In the history of the Olympics, only two American women have ever won Olympic gold in an event longer than 400. Could 19-year old Athing Mu make it 3? Yes she can.
Archived Homepage For July 28, 2021
Archived Homepage For July 28, 2021
LRC Olympic Previews #3 & 4
2016 medalists Conseslus Kipruto, Evan Jager, and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad are all absent, as is the 2019 Diamond League champ, Getnet Wale. Is this finally the year when Kenya's dominance (nine straight men's Olympic steeple titles) comes to an end?
This Drama is Fascinating and Important
The Ethiopian Olympic federation wants its stars in Tokyo - Girma and Edris may be running despite not finishing top 3 at the Trials. Might the GOAT Kenenisa Bekele be next?
Rojo and Wejo Both Agree - This Is The Best Piece Jonathan Gault Has Ever Written
Before you can climb the Olympic podium, you have to survive the call room. "There’s a real stench of BO," says Nick Symmonds. "There’s a smell of Bengay in the air. It’s kind of musty. You don’t want to be in a call room a long time. The goal is to be in the call room as little as possible."
- MB: This is the best piece Jonathan Gault has ever written - Tales From the Call Room There are a lot of nuggets in this one as JG interviewed a ton of people including Richard Thompson, John Capel, Wallace Spearmon, Jenny Simpson, Nick Willis, Tim Broe, Kevin Sullivan, Evan Jager, Nick Symmonds, Wade Bell, and many more.
On The Boards
On The Boards
Another Ban For Salazar
This ban comes after accusations Mary Cain made in 2019 that Salazar verbally and emotionally abused her. This is not the same as a doping ban and Salazar would still be eligible to coach in most settings, but not at USATF events. He has 10 days to appeal.
(Sponsored by On)
Jake Riley's rise to the top of the US marathoning world has not been an easy one. He's got his sights set even higher in Tokyo.
Prediction Contest
Tokyo is here and it is time to make the Games even more interesting. Ready, set, pick. First event closes Thursday July 29 in the evening.
The Olympic Distance Roster
- Three-Time Olympic Medalist Taoufik Makhloufi Pulls Out Of Tokyo With Knee Injury Makhloufi says it's been an ongoing issue, but he "tried for a long time to extend the deadline to make a final decision."
*MB: Makhloufi out with knee injury - Kenyan XC Champ Rhonex Kipruto Replaces Injured Geoffrey Kamworor On Kenyan Olympic 10,000m Team Kipruto dropped out at the Kenyan trials with 5-laps to go.
- Jakob Ingebrigsten Will Go For The 1500m Over The 5000m In Tokyo, But Was It The Right Choice? (translated)
Our First Olympic Previews Are Up - It's Officially Time To Get Excited
Only seven women have won three individual Olympic golds in their career. Hassan is trying to do that in the span of nine days.
Who will succeed Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, and Mo Farah? . Uganda has WR holder Joshua Cheptegei & Jacob Kiplimo, Ethiopia has Selemon Barega & Yomif Kejelcha, and Kenya has a very fit Rodgers Kwemoi.
Sunset Tour
Josette Norris's great 2021 continued as she defeated Konstanze "Koko" Klosterhalfen, who returned from injury to race before the Olympics. Festus Lagat went sub 1:45 for the first time to win the 800.
Centro Comes Up Short
Centro went out super fast but the rabbits tied up and so did he, but he still managed to move to #5 on the all-time US list at 3:49.26. *Full Race Replay
Compete in the Olympics and Never Return Home?
Luis Gijalva got his waiver and can go to Tokyo for the Olympics.
Distance News
- Aisha Praught-Leer To Race In Tokyo 1500m Despite Tearing Meniscus "Off The Bone" In Freak Training Accident She will need surgery, but says she will delay it until after the Games and get a cortisone injection in the meantime.
- Abdi Abdirahman Talks About The Challenges He's Overcome To Make His Fifth Olympic Games At 44-Years-Old "People counted me out. They never thought I was going to make the Olympic team, they thought I was too old, I was past my prime a long time (ago). And I’m glad they say that, because they just motivate me - they give me that little fire."
- Good News: There Will Be A Nike Team XC Nationals In 2021 They will be December 4 in Oregon.
Mid-D Results
- 16-Year-Old Cian McPhillips Smashes Irish U20 1500m Record With 3:40.56 He broke the 45-year-old record by 2-seconds.
- MB: Josh Kerr runs 1:46.3 800m (55.8 then 50.5!)
- MB: Vincent Ciattei Wins Fleet Feet Liberty Mile In 3:59 Over Colby Alexander; Craig Engels 3rd (4:00) Sinclaire Johnson won the women’s race in a 4:27. *Results
Tokyo COVID Stuff
- This Is Beyond Overkill: Team GB Athletes Forced To Quarantine For 14-Days Despite Negative COVID Tests All because someone on their flight tested positive.
- IOC Warns They Will Take Action Against Athletes Who Break COVID Rules After Some Seen Without Masks During Opening Ceremony Most of the athletes officials from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, including the flagbearers, marched without masks.
- World #1 (Jon Rahm) And #6 (Bryson DeChambeau) Golfers Pull Out Of Tokyo Games Due To COVID Positive Tests
- Japanese Government Official Accuses Tokyo 2020 Of Having "Holes" In Their COVID Regulations
Is Salazar Still Coaching?
Hidden cameras, criminal background checks, and nearly two weeks of surveillance. This story has it all. They found that Rupp regularly uses a house owned by the Salazar family to start many of his runs to the Nike campus. And he uses the underwater treadmill in the back.
General Olympic News
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- Reuters: Tokyo Braces As Storm Snarls Schedules After Withering Heat Some sports will be disrupted, but the surfers are happy as the storm means good waves.
- InsideTheGames: Mixed Reactions To The Tokyo Opening Ceremony
*MB: I'm loving this opening ceremony - 69 Track Athletes Were Flag Bearers at The Olympic Opening Ceremony Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce for Jamaica was the biggest name on the list.
- NY Times: The Olympics Are Great for Streaming. But Is Streaming Great for NBC? They write that "sports aren’t ideal for streaming services because they have almost no replay value."
- Chinese Shooter Qian Yang Wins First Gold Medal Of The Tokyo Games
- The Indian Express: "Tokyo 2020: A Sequel Nowhere Close To 'Original' Olympic Games Of 1964"
- Salt Lake City Might Bid To Host The 2030 Winter Olympics
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
