in 2:43:49 Based on the photos it looks like Conner paced her.
- Joseph Whelan (2:12:28) and Amanda Mosborg (2:31:57) win Indianapolis Marathon
- 42-year-old 2012 Japan Olympian Kentaro Nakamoto wins Fukuoka Marathon in 2:23:21
- Shoki Yamaguchi outkicks sub-60 man Paul Kuira to win Setagaya 246 Half in Tokyo Both were timed at 61:46.
- RIP: Two runners die after suffering “separate, unrelated medical emergencies" during Indianapolis marathon No information was shared on the runners' ages or cause of death.
*MB: 2 runners die in Indy monumental marathon
High School XC News
- Longtime Saratoga coach Art Kranick dies at age 74 Kranick and his wife Linda Kranick coached Saratoga for almost 40 years, creating one of the top high school girl's XC programs in history with more than 20 New York state titles and 3 NXN championships.
*MB: RIP Art Kranick - Saratoga HS (NY) /Kinetic Club coach
- Video: Leader collapses 50 meters from the line at Virginia state meet; gets up to just barely win falling across the line Ariana Logsdon had just enough strength to get up and collapse at the finish line, 1.9 seconds ahead of second place. *MileSplit article on the race
- Wayzata XC Club girls, SFL Patriots boys win NXR Heartland titles in snowy conditions
Trail / XC News
- MB: Donald Trump pardons runner who trespassed on Grand Teton trail closed for "regrowth" Mountain runner Michelino Sunseri faced possible jail time for using a closed trail when he set a speed record for ascending and descending the Grand Teton mountain. Wyoming US House Rep. Harriet Hageman called the case government overreach.
- Bahrain’s Olympic 3000m steeple champ Winfred Yavi and Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera win Seville XC race Yavi won the women's race by 38 seconds, but the men's race was very close. Kwizera just beat out world U20 5000m champ Andrew Alamisi as they both finished with the same time and Dennis Kipkoech was just one second back.
- Check out the medal design for the 2026 World XC Championships in Tallahassee Grant Fisher and Cole Hocker, you guys are missing out.
- GB's Innes FitzGerald writes post-race report after winning Cardiff XC under-20 race She said she took three weeks off after Worlds and this was her first race back. She'll race again later this month at GB's Euro XC trails and then go for her third successive Euro XC U20 gold in Portugal.
Boston Half-Marathon
It was a repeat win for Belayneh who beat Melknat Wudu by 2 seconds. Lasoi won the men's race by 24 seconds. Chandler Gibbens (61:57, 5th place) and Megan Hasz-Sailor (69:39, 6th place) were the top Americans. Keira D'Amato finished back in 10th (1:11:18).
XC News
- Do It, You Won't: Seb Coe has discussed the possibility of adding XC to the 2030 Winter Olympics with IOC president Kristy Coventry One hurdle is it would require amending the Olympic charter which currently says Winter Olympic sports must be performed on snow or ice.
- World 5000m finalist Mathew Kipsang and African U18 3000m champ Cynthia Chepkirui make it a Kenyan double win at Cardiff Cross Challenge in the UK GB's defending winner Megan Keith was 4th in the women's race after having to stop mid-race to remove a twig from her spike. Innes FitzGerald dominated the women's U20 race by 50 seconds. *WA recap
- Norway's World U20 3000m champ Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen wins Nordic XC Championships Sweden's Evelina Henriksson won the women's race and Norway took both team titles.
- DyeStat NJCAA Recap: Iowa Central men, Odessa women win NJCAA Division 1 titles in a winter wonderland
- NCAA DII Regional XC Championships recap
Ultra News
- Hollywood is making a horror film about the Badwater 135 ultramarathon It will star actress Shailene Woodley, known for the Divergent series.
- Two world records go down at Tunnel Hill trail races Caitriona Jennings broke the 100 mile record with 12:37:04 (breaking Camille Herron's 12:42:40 mark) and Anne Flower broke the 50 mile record with 5:18:57 (previous record was 5:31:56 by Courtney Olsen).
*MB: New 100-mile WR: Was this Camille Herron's last record? - Tara Dower won the Javelina Jundred ultramarathon in a course record last weekend
Doping News
- AP: 12 Russian runners sanctioned in final cases of doping saga The AIU said this was the "last batch" of doping cases using the recovered data from the Moscow anti-doping lab. The athletes were mostly retired and not well-known athletes with the biggest name being the 2013 European indoor 800m silver medalist Elena Kotulskaya. She was banned for 4 years for the cover-up of three positive tests. Some other athletes had already received bans and for one runner it was her third doping ban.
*2nd article with some more details on the 12 athletes - USADA head Travis Tygart responds to WADA president's Enhanced Games suggestions WADA president Witold Banka said USADA should step in to stop the Enhanced Games, but Tygart accused Banka of using the Enhanced Games as a "smokescreen" to "divert attention" away from his own failures.
- Video interview with Travis Tygart explaining why there is nothing USADA can do legally to stop the Enhanced Game
- Witold Bańka and Travis Tygart's war of words continues Banka responded to Tygart, saying, "In fact, it is Mr. Tygart who wants to divert attention. ... Ignoring the many failures of the anti-doping program in the United States, particularly in the college sports system, which he himself has described as a 'total joke…'
European News
- The Netherlands' four time global medalist Anouk Vetter announces her retirement The 32-year-old won three world medals (a silver and two bronze) and an Olympic silver at the Tokyo Games.
- UK Athletics announce 62 athletes for its National Lottery Funded World Class Program
- World 100H champ Ditaji Kambundji and DL long jump champion Simon Ehammer named Swiss athletes of the year
- World high jump bronze medalist Jan Stefela named Czech Athlete of the year
- World 400H bronze medallist Emma Zapletalová named Slovak athlete of the year
Worth A Watch
- World Athletics article and video feature on the camaraderie between training partners Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell Interestingly, their coach, Trevor Painter, admitted ahead of Worlds that he wanted Hunter Bell to do the 800m/1500m double, but he was "outvoted" by his wife, Jenny Meadows, Hunter Bell and her husband who wanted her to focus on the 800m. Seeing as how she won the silver over Hodgkinson, sounds like it was the right call.
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?
Say it ain't so
The US's hopes of assembling a Dream Team to challenge for gold on home soil in Tallahassee will take a hit without the Olympic medalists Fisher and Hocker. Fisher's coach Mike Scannell did say there is a 20% chance Fisher runs the Trials race but even if he made the team he wouldn't run World xc. "I’ll give [the US trials] about a 20% chance," Scannell said. "But World Cross is just not on the radar right now at all."
This week's pod
The LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast dives into Obiri’s record, Kipruto’s photo finish, Joel Reichow’s dream run, the American women's record times, and Grant Fisher’s big call on World Cross.
Links That Passed Our Human Vetting Process
- It's end of year award season and Sonia O’Sullivan has some advice for Irish sensation Kate O’Connor on whether she should attend the awards ceremonies or blow them off O'Connor is a celebrity now in Ireland after winning heptathlon silver at Worlds.
- World Cross Country tour gold heads to Cardiff on Saturday and Seville on Sunday
- World Athletics is hiring an intern
- Are you just tired, or are you overtraining? If you track your heart-rate and HRV, you may be able to figure out the difference. "The combination of nighttime heart rate, HR-effort index and readiness-to-train scores correctly identified who was struggling with more than 90 per cent accuracy."
The Latest News of Interest
- Chris Bucknam is retiring as Arkansas coach after xc, long-time assistant Doug Case to take over starting January 1 Bucknam won 2 NCAA titles and 34 conference crowns during his 16 years at Arkansas.
*MB: Chris Bucknam retires at Arkansas, '25 xc season is his last. Doug Case to take over January 1. - MB: Wild bears are wreaking havoc on the Japanese HS xc season. Top team shuts down season" This is a wild story. Why don't the authorities just remove the bears?
- MB: Eliud Kipchoge reveals what he regrets about his career. "I always feel I missed the world record for 5000 metres." “I always feel I missed the world record for 5000 metres. I wish I could have done that and maybe run a 10-kilometre world record on the road," Kipchoge, a four-time Olympic medallist, stated. “In the marathon, I did not miss anything."
- Athletics South Africa (ASA) announced their intention to suspend president James Moloi, based on the findings of a probe into alleged credit card abuses. In the US, the CEO is paid so much he doesn't need to abuse the credit card.
- Australia's Len Johnson reflects back on Worlds and gives his highlight - The Whole Darned Thing! What was my highlight of the Tokyo25 world championships? The whole darned championships, that’s what!
- Why retirement remains off the table for Kipchoge “The only way to serve humanity in this world is to run across all seven continents, preaching the gospel of running,” Kipchoge said.
- Adriaan Wildschutt set yet another SA record at Valencia half last weekend (59:13) The versatile 27-year-old now has all of the SA records from 3k to 13.1 - 3000m (7:32.99), 5000m (12:55.02) and 10000m (26:50.64).
- Comrades Marathon sold out almost instantly Entries for the 2026 Comrades Marathon – the 99th edition of the race and 50th Up Run from Durban to Pietermartizburg – were snapped up in record time, sold out in less than10 hours on Monday.
- 4:39 miler Ellery Lincoln of Lincoln High in Oregon has committed to Oregon
- #3-ranked Komazawa University came on strong over the second half of the National University Ekiden to take a record 17th national title, Aoi Ito was key to the win as he "biggest run at this year's Nationals, running 35:01 for the 12.4 km 5th leg, 17 seconds under its old CR and an incredible 1:25 faster than the next-best runner on the stage, Arata Iguni from #1-ranked and defending national champ Koku Gakuin University."
The Villains Of The Sport
- Victor Conte, architect of the BALCO scandal, dies at age-75 Conte infamously helped dope sprinters Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Dwain Chambers and served 4 months in jail for dealing steroids. *The Guardian article
*MB: Victor Conte Dead at Age 75 - Athletics Illustrated releases three year old embargoed video interview with Papa Massata Diack, the son of disgraced former IAAF president Lamine Diack The Diacks were charged with corruption, bribery, money laundering and doping cover-ups during their time with the IAAF (now World Athletics). Lamine Diack was eventually jailed (under house arrest) in France and Papa Massata Diack escaped prison by remaining in Senegal. Pappa Massata still claims his innocence and in this interview, Athletics Illustrated's Christopher Kelsall asks for his side of the story.
The World's Top Two 400m Hurdlers
- MB: Femke Bol spotted training for 800 while wearing a bizarre mask (pics)
- Finally: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone says she is "definitely" considering doubling at LA 2028 Although not necessarily the 400/400H double since she "would love to run some more 200s in the future."
World Athletics Updates
- Finalists announced for World Athletics 2025 Athlete of the Year awards Track finalists are Noah Lyles and Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone; field finalists: Mondo Duplantis, Mattia Furlani, Tara Davis-Woodhall and Nicola Olyslagers; Sabastian Sawe, Alphonce Simbu, Peres Jepchirchir and Maria Perez.
*MB: Lol. World Athletics track athlete of the year finalist are SML and Femke Bol. What a joke. Where is Beatrice Chebet or MJW? - World Athletics release qualification process for the 2026 Ultimate Championships There is also a "road to" tracking tool which shows athletes that are qualified (Olympic champions, world champions, 2026 DL final winners and athletes at the top of the world rankings).
- World Athletics Indoor Tour expands to record size for 2026 77 meets across the world starting in December and ending in March.
British News
- GB's 2023 European indoor LJ champ Jazmin Sawyers is going to try the pentathlon during the 2026 indoor season It won't be new ground for her as she started out as a multi-eventer and finished 9th in the heptathlon at the 2011 World Under-18 Championships.
- Is Abigail Pawlett the next star British heptathlete The 22-year-old wants to follow in the footsteps of Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnson-Thompson by winning an Olympic medal. Her first worlds didn't go well as she fell in the hurdles and had to withdraw on day 2 with a concussion.
- 2020 Olympic PV bronze medalist Holy Bradshaw talks about being the target of online abuse
- UK Indoor Champs return to Birmingham for 2026 The meet is on February 14-15 and will serve as the trials for the World Indoor Champs in Poland.
NCAA XC Rankings
- OSU men move to #1 in NCAA XC coaches' poll after dominating Big 12 Iowa State dropped to #2 (finished 2nd to OSU at Big 12) while New Mexico and Virginia stayed 3-4. *Regional Rankings – Week 5
- No changes to top-7 women's teams in post-conference champs NCAA XC coaches' poll BYU, NC State, Florida and Oregon are still ranked 1-4. *Regional Rankings - Week 5
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.
More From The NYC Marathon
- A look at the new Nike long sleeve top that Eliud Kipchoge wore for NYC It's supposed to have cooling technology that helps evaporate sweat off the athlete's body.
- New York City Marathon breaks world record for most finishers with 59,226 It broke the record from last year's London Marathon by almost three thousand people.
- Random stats from the NYC Marathon Runners from 132 countries competed, the oldest finisher was 91 and the average finishing time was 4:32:25.
High School XC
- Video: Crazy photo finish in boys race at Indiana state meet Calvin Seitz beat Noah Bontrager 15:01.22 to 15:01.24.
*DyeStat Indiana state meet recap: Calvin Seitz beats Noah Bontrager with late lean - MB: Ritz, Culpepper, Goucher - Sons of US Olympians all compete at 2025 Colorado HS state xc meet Jude Ritz finished 6th as freshman, Rocco Culpepper 37th as a senior, and Colton Goucher 44th as freshman.
- Kenadie Baker wins North Carolina state meet three weeks after getting hit by a car She was thrown up on the hood of the car and then the car actually stopped on top of her foot and then had to back up off it. Amazingly her foot wasn't broken, but she was still in pain for the state meet.
RIP
- Legendary former Baylor track coach Clyde Hart passes away at age-91 Under Hart, Baylor was known as “Quarter Miler U." Hart coached 9 Olympians including Olympic champions Michael Johnson and Jeremy Wariner. *DyeStat article *USATF
*MB: RIP: Former Baylor coach and 400m master Clyde Hart passed away today - Oldest former Olympic champion passes away at age-101 Track cyclist Charles Coste won gold for France at the 1948 London Olympics.
Hellen Obiri pulled away from Sharon Lokedi in the final mile to win the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon in 2:19:51, breaking Margaret Okayo’s 22-year-old course record. Fiona O’Keeffe impressed in her NY debut, while Olympic champion Sifan Hassan's presence impacted the race.
For the first time in 55 years, the New York City Marathon ended in a photo finish. Kenya’s Benson Kipruto edged Alexander Mutiso by just 0.16 seconds in 2:08:09, while American Joel Reichow was the top U.S. finisher in sixth place with a personal best of 2:09:56. *Video of men's finish
Eliud Kipchoge says it’s not retirement, it’s a transition. Two hours after finishing 17th at the 2025 New York City Marathon, the greatest marathoner of all time announced the “Eliud Kipchoge World Tour,” a plan to run seven marathons on seven continents while promoting the joy of running and his foundation’s mission.
European Women's Distance News
- Good Read: Femke Bol interview opening up about her move to the 800m Bol explains that she wanted to try the 800m while she was young and still at her best (she is 25) and admits she's never run further than 600m all out.
- Keely Hodgkinson says she didn't think anxiety was real until she struggled with it herself the past few years "When I was younger, I never used to think anxiety was a thing. I was like, 'Anxiety, what's that?' I don't understand when people are saying they've got anxiety. And then I experienced it, and I was like, 'Oh, that's actually horrible.'"
- European Athletics looks back at the ten best races of Nadia Battocletti's career She has a lot of European golds to go along with her Olympic silver and world silver/bronze
Valby Comeback
After winning five NCAA titles and making the Olympic team in 2024, Valby had raced only once in the first 10 months of 2025 due to a foot injury. In her return to racing on Saturday, she opened up to LRC about her new coach and her hopes of running World XC in Florida in 2026.
Saturday Road Action
Rodenfels outkicked a strong women's field that included Weini Kelati (15:34), Elle St. Pierre (15:35), and Parker Valby (15:37), though US 5k/10k record holder Alicia Monson (16:22) struggled.
Doping Update
The fastest HS sprinter (9.89) in history's excuse grabbed our attention until another athlete from his school tested positive as well. CAS didn't find his excuse compelling and he got a full ban.
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.
- MB: Breaking: Josh Hoey has parted with Justin Rinaldi, the man who took him from 1:47 also-ran to 1:42 World Champ!!
- LRC How Josh Hoey Went from Also-Ran to World Indoor Champion, Part I: A Coaching Odyssey
- LRC How Josh Hoey Went from Also-Ran to World Indoor Champion, Part I: Going All-In With Justin Rinaldi & The Fast 8 Track Club
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.
More Distance News
- MB: Morgan McDonald leaving OAC McDonald has been with the team under Dathan Ritzenhein for the last four years.
- In Case You Missed It: A 19-year-old won the Irish women's national marathon title last weekend Ava Crean ran a 2:34:12 PB to win the Irish title and finish 6th in the Dublin Marathon. It was her third marathon after she debuted at 2:49:26 six months ago (2nd place in Manchester) and ran 2:43:39 to win the Limerick Marathon in May.
- New study says climate change is making it harder to set marathon records because of warmer temperatures Interestingly, it claims the optimal running temperature is very different for men and women (39F/4C for men, 50F/10C for women).
- Four factors that make women closer to men at ultra marathon distances As distances get longer, the top women get closer to the top men. A couple reasons for this are that women have a greater distribution of slow-twitch muscle fibers and women burn more fat relative to their mass when exercising.
- Morinomiyako Ekiden recap: Josai University runs down Daito Bunka University in final kilometer to win first title since 2000
Doping Bust?
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."
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
- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden goes on CNN after triple gold and says she's not satisified “There are so many things out there that I’ve accomplished this year. But there’s so many more things that I do want to accomplish.”
- Former Yale swimmer, who had her leg bitten off by a shark, is running NYC marathon She quickly joined the Paralympic ranks and won Paralympic silver.
- Former Queen's Park Rangers star Don Shanks, 73, will run the New York marathon on November 2 to raise money for Alzheimers
- NYC is experiencing a 2nd running boom & some are unhappy about it In 2019, it took an average of 121 days for an N.Y.R.R. race to sell out. This year, races have sold out in an average of four days.
- NYRR claims running boom $934 million for the local economy in the fiscal year through March That’s up 58% from the comparable period five years earlier and they say last year’s marathon alone generated $692 million.
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.
- Bring out the brooms: Kenya sweeps the women’s distances. Odira STUNS the world 1:54.62 as Keely gets the bronze
- COLE HOCKER 5000M CHAMPION Hocker has a SENSATIONAL last lap. He was way back and ran a 52 to win in 12:58.
- Was Cole Hocker’s 52.62 last lap tonight the fastest ever in a sub-13:00 5000?
- Rai Benjamin said he had a late night out before the 4x400: "I was pretty much done, you know, so I had a pretty late night if you can imagine."
- Grant Fisher is passed his prime
- Cole Hocker will win 2025 Tokyo 5000m
- Sage Hurta Klecker 1:55.89
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.
Final Day Non-Distance Medals
- AP relay recap: Sha'Carri Richardson, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Noah Lyles anchor wins on big closing day for Americans The US swept the men's and women's 4x100 relays, the women just holding off Jamaica by .04 and the US 4x400 women dominated with a 3:16.61 championship record to win by 2.64 seconds. But the US 4x400 men ended up with silver after an epic three-way finish with Botswana and South Africa where world 400m champ Collen Kebinatshipi passed Rai Benjamin at the line to get them the gold by .07.
- Leo Neugebauer makes late charge to win decathlon world title US's Kyle Garland lead most of the way, but Neugebauer threw a five meter javelin PB to take the lead and won with 8804 points. Garland ended up with bronze (8703 points).
- Australia's Nicola Olyslagers wins her first global outdoor title with 2.00m HJ victory She won on countback over Poland's Maria Zodzik with Ukraine's Olympic champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Serbia's Angelina Topic sharing the bronze at 1.97m.
- Sweden’s Daniel Stahl defends his title to become a three-time discus world champ He threw 70.47m to win handily over WR holder Mykolas Alekna (67.84m).
RIP To A Coaching Legend
Daniels had a prolific career as an athlete, coach and exercise scientist. He won two Olympic medals in the modern pentathlon, did exercise testing for various groups including Nike's Athletics West elite team in Eugene and held numerous coaching positions which included advising on the training of Jim Ryun while working with the 1968 US Olympic team and winning seven DIII women's national XC titles while at Cortland. And of course, he indirectly contributed to the coaching of thousands of high school and college athletes through his training book, Daniels’ Running Formula.
The Ultimate LetsRun Story In Our 25 Year History & One Of Our Favorite Jonathan Gault Features - Read It Now
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."
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
- Part II: SC How Josh Hoey Went from Also-Ran to World Indoor Champion, Part II: Going All-In With Justin Rinaldi & The Fast 8 Track Club 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."
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."
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
excerpt from a Front Office Sports exclusive entitled, "Track CEO Charged With Child Rape Passed USATF-Ordered Background Check."
MB: SafeSport Failure - Alleged Rapist Allowed to Time Largest National HS Meets