NCAA track and field/XC is about to be radically changed. Roster caps are coming -- are you ready for a max of 10 people on a men's SEC roster? But the opportunity to give out way more scholarships is also coming. Will the net change be great or catastrophic, leading to the "the slow death of men's track & field" as one SEC coach worries.
You've got to hear the crazy story when Abdi Nageeye at the Pre Classic decided he was done with the track and wanted to get out of town and the cops ended up coming to Mo Farah's house.
A strong case could have been made for Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone over Thomas, but hard to argue with Quincy Wilson as youth athlete of the year.
(link updated) He broke the previous record of 41:05 which was set by Joshua Cheptegei at this same course in 2018 and then tied by Kiplimo here last year.
*MB: Jacob MF Kiplimo!
There was wildness in the Great Lakes where a runner celebrated before the line and cost the Michigan State men a spot at NCAAs. There was chaos in the Mid-Atlantic, where three men’s teams finished within a point of each other and Navy was the odd team out. Plus the Colorado women missed out for the first time since 2008.
SC Friday 15 Podcast: Cornell just misses, Guy letting up at line early costs Mich State + Shelby Houlihan is back training - is she guilty? Max Siegel wants a shorter Trials & Grand Slam Track cities and dates are unveiled You need to be an SC member to get our Friday podcast.
We started talking about whether Grant Fisher is talented and segued into a debate on whose career you'd rather have: Fisher or Brazier? *Full pod here
Simpson and Centrowitz, who both 1st medalled in 2011 and retired in 2024, leave the sport as two of the faces on the Mt. Rushmore of American 1500m running after piling up a combined eight medals at global championships. And despite not ever finishing in the top 3 on the yearly 1500 list (Simpson's best was 4th, Centro's 9th), they will be remembered as two of the better milers of their generation.
Rowberry began as a pacer and errand boy at the Nike Oregon Project but has since coached Hassan to six medals across the last two Olympics. He dives into their relationship and why he's looking to expand his training group -- and land a coaching contract from a shoe brand.
Rowberry was the guest on this week's podcast and joined the show at the 66:11 mark. Prior to that the crew spent a lot of time discussing Grant Fisher's talent, Donavan Brazier, Grand Slam Track and a whole lot more.
The Jamaican meet will be held on April 4th, 5th and 6th and the Miami meet on May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Los Angeles was previously revealed as a host city and there will be two more cities announced later this week
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Toni Reavis pens thoughtful colum on election: "Tired of Democracy" Toni says most of America's current issues stem from the destruction of the middle class and reminds people we can't just take democracy for granted, "Democracy and distance running aren’t all that dissimilar. Both require consistent attention to thrive."
The Norwegian tax records for 2023 are now public and we share the scoop.
*MB: Jakob Ingebrigtsen got PAID in 2023 - Income more than doubled to $2.3 million.
Expanding the number of world marathon majors to nine is an absurd idea unless the majors make one simple change that will instantly keep them being compelling, elite sporting events.
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There are two finalists in each category (six men and six women total). They are Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Letsile Tebogo (men's track), Sydney McLaughlin-levrone, Julien Alfred (women's track), Mondo Duplantis, Miltiadis Tentoglou (men's field), Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Nafissatou Thiam (women's field), Tamirat Tola, race walker Brian Pintado (men's out of stadium), Sifan Hassan, Ruth Chepngetich (women's out of stadium).
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Conner Mantz (6th, 2:09:00) set an American course record in New York while CJ Albertson (10th) ran 2:10:57 just 21 days after running 2:08:17 in Chicago.
As usual, it came down to the final mile in Central Park, but Chepkirui turned the tables on the famed kicker Obiri to win her first major. Sara Vaughn (6th, 2:26:56) was the surprise top American.
Sydney is the first race to join the series since Tokyo joined 11 years ago. The current "six star medal" will remain in place for those that complete the original races, but it could be a nine star medal in the future with Cape Town and Shanghai also candidates to join the WMM.
The Big 12 showdown between the top two teams in the country lived up to the hype while Wisconsin's Bob Liking became the fourth man to win four Big 10 XC titles.
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Rodenfels repeated as champ in 15:20 while Muhumed held off Sam Prakel by one second. Plus a Joe Waskom update -- he's running the highest mileage of his life and wants to run World Indoors.
It's time to get excited for NCAA xc. Order one of these shirts now and we'll bring it to you in Madison. Buy today for 50% off for 48 hours.
It's wild that the World Series is drawing more TV viewers in Japan (15.9 million) than in the US (13.8 million), but did you know that a 2-day road race that takes more than 10 hours to complete has attracted nearly 65 million viewers?
Kejelcha's pbs at 3k, 5k, 10k, and the half all rank in the top 10 all-time. Plus hear how Agnes Ngetich went from hurt to a near-WR in four months.
Coogan's team earned two medals at World Indoors in 2024 (including gold for Elle St. Pierre), put two women on the US Olympic 1500 team, and last week signed NCAA superstar Parker Valby.
From Amby Burfoot's attack on Chepngetich to Kenyan parliament calling out LetsRun.com's Robert Johnson, the fallout of Chepngetich's WR has been unlike any other. Jonathan Gault tries to make sense of it and reveals that she did recently switch from the Vaporfly to the Alphafly - could that explain her remarkable run?
All of that and more on this week's Friday 15 bonus podcast for our SC members.
For many years, Kwemoi was defined by the 3:28.81 1500 he ran in 2014, which made him the fastest teenager in history. Now Kwemoi is an Olympic medalist and will join Grand Slam Track in 2025. How did it happen?
At the start of 2024, only five men had ever broken 1:42. Five have done it in 2024 alone, and David Rudisha's 1:40.91 world record looks poised to fall. What is going on? Jonathan Gault interviews coaches and scientists from all over the world and unveils Project 99 - the quest for the first sub-1:40 800 in history.
Chepngetich went out in 64:16 for the half -- the #5 half marathon time ever -- and came back in 65:41 to take almost two minutes off Tigst Assefa's 2:11:53 world record from last year.
John Korir became the 6th fastest man in history and joined his brother Wesley as a World Marathon Major winner.
The newest shirt is in stock at the Letsrun store.
At the start of 2024, only five men had ever broken 1:42. Five have done it in 2024 alone, and David Rudisha's 1:40.91 world record looks poised to fall. What is going on? Jonathan Gault interviews coaches and scientists from all over the world and unveils Project 99 - the quest for the first sub-1:40 800 in history.
The Olympics produce the most incredible highs and lows. Which athletes overachieved and overachieved in the Paris track and field action?
Almost no one who emerged from the repechage made the final in Paris. World Athletics president Seb Coe admits, "It was an IOC creation. It wasn’t something that we chose ourselves."
One final look back at Paris, a look ahead to LA and we pay respects to Usain Bolt's 100m world record and ponder how Tyreek Hill could do in a race vs Noah Lyles.
Was this the best Olympic track & field competition ever? Why did the US men run so well? Plus the greatest unanswered questions from Paris 2024 and why Jakob Ingebrigtsen should not abandon the 1500m.
A lot to talk about on this week's LRC podcast. We couldn't get to it all so join the Supporters Club to get Friday's bonus podcast.
Your latest American stars share their insights.
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.
