Grand Slam Track founder Michael Johnson told Dennis Young of Front Office Sports that the loss of the investor caused "major, major cash flow issue" for the startup track league. *FOS Sports article
*MB: GST financial update: GST still hasn't paid Miramar for stadium, MJ says they had cash crunch after key investor pulled out after going to Jamaica event
Quincy Hall did not enter USAs by the entry deadline Tuesday at midnight.
The 2024 Olympian posted on Instagram, "[I] did everything in my power to get back to race USAs but unfortunately my foot isn't 100% healed yet. Be back soon."
A wacky Kenyan Trials were held this morning in front of a sparse crowd, not a surprise since it was held on Tuesday morning with little advanced notice. Have you ever seen an elite women's 800 go out in 75? Well, that happened. In the race of the day, Reynold Cheruiyot nipped Timothy Cheruiyot at the line to win the 1500. Plus NCAA stars Brigid Kogsei and Brian Musau won't be going to Worlds but for different reasons. NCAA record holder Doris Lemngole even though she was tronced in the steeple.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi is the real deal, what about Phanuel Koech and Niels Laros after their impressive weekend's. What about Donavan Brazier's 1:43.08 in London and Rush Chepngetich getting popped for a masking agent.
Other race winners included Ethiopia's Nigist Getachew in the 800m (1:57.01), Belgium's Isaac Kimeli in the 5000m (13:01.39) and World 800m champ Mary Moraa in the 400m (50.49).
*MB: Gjert does it again: Middling 28-year-old Jose Carlos Pinto (3:37-3:31.9 in 1 season) Pinto won the 1500m in a PB of 3:31.94 in Belgium.
Vigil was the long-time coach at Adams State, winning 19 national titles, including the 1992 team which put up a perfect score 1-2-3-4-5 at D2 Nationals. He also coached Deena Kastor to her 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze, Meb Keflezighi, Pat Porter, Brenda Martinez and many more. In addition to a coach, he was a sports scientist (he had a Ph.D. in exercise physiology) and wrote the well known book, Road to the Top, which includes many insights into training and the science behind it.
What a great meet in front of 60,000. Click on the youtube player for our reactions. Or better yet, get it as a podcast by joining our SC.
*WA Recap Julien Alfred was sensational in the 200 (21.71, -0.6) as was Mykolas Alekna in the discus (71.70 DL),
BYU's Riley Chamberlain won the women's race in 1:59.75. Thomas Ratcliffe took the men's 1500m in 3:33.28 ahead of Benjamin Allen (3:33.97) and Parker Wolfe (3:34.44). Anna Camp-Bennett won the women's 1,500 meters in 4:05.38 while recent high school grad Sadie Engelhardt ran a PB of 4:07.78 in 8th (#4 on the prep all-time list). Elise Cranny won the 5000m in 15:06 and Allie Ostrander took the steeplechase by 35 seconds in 9:35.
Suspicion of Chepngetich was sky high last October when she ran 2:09:56 in Chicago and now she's been popped.. But since Chepngetich tested positive for a masking agent, she could be competing again as soon as April 2027 even if her ban is upheld. Is that fair? Plus is the AIU nearing a breaking point with Federico Rosa and Kenya?
The men's field has 9 guys who have broken 2:05, including 2 of 9 fastest men in history in Eliud Kipchoge and Birhanu Legese. It also has 15 who have equalled or broken Sydney's 2:06:17 course record. 2025 Sydney will clearly be the greatest non-Olympic marathon ever run in Australia. But what if we told you the field only includes one man who has finished in the top 3 at a major in 2024 or 2025 and zero men ranked in our top 10 for 2024?
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Koech's coach Claudio Berardelli says his talent could be comparable to that of his two biggest stars, marathoner Sabastian Sawe and Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi. "I’m still trying to figure out exactly what happened and what is the potential of this boy," Berardelli said.
Freeman found incredible success in an event that has often plagued American relay squads, but USATF chose not to renew her contract at the end of 2024. Why? Jonathan Gault investigates.
Kersee doesn't talk often to the media but he talked to our Jonathan Gault about his plans for Athing Mu. Kersee said he believes racing the 1500 will help make Mu a better 800 runner but said he also hopes she can run more 400s moving forward and that she can eventually break 49 seconds in that event.
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." (SC paywall lifted)
Donavan Brazier is running in the 1:43s after only 2 races in his comeback. This one was a beautiful victory that reminded us of the Brazier of old. In other action, former high school phenoms Katelyn Tuohy and Drew Hunter got wins, as current high schoolers Owen Powell and Josiah Tostenson ran 3:36 (#2 and #3 on the HS all-time list). Justyn Knight and Luis Grijalva returned to action.
After the most successful meet of the year in Philly, there will be no meet #4 in 2025 as it was abruptly cancelled 2 weeks before it was to take place. GST did not give a reason for the cancellation, but claimed there will be a meet in 2026 in LA.
This is a good idea as you'll save money and have a built in crowd. Plus you'll expose the current edition of US HS talents to the pros. The event will be used to pick the team for the World XC champs to be held in Tallahassee in January 2026. For the U20 teams, the top four finishers at USAs will get a spot, with the final two spots reserved for the NXN and Foot Locker champions.
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.
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
The US indoor 1500m/3000m champion overhauled his fueling in workouts before the 2024 season. Now he swears by his routine.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
