Hodgkinson crushed the previous record of 1:55.82, which was set on the day she was born, and was only .26 away from her outdoor pb. In other action, Isaac Nader dominated the 1500, Jessica Hull came up short in her WR attempt and Eliott Crestan marked himself as the favorite for World Indoors. *Full Results
*Hodgkinson smashes world short track 800m record in Liévin with 1:54.87 | REPORT | World Athletics
WR Watch In Lievin On Thursday
LetsRun Live Video Reaction
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This week's pod & debate
After a huge indoor weekend, Rojo has two huge hot takes on the podcast: Nico Young has passed Grant Fisher — and Josh Hoey might never beat Cooper Lutkenhaus.
*MB: Has Nico Young surpassed Grant Fisher?
More Distance News
- D3 NCAA xc champ starts petition demanding full and public investigation into Seth Clevenger's eligibility Over 250 DIII athletes have signed the petition written by Emmanuel Leblond of Johns Hopkins. He believes there is more than enough information out there to warrant at a minimum a provisional suspension of Seth Clevenger, who transferred to Rowan University from Iowa State after many members of the Iowa State team were suspended in the fall. A recent video appears to show an emailed receipt for an EPO purchase for Mr. Clevenger. Addiitonal, Leblond claims Clevenger admitted to peptide usage as well.
- Does ultrarunning wear out your red blood cells? The day after you finish an ultra, you might feel like you’ve aged years overnight. According to new research from the University of Colorado Anschutz, that sensation might have a small biological basis.
- Interesting: Here are the fastest people in history who didn't make TFN's top 10 end of year list From Cooper Lutkenhaus at 1:42.27 to Emily Mackay at 3:55.90 to Andreas Almgren's 12:44.27.
- Former Boston Marathon champion Ibrahim Hussein hints Kenya could soon host Diamond League leg meet “I have also been informed that there is a possibility of going for a Diamond League event, one country might pull out, and we will pursue the chance,” he said.
On The Boards
On The Boards
Love helps
After a year away from the sport, British hj champ Joel Clarke-Khan is back competing and he just won the UK title He credits his fiancé, former world indoor pole vault champ Molly Caudery, with keeping him in the sport after he didn't make the Paris Olympics.
More links of Note
- Was last weekend's Black Canyon Ultra the equivalent of London for ultras? Citius says it was:'This year’s Black Canyon, featuring the Appalachian Trial FKT holder, the Western States champ, the 50 mile WR holder, and the Speedgoat course record holder all going head-to-head with a 2:23 marathoner really is the equivalent, in terms of field quality, of a London elite field."
- 1968 Canadian Olympian, former 10,000 NR holder Dave Ellis has died at 88 What a legendary figure in the Canadian running world. He was also a Pan Am Games silver medallist and a training partner of Jerome Drayton, who held Canada's marathon national record for 43 years. He also founded The Runners Shop which has been going for 50+ years.
- Faith Kipyegon's 29:47 won't count as she wore a prototype - the Nike Alphafly 4.
- 80-year-old Gary Patton smashed indoor mile world record last week At last week’s NYRR Night of the Races at The Armory in New York City, the Rock Rapids, Iowa, native stormed to a new M80-84 indoor mile world record, clocking 6:38.10. You slow down a lot between 71 and 80 as in 2017, he became the first athlete older than 70 to break 5:30 for the indoor mile, running 5:29.81 at 71.
- Grant Fisher surprises Jackson Spencer and hands him Gatorade XC AOY award
- Toni Reavis isn't happy there are Russians competing as neutral athletes in the Olympics "A complete, unequivocal ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, however harsh, could serve a greater purpose."
More 800 News
- Roisin Willis reflects on her first taste of life as a pro (yes, sadly she's skipping World Indoors) Dyestat's Mary Albl has written a nice profile but surprisingly it says nothing about her decision to skip the rest of indoors and USAs. From reading the article, it's pretty clear Willis isn't doing anything else indoors as the article quotes Willis saying, "yesterday, I was at the track and I'm not doing any track workouts right now."
- Is Penn State's Hayley Kitching feeling pressure as the NCAA 800m leader at 1:59.22? Find out in the latest Stride Report podcast. Kitching didn't even make the finals at NCAAs last year but has finished as high as 4th in the past. She's improved from 2:01.14 to 1:59.22 this year.
Big Sprint News
Thanks to the Rodchenkov Act, doping in track and field can result in some serious penalties as it's considered international sport. We love it. If only the big wigs treated doping HS, NFL and NCAA level similarly.
Back story: LRC Track and field rocked by a secret doping ban. Was the coach the snitch? - LetsRun.com
More sprint news: Zachary Jeggo is the first Canadian teenager to run sub 47s in the 400m indoors (46.72)
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.
Distance Analysis
- LRC Alisa Vainio’s 154-day marathon heater: 4 marathons, 3 national records, and controversy in Seville Heading into World's in September, Finland's Alisa Vainio had run 13 marathons and never broken 2:25. Now she's finished 5th at Worlds and broken 2:25 three times in the span of 134 days including a big win over the weekend in 2:20:39 in Seville that made her the first European winner of the race since 2017. She got the win even though she had to overcome a "horrible" start where competitors allegedly targeted her water bottles. We look at her incredible transformation.
*MB: Finland's Alisa Vainio's amazing last 5 months - 4 marathons - 5th at Worlds + 3 PBs & 2 wins - LRC The case for Keely Hodgkinson: Why the indoor world record is already hers The two women ahead of Hodgkinson on the all-time world indoor list both served multi-year suspensions for violating the anti-doping rules.
Assorted Distance News
- NXN/Brooks XC champ Jackson Spencer will open his indoor season this weekend in the Simplot Games 3200m He won last year in 8:56.
- 2024 NYC Marathon champ Sheila Chepkirui returns to defend her title at the Nagoya Women's Marathon in Japan on March 8 The 2:17:29 woman faces two other sub-2:20 women and a total of 10 with sub-2:22 PBs.
- Masato Arao becomes first man in 40 years to score back-to-back Ome 30k Road Race wins He won by over a minute in 1:30:54 (4:53 pace) while Shiori Zama won the women's race (1:44:57, 5:38 pace).
- Faith Kipyegon announced for Monaco 3000m on July 10 Last year she came within one second of the 3000m WR when she ran 8:07.04 at the Silesia DL.
- Josai University wins National University Mixed-Gender Ekiden
More Recent European Results
- World champ Isaac Nader wins 1500m/3000m double at Portugal Indoor Champs with 4:04.97/8:11.30 Gerson Balde jumped a new Portuguese indoor record of 8.32m to win the LJ (#3 in the world this year).
- Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui wins Erfurt Indoor meet 800m, but misses in national record attempt He won in 1:45.76, coming well short of the Spanish indoor record of 1:44.65.
- Netherlands' World and European shot put champion Jessica Schilder sets 20.69m world lead in Apeldoorn
- European throwing round-up: 2024 Euro champ Sara Fantini throws 72.38m to set hammer world lead at Italian Winter Throwing Championships
NCAA Indoor Rankings
- Arkansas men jump 10 spots to #1 ranking in NCAA Tennessee and Oregon stayed 2-3 while former #1 Kansas State dropped to #4.
- Illinois women stay #1 in updated NCAA rankings Georgia is #2, BYU moved up to #3 and South Carolina down to #4.
Sprint Stuff
- Noah Lyles runs 20.56 indoor 200m PB to win at the Tyson Invitational It was Lyles' first indoor 200m in 5 years and he celebrated by showing off his championship belt to the crowd. World 110H champ Cordell Tinch won the long jump with an 8.29m PB.
- Multi-time Olympic champ Elaine Thompson Herah runs her first race since 2024 with 7.24 for 60m in Jamaica She finished third in the race won by Levanya Williams (7.17).
- South Carolina's men's 4x400 runs #2 all-time (both NCAA and world) with 3:00.86 at the Tiger Paw Invite
- Italy's Alessia Succo improves her world U18 60H record to 8.05 at Italian U18 Champs
- Rhasidat Adeleke breaks her own Irish 300m record at Arkansas' Tyson Invite with 36.30 She finished second behind Jamaica's Stacey Ann Williams (35.92).
More Weekend Distance Results
- Penn State's Hayley Kitching leads four women sub-2 minutes at Husky Classic She won in 1:59.22 ahead of Washington State's Rosemary Longisa (1:59.71) and Stanford's Juliette Whittaker (1:59.76). Oklahoma’s Billah Jepkirui won a fast women's mile in 4:22.92 and Utah Valley’s Silas Kiplagat won the men's race in 3:58.29. Florida’s Kelvin Cheruiyot (13:15) and Eastern Kentucky’s Edna Chelulei (15:05) won the 5000m races and Iowa State's Betty Kipkore beat New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei in the 3000m (8:44.09 to 8:44.91).
- High schooler Blair Bartlett runs 9:44.34 for 2 miles (#4 on the HS all-time list) at the Armory Paige Sheppard won the 800m in 2:02.81 (#6 on the prep all-time list) and Caleb Winders won the boys' race in 1:48.82 (#9 all-time). There was also an age-13 WR from Gunner Hammet (1:56.23 for 9th place).
- Joey Whelan (2:13:18) and Kellyn Taylor (2:33:29) win Austin Marathon Whelan said he took advantage by putting in a surge when his Kenyan competitor Elisha Barno made a wrong turn around the halfway point.
International Distance News
- Femke Bol ends her season early due to a foot injury She was supposed to race over 600m this week, but has hurt a tendon in her foot. She was already dealing with the injury when she made her 1:59 800m debut.
*MB: Femke Bol ends indoor season early with injury. Is her 800m career already over?
- World XC champ Agnes Ngetich wants to break the half-marathon WR this year Ngetich has ran 63:04 and 63:08 which puts her #2 behind Letesenbet Gidey's 62:52 WR from 2021.
- MB: Stewart McSweyn now sponsored by On
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.
- MADNESS IN BOSTON – St. Pierre ties up (4:17.83) just misses AR. 3 women under the old collegiate record in the mile
- BU times are fake, let’s be honest
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
- Issy Boffey takes advantage of Keely Hodgkinson absence to retain UK 800m title She dominated in 1:59.64. Hannah Nuttall won the women's 3000m in 8:41. Josh Kerr was supposed to run the men's 3000m, but pulled out due to a back injury he felt during his warm-up (Tom Keen won in 7:51).
- Ben Pattison returns from 2025 injury to win UK 800m title in 1:46.74 Jack Higgins went from 4th to 1st on the last lap to win the men's 1500m in 3:38. Jemma Reekie took a very tactical women's race in 4:26.
- Renee Regis adds to her family legacy with 22.95 200m win at UK Champs Her father is 1989 world indoor 200m champion John Regis and her mother, Jennifer Stoute, won 4x400m bronze at the 1992 Olympics. As a surprise, her father presented his daughter with her gold medal.
- Jeremiah Azu seals UK Champs sprint double with 20.77 win in 200m
- Shot putter Scott Lincoln wins his 21st national title with 20.80 victory at UK Champs
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
- No finishers at the 2026 Barkley Marathons Cold and rainy weather saw no one finish the notoriously difficult 100+ mile ultra for the second consecutive year. One of this year's racers included 2011 world mountain running champ Max King. He was one of only four runners to successfully start the third of five laps. No one hit the time cutoff to start a fourth.
- World XC champ Agnes Ngetich and John Korir win Sirikwa Classic XC race in Eldoret, Kenya Ngetich dominated the race by over a minute in a field that include world XC silver medalist Joy Cheptoyek (4th place). Korir outkicked Amos Kiprotich by 2 seconds in a race that included 2023 world 10,000m silver medalist Daniel Ebenyo (5th place).
- MB: Molly Seidel finished 4th at Black Canyon 100k, gets ticket to Western States The winner was Jen Lichter in 7:47 as Seidel was 28 minutes back. Only the top 3 were guaranteed a Western States entry but one of the top 3 already had one.
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
- Weini Kelati breaks her own American record with 66:04 at the Barcelona Half as Hagos Gebrhiwet (58:05) and Loice Chemnung (64:01) get the wins Kelati broke her own record by five seconds while Chemnung moved to #6 on the world all-time list. US's Taylor Roe finished 4th in 66:52.
*MB: Weini Kelati goes home the happiest
UK Champs Day 1
- Keely Hodgkinson runs British indoor 800m record of 1:56.33 at UK Champs She broke her own record of 1:57.18 from 2023 and ran the fastest women's indoor time in 24 years. Dina Asher-Smith won the 60m in 7.05 over world 200m silver medalist Amy Hunt (7.15). Molly Caudery returned from injury to win the PV with 4.65m.
- Keely Hodgkinson won't race 800m final at UK Champs; focused on breaking the world indoor record next week in Lievin Her 1:56.33 is #3 on the world indoor all-time list and now she wants Jolanda Ceplak's 1:55.82 WR set in 2002, saying, "I feel like it is my record to break.
- 16-year-old Tito Odunaike wins British TJ title with 15.75m He became the youngest ever to win a British indoor title, the previous youngest being from 1979.
- Jeremiah Azu defends his UK Indoor 60m title in 6.56
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
- Recommended Read Get To Know Vera Sjöberg of BU/UNC/Sweden: She prides herself on ‘living slow' (but she runs extremely fast) The former BU / current UNC runner was the shock runner-up at NCAAs in the 5000 last summer and she followed that up with a top 10 NCAA xc finish. A great feature by Keenan Baker.
- MB: Hobbs Kessler fired his dad as one of his coaches, then he promptly set a world record Track & Field News' Jeff Hollobaugh has the details.
- Day after anchoring Atlanta Track Club to 4 x 800 WR, Sean Dolan got walked down by a UPenn freshman who ran 1:46.99 His name? Joseph Socarras. Socarras, who ran 1:47 in HS, is already the Upenn school record holder. Hard to believe he's already a 1+ second faster than 2003 NCAA champ Sam Burley.
- MB: Nike claims its wild looking shoes can help your brain "feel calm, focused and present" A neurosurgeon isn't so sure they are telling the truth, "There is little evidence that passive underfoot stimulation – textured soles, novel foam geometries or subtle mechanical features – meaningfully improves concentration in healthy adults."
- MB: Jenny Simpson's tour of all 50 states in a van with her husband is over And she's entered the real world, with a job. She is the new Chief Running Officer for Fleet Feet.
- World cross-country champ Agnes Ngetich headlines final World XC gold meeting this weekend in Kenya Men's bronze medallist Daniel Ebenyo also will copete in the Sirikwa Classic.
- RAK Half is this weekend and Geoffrey Kamworor will be back hoping to win like he did in 2013 The now 33-year-old is getting ready for London.
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
- The Times: Keely Hodgkinson backs Manchester bid for the 2036 Olympics and says it could get her to extend her career Hodgkinson will be 34 for the 2036 Games.
- Professional trail runner Anna Gibson is competing for the Team USA at the Winter Olympics in ski mountaineering ("skimo") This is skimo's (a sport where you climb a mountain and then skiing back down it) first time at the Olympics and she qualified in her first ever skimo race. Sounds like just the kind of hyper competitive sport that is typical at the Winter Games.
- Former Tulane sprinter Jared Firestone is competing for Israel in skeleton at the Winter Olympics The "Jewish Jet" has PBs of 10.72 and 22.39.
- Flag football at LA 2028 was promoted at the Super Bowl
- Winter Olympic medals are breaking Several athletes reported their medals snapped, shattered or split while celebrating.
- Biological woman is competing against women in freestyle skiing at the Winter Olympics
Distance News
- The Times: Five athletes who missed out on medals at London 2012 due to doping, including Shannon Rowbury, are crowdfunding money to sue World Athletics and WADA They want to create a "clean athletes’ assistance fund" which would give money to Olympians who lose medals, prize money and sponsorship deals because of dopers. Rowbury missed out on a $50,000 bonus, plus a higher new contract by not getting her bronze medal at London 2012 (Nike doesn't pay out for retrospective medals).
- Cole Hocker, Cam Myers, and Sam Ruthe announced for Bowerman Mile at this year's Pre Classic
- Femke Bol's coach says she won't race any more 800s this indoor season She's racing a 600m in Lievin on February 19.
- MB: Video interview with Hobbs Kessler, gives calf strain update Kessler talks about his training and preparation for his 2000m WR, how he thinks he would have done in the Millrose 2 mile, what he listens to during runs/workouts and plans for the rest of the season.
- MB: Emily Infeld back with Nike She signed with Brooks last year, but now has returned to Nike who was her sponsor for 12 years before she went to Brooks.
- Taisei Kiyono (47:12) and Miu Saito (32:21) win Karatsu Road Race 10 mile/10K in Japan The boys' 10k was won in 29:07 by Jin Imamura with 13 breaking 30 minutes.
- Japan Olympic marathon trials will be held October 3, 2027 in Nagoya So far 16 men and 9 women have qualified for Japan's trials.
This Week's Action
- Sound Invite is Saturday at JDL Fast Track: startlists, schedule, live results Some great distance action with Cole Hocker, Sam Ruthe and Cooper Teare in the mile, Nico Young, Yared Nuguse, Geordie Beamish in the 3000m, Cooper Lutkenhaus, Brandon Miller and Isaiah Harris in the 800m and Shelby Houlihan, Sinclaire Johnosn, Nikki Hiltz, Katelyn Tuohy in the women's 3000m.
*MB: Sound Invite Preview - IM STOKED
*Streaming info (Runnerspace+ sub required) - MB: BU Valentine start lists Jane Hedengren in the women's mile, Doris Lemngole vs Karissa Schweizer in the 5000m, Colin Sahlman vs Ben Allen and Eric Holt in the men's mile.
*MB: Jane Hedegren running Mile
- Preview: Belgrade Indoor Meeting is on Wednesday Switzerland's Diamond League champ Audrey Werro in the 800m highlights the distance action in what is otherwise a sprint/field focused meet.
NCAA News
- Kansas State men and Illinois women stay #1 in updated NCAA rankings Tennessee and Oregon men and Georgia and South Carolina women stay ranked 2-3. USC women jump 25 spots to #4.
- Iowa's Ryan Johnson throws 24.99m in the weight throw (#4 on the NCAA all-time list) at Iowa State Classic At the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, USC's Madison Whyte ran a collegiate leading 50.82 in the 400m and split 50.21 on the 4x400.
- Rhode Island men and Brown women win IC4A/ECAC titles
- Bowerman Award men's watchlist update Colin Sahlman, Gary Martin and Habtom Samuel are the three distance runners to make the list.
- Bowerman Award women's watchlist update The list is more than half distance runners with Jane Hedengren, Doris Lemngole, Juliette Whittaker, Pamela Kosgei, Sanu Jallow-Lockhart and Wilma Nielsen.
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.
- GB's Georgia Hunter Bell runs world-leading 4:00.04 to win Karlsruhe 1500m Canada's Gabriela DeBues-Stafford won the 3000m in 8:35.94 ahead of Elise Cranny (8:37.06), who was making her debut for the M11 Track Club.
*MB: Cranny's 2026 debut
- GB's Divine Iheme breaks European U18 60m record with 6.68 at the England Athletics Indoor Championships The previous record of 6.70 had stood since 1999, set by Olympic 4x100 champion Mark Lewis-Francis.
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
- MB: COLE HOCKER 2:16.30 1K. Ready for indoor Mile WR? Hocker is fine fine form early in 2026 and currently looks like the world's #1 distance runner on the track. Cooper Teare was 2nd in 2:17.76. Hocker and Teare also ran the 4x400 afterwards, splitting 49.93 and 51.14, respectively.
- High schooler Jameson Pifer Jr. runs 4:00.61 at Camel City Distance He finished second in the race won by Hamza Chahid (3:57.18). Pifer Jr. is making an attempt at the high school 2000m record next weekend, which is held by Galen Rupp at 5:18.5. Duke's Stephanie Moss won the women's race in 4:29.99.
- HSer Blair Bartlett runs 9:42.38 for 3200m at MAPL Indoor Champs The time converted to 2 miles is #5 in prep history.
- Fastrack Invite results: Millrose pacer Ben Allen wins mile in 3:53.40 over Eric Holt (3:53.70).
*MB: Former Iowa State runner Seth Clevenger runs 3:59.41 mile in D3 - Wisconsin puts three sub-4 at Windy City Invite lead by Archie Noakes's 3:56.76
- Navy men and women win 7th straight over Army 98 points to 83 for the men and 94 to 87 for the women.
- USC's Mia Brahe-Pedersen returns from injury with 200m PB at New Mexico Collegiate Classic The former high school star (made the US 200m final her junior year) ran 22.85 to finish second behind her teammate Dajaz DeFrand (22.79). The two rank 4th and 6th in the NCAA this year.
On The Roads / Grass
- Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera and Kenya's Mirriam Cherop dominate Amendoeiras em Flor XC race in Portugal Kwizera beat Uganda's 2022 world 5000m bronze medalist Oscar Chelimo by 10 seconds; Spain's European XC champ Thierry Ndikumwenayo was way back in 5th.
- Taiga Hirayama (60:44) and Wakana Kabasawa (69:20) win Japan National Corporate Half The men started before the women and the bad weather mostly held off for them, but the women ended up racing in whiteout conditions and finishing slipping and sliding on a snow-covered track.
- Kazuto Kawabata (2:10:27) and Reina Hayashida (2:42:17) win Nobeoka Nishi Nippon Marathon in Japan
Sprint Stuff
- MileSplit: Five former track athletes who could shape Super Bowl LX Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed qualified for the California state meet three times in high school and had PBs of 10.86, 21.53 and 48.47.
- Australian sprint star Gout Gout not racing the 2026 Commonwealth Games Gout will instead focus on the World U20 championships in Eugene. (CWG are from July 23 to August 2 and U20 champs are from August 5-9.)
*MB: Gout Gout, where art thou Gout Gout?????
- Sha'Carri Richardson makes first public appearance since her arrest at the Colgate Women's Games at the Armory
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.
- MB: Jakob Ingebrigtsen has had Achilles surgery in California.
- VG.no: Ingebritsen now "entering a three-week convalescence period before he can put on his running shoes." It may be 3 months before he's back to normal training.
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
- Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui breaks European indoor 1000m record in Madrid, but misses WR attempt He ran 2:14.52 which fell short of Ayanleh Souleiman’s world short track record of 2:14.20 from 2014. Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom won the women's 15000m in 4:02.37 over world and Olympic medalist Nadia Battocletti (tied the Italian record with 4:03.59). Switzerland’s Audrey Werro won the 800m over Ethiopia's world indoor silver medalist Nigist Getachew, 2:00.68 to 2:00.76 and South Africa’s Tshepo Tshite won the 3000m (7:39.11). *Results
- Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera up against Spain's European XC champ Thierry Ndikumwenayo at World Athletics XC race in Albufeira, Portugal on Sunday Uganda's 2022 world 5000m bronze medalist Oscar Chelimo is also in the race. Ethiopia's three-time winner Likina Amebaw leads the women's race after running 29:29 (#6 all-time) on the roads last month. World 1500m champ Isaac Nader is racing the mixed relay
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.
- Official 2026 Millrose Games Discussion Thread
- Cam Myers BOSSES the Americans. 19-year old wins Wanamaker Mile in 3:47.57!!! rojo
- HOCKER FTW. Kerr 2nd, Wolfe 3rd. That was a RACE. 8:07.31!!
- Cooper Lutkenhaus 1:14.15 for 600m. World Jr Record!!!
- Colin MF Sahlman!!! 1:44
- NikkiMFHiltz This was Hitlz's first Wanamaker miler title.
- Is Hocker becoming too arrogant?
- Where is Athing Mu? And where is Mr. Indoor Grant Holloway as well?
- Grant Fisher has scratched from the milrose 2 mile
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.
- MB: 2026 London Maraton women's field is LOADED: 4 of world's top 5 to clash + Olympic champ Sifan Hass
- .Olympic 4th placer Emile Cairess gunning for Mo Farah's British marathon record at the London Marathon Farah's record is 2:05:11 from when he won the 2018 Chicago Marathon. Cairess' best is 2:06:46 from the 2024 London Marathon.
- Shock Wolds bronze medallist Julia Paternain will return to where she was raised to race London for 1st time Paternain, who runs for Uruguay but was born in Mexico, raised in the UK and now lives in the US after running for both Penn State and Arkansas, has run 2:27 in her first two marathons but will run way faster this year.
- Emile Cairess says he's been in shape to break Farah's record for the last two years "I already felt like I was in that shape around the 2024 Olympics. I've been a bit unlucky that I've not been able to show it [in London] - I'm looking to run as fast as I can and get that British record.
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.
- Discuss: JOSH MF HOEY 1:42.51 i800 WR
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
- The Cheptegei-Kiplimo effect? A look at how Uganda has risen over the last decade to become an XC power A Ugandan man has now won the last 4 senior titles. At under-20 level in Tallahassee, Uganda’s women claimed a historic team gold – the first time any nation other than Kenya or Ethiopia had won that title.
- Daniel Ebenyo's first World XC medal at age 30 and after two sub-par marathons was special “Winning the bronze medal was more than standing on a podium; it was the echo of every early morning, every lonely road, every silent prayer answered in God’s perfect time,” said Ebenyo who failed to finish higher than 10th in any of his 2 marathons in 2025.
- Did you know Jacob Kiplimo ran his final 2k in 5:22? That’s 4:19 mile pace.
- Meet the Scottish duo that has been to every World XC since 1999 Niall Walker and David John Condra are super fans.
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.
- Men: Kiplimo 3 peats as Aregawi silver for 3rd straight time Deja vu.
- Women: Agnes Ngetich DOMINATES, Wins by 42 seconds Ethiopia took the team title with the US a distance 4th.
- Relay: Jess Hull anchors Australia to World XC mixed relay victory Australia won ahead of France and Ethiopia. Team USA finished 5th.
- Jr Girls: Marta Alemayo repeats with master class performance She won the 6k race by 26 seconds. HS. Jr Blair Bartlett finished off her first xc season with a 16th place finish.
- Jr Boys: Frankline Kibet leads Kenya to 1-2-3-4 performance. Tyler Daillak was 16th and Jackson Spencer 18th.
World XC Video Analysis + Discussion
A big thank you to the big crowd that turned out for the LetsRun party to celebrate the American running community at World XC.
- 2026 World Cross Country Championships - OFFICIAL THREAD (+ live reaction show @ 2:30 pm ET)
- Biggest winners & losers from World XC
- Confirmed: Rocky Hansen OUT of World XC, US will only run 5 guys
- Strand had the fastest 2k split of anyone in the world today
- World Cross - what an adorable, cute course.
- Nico Young + Swoosh TC, Brand Mismatch or Bad Idea
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."
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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.
- World Athletics' article on Evan Jager's retirement A good rundown of the highlights of his long 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.
- 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.
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
- 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.
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
