Archived Homepage For June 23, 2021
Archived Homepage For June 23, 2021
2020 US Olympic Trials
2020 US Olympic Trials

Having had a week to think about it, LetsRun.com co-founder Robert Johnson realizes there are a lot of questions he wants answered from all the parties. Plus why it could be argued that Houlihan should be cleared regardless of whether she doped or not.

2020 US Olympic Trials
2020 US Olympic Trials

WHAT A SHOCKER. Donavan Brazier isn't going to Tokyo and Clayton Murphy may be the gold medal favorite.

Elle Purrier turned it into a fitness test and she ended up with a 3:58.03 victory from the front as as Cory McGree (4:00.67) and Heather MacLean (4:02.09) both PRed to make the team. MacLean only got into the final on protest.

Cranny and Schweizer replicated Woody Kincaid and Grant Fisher's 1-2 finish from Friday's 10k as Rachel Schneider joined them on Team USA as first-time Olympians. Abbey Cooper was 4th after her prelim heroics.

Each day of the Trials we are breaking down the action for you and getting you ready for the next day for our Supporting Club members. Support independent journalism and join today.

Monday's Race Videos
Monday's Race Videos
UK Olympic Trials Are This Weekend
Russian Doping Related
Trials Sunday
Trials Sunday

Bromell looked great in running 9.80 for the win, while Ronnie Baker (9.85) and Fred Kerley (9.86) both PRed to make the team. 19-year-old Micah Williams ran 9.91 for 5th, while Justin Gatlin pulled up lame and finished last.

This was just the third race in history - and first outside the Olympics - to feature four men under 9.90 seconds.

After finishing 4th at the 2016 Olympic Trials, Garrett Scantling gave up the sport and didn't compete at all until 2020. Today he won the decathlon and moved to #2 in the world. Plus Leah Falland ran 9:23 as the women's steeplechase got underway.

Sunday's Race Videos
Sunday's Race Videos
Happy Father's Day!

Bolt now has three children as he and his partner had their first, daughter Olympia, in May last year.


What The Hell Athletics Kenya?

Cheruiyot's fourth-place finish in the Kenyan Olympic trials was shocking, but what was even more shocking was Athletics Kenya's decision to leave him off the squad as the discretionary third member. But is there a chance he could still run in Tokyo? Jonathan Gault gives you the scoop.
*MB: How could Athletics Kenya be so stupid to leave Timothy Cheruiyot off the Olympic team?

More OT Coverage

The Oregonian: After Turning Back The Clock, Justin Gatlin's Final Olympic Hopes Come To An End “We put our hearts, blood, sweat and tears into this moment. The performance that we put out there as athletes is our heart, our heart. You never realize as an athlete there’s going to be an end until the end comes."

Tokyo 2020 Olympic News
The 2020 US Olympic Track and Field Trials
The 2020 US Olympic Track and Field Trials

Richardson’s win was expected, but the other two members of Team USA - Javianne Oliver (10.99) took second Teahna Daniels (11.03) - would have been hard to predict at the start of the week.

Grandma's Marathon / Alan Webb's Debut

Webb had some rough splits in his debut marathon as he went out in 1:14 for the half and came back in 1:34.

Van Niekerk Gets His Standard, Semenya Misses

She was way short of the 15:10 standard, but plans to try again at the end of the month. Germany's Miriam Dattke won the race in 15:34.92.


Kenyan Trials In The Books

Only the top two finishers were guaranteed spots so why they wouldn't put him on the team at #3 is bizarre. Renato Canova says he's had a hamstring problem and is speculating there is little chance for it to improve. Watch the race for yourself (it's cued to start at the final 400) as he led most of it and doesn't look majorly injured.

Day 1 At The Trials
Day 1 At The Trials

The first world record at the newly-renovated Hayward Field has fallen on the first day of the 2020 US Olympic Track and Field Trials -- and it was set by an Oregon native. Ryan Crouser crushed the men's shot put world record by 25 centimeters (9+ inches).
*MB: RYAN MF CROUSER - 23.37 WR!!!!!!!

The Bowerman Track Club ended a rough week on a high note, with Woody Kincaid and Grant Fisher making their first Olympic teams, along with the On Athletics Club's Joe Klecker. The three kicked away on the final lap of the 10k on the first day of the 2020 Olympic Trials.

We tell you everything you need to know about qualifying in the all the running events on Day 1 at the Trials.

More Trials Coverage
Olympic News
Other News
Houlihan Updates / Manyonga Banned


RIP Coach

 "He was one of those people you could learn from by just observing. He treated everyone with respect. He always seemed to do the right thing because he had an incontrovertible moral compass. He shaped countless careers and changed so many lives. Those of us who had the privilege to experience it will be forever grateful," said Frank O'Mara. *MB: Excellent read: 5 Hog legends - Joe Falcon, Ruben Reina, Frank O'Mara, Eric Henry & S. Lassiter -remember Coach John McDonnell You can even watch a replay of his funeral rosary.

The Kenyan Trials Are Here

Rodgers Kwemoi was 2nd in 27:05.51 as the two claimed the first two automatic slots for Tokyo. Weldon Kipkirui came in third in 27:24.73 as Rhonex Kipruto was a DNF and Edward Cheserek was nearly lapped.
*MB: King Ches is nearly lapped in Kenyan Trials, where does he go from here?

The Women's 100 Runners Are Blazing Fast This Year
The Trials Start Friday (Sponsored By On)

We talked to Dathan Ritzenhein about the OAC athletes' final Trials preparations and he raves about Alicia Monson's fitness, “I think she was ready to run under 14:40, actually,” before he gives his take on whether the latest Michigan teen prodigy - Hobbs Kessler - should go pro out of high school.

Your latest American stars share their insights.

Three legends of the sport.

One of the greatest US runners ever.

We chatted with Frank on the 50th anniversary of his Olympic Marathon gold

American Record Holders
American Record Holders

Keira D'Amato, the new American record holder in the marathon, was joined by Deena Kastor, who held the record for 15 years.

Sisson was the guest on the LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast after she became the first American to go sub 67 in the half marathon on a record-eligible course. Podcast highlights above. Full pod here.

Woody Kincaid joined us after he broke the American record indoors at 5000. He talks above why he left the Bowerman Track Club. Podcast highlights and link to full podcast here.

Coogan's New Balance Boston team had 3 Olympians in 2021 and 2022 could be the biggest year yet for the program with 2 new additions and the TRACK at New Balance coming on March 1st.

Danny Mackey has taken the Brooks Beasts from an unproven club to the Olympic podium in its first decade.

Dathan Ritzenhein is the first of the top pro coaches to sit down and talk about his club heading into the 2022 campaign.

Best of Jon Gault
Best of Jon Gault
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Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level