Donavan Brazier is BACK, winning his first U.S. title since 2019 in a personal-best 1:42.16. But the story of the race was 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus, who stunned the track world by running 1:42.27 to finish second and obliterate the U18 world record.
Archived Homepage For August 04, 2025
Archived Homepage For August 04, 2025
Feud on and off track
Noah Lyles stared down Kenny Bednarek before crossing the line to win the 200m at USAs. Bednarek shoved him after the finish and called it “unsportsmanlike.” The tension, the quotes, and the moment captured in photos.
Day 4 On The Boards
- MB: 2025 U.S. Track and Field Championships Day 4 Discussion Thread Live reaction show at 6:30PM ET. Watch here.
- MB: Cooper MF Lutkenhaus makes world team 1:42 Donavan Brazier's comeback continues with 1:42.16 PB to win over Lutkenhaus' 1:42.27 and Bryce Hoppel's 1:42.49. Josh Hoey 4th in 1:43.06.
- MB: Cole MF Hocker! Beats Grant Fisher 13:26.45 to 13:26.75; Nico Young third (13:27.05).
- MB: Shelby: 2025 USA 🇺🇸 5000 champion at age 32! 15:13.61 to beat out Elise Cranny (15:14.26) and Josette Andrews (15:15.01).
- MB: Drew Hunter deserves a shoutout 4th place again, just .11 behind Nico Young.
- MB: Why is Lyles taunting someone that will be on his 4x1???????
- MB: Noah Lyles is so unlikable now
- MB: NBC owes Kenny Bednarek a Apology
- MB: Cooper Lutkenhaus should move up to the mile
- MB: Cooper Lutkenhaus just broke the 16, 17, 18 and 19 year old worlds best!
- MB: Who makes up US 5000m Team?
- MB: Will Hocker give up his spot for Teare
Roisin Willis won her first U.S. title to lead an all-new women’s 800 squad to Worlds, while Shelby Houlihan completed her comeback from her doping suspension with a convincing 5000m victory—her first national title in six years.
The Greatest US 800 Ever
Hocker Gets the 5000
Lyles-Bednarek Feud
Shocker in the 1500
Koech, who had not raced for two months before USAs due to hamstring tightness, won his first US title in a meet-record 3:30.17. Ethan Strand (3:30.25) was 2nd as Olympic champ Cole Hocker (3:30.37) was only 3rd. Nuguse (3:31.34) led until 120m to go but faded to 5th.
- Podcast: USA 1500m Madness, Koech 1, Strand 2, Hocker 3, Nuguse Out + Dan Michalski (guest) nearly beats Kenneth Rooks Our USA's podcasts are for Supporters Club members, but we made the first 20 minutes of this one for everyone.
Saturday Recap
SML ran 48.90 to win her second US 400m title (Sanya Richards-Ross's American record is 48.70). LRC Supporters Club member Dan Michalski finished 2nd in the men's steeple while 20-year-old Angelina Napoleon's incredible season continued as she was 2nd in the women's steeple behind champ Lexy Halladay-Lowry.
Day 3 MB Talk
- 2025 U.S. Track and Field Championships Day 3 Discussion Thread + Live Discussion Show at 6:30 pm ET We'll break it all down fo you, including an epic men's 1500 final, live right here at 6:30 pm ET.
- Nuguse & Kessler go home DEVASTATED. Koech FTW, Strand and Hocker make the team What a race. Nuguse led but let the pace slip in the middle.
- Dan MF Michalski makes the team!!! Rooks won the steeple but the guy who was repping the LRC singelt a few years ago finishes 2nd.
- Sydney-McLaughlin Levrone 48.90 FTW - can we all admit that's a little disappointing?
On The Boards
On The Boards
Beach To Becon
Mantz is only the second American to win the race after Ben True in 2016 finishing ahead of Patrick Kiprop (27:36) and 58:47 half-marathoner Tadese Worku (27:43). Australian Olympian Izzi Batt-Doyle won the women's race in 31:25 ahead of Asmarech Anley (31:31) and Olympic Marathon Trials champ Fiona O'Keeffe (31:36).
UK Champs
- Max Burgin powers to 1:43.92 win over 800m at UK Champs Josh Kerr won the 5000m easily by 9 seconds in 13:44. Neil Gourley took his third straight 1500m title in 3:47.06 over Elliot Giles (3:47.20). A year after controversially being snubbed by UK Athletics for the Olympics, Phil Norman returned to defend his national steeple title.
- 1500m Olympic silver medalist Georgia Hunter Bell wins GB 800m title with 1:59.83 over Jemma Reekie (2:00.97) She's now debating whether she wants to do the 800m/1500m double in Tokyo. In the 1500m, recent World University Games silver medalist Sarah Calvert got a surprise win over Laura Muir (4:16.27 to 4:16.32). Former world champ Dina Asher-Smith won the 200m in photo finish with Amy Hunt (both timed at 22.14). World indoor champ Amber Anning won the 400m in 50.53.
- Zharnel Hughes completes sprint double with 19.90 200m victory
- Amy Hunt wins GB 100m title with 11.02 after Daryll Neita was DQ'd for a false start Hannah Nuttall won the 5000m in 15:46.80 ahead of India Weir (15:47.98) and Innes Fitzgerald (15:48.66).
- Zharnel Hughes runs wind-aided 9.94 (2.2 m/s) to win British 100m title Hughes beat out Jeremiah Azu by .03.
*Zharnel Hughes dedicates British 100m title to aunt after missing her funeral to race Hughes: "I almost started crying. This win was for her."
- Former World Indoor champ Molly Caudery takes GB pole vault title by tying her season's best 4.85m (#2 in the world this year) Anna Purchase set a championship record of 72.96m in the hammer to hopefully secure selection after being controversially left off the Olympic team last year.
- Tyri Donovan pips Alastair Chalmers for 400H gold (49.18 to 49.20)
Canadian Champs
- World Champ Marco Arop Takes Canadian 800m Title With 1:45.44 Over Justin O'Toole (1:45.51) And NCAA Indoor Champ Matti Erickson (1:45.97) Maeliss Trapeau won the women's 800m in 2:01.79.
- Kieran Lumb Beats Justyn Knight (13:40.53 To 13:43.50) To Win Canadian 5000m National Title Gabriela Debues-Stafford won the women's 5000m with 15:17.
- Christopher Morales Williams (45.16) And NCAA 400H Record Holder Savannah Sutherland (51.51) Win 400m Titles At Canadian Champs Duan Asemota (10.12) and Audrey Leduc (11.06) took the 100m titles.
Day 3 USAs
Day 3 USAs
Courtney Lindsey (9.82) and Tennessee's T'Mars McCallum (9.83) will join Bednarek on Team USA as Maurice Gleaton Jr. ran 9.92 to finish 6th and tie the US high school record. Kayla White (10.84) and Aleia Hobbs (10.92) rounded out the women's top 3.
Rojo Speaks
There is no way to sugar coat. Mu's results under Bobby Kersee have been disappointing - extremely so after she failed to make the 800m final at USAs. She's gone from unbeatable world beater to American also-ran very quickly. Who should she replace Kersee with?
Despite almost falling at the bell, Lutkenhaus ran 1:45.57 -- just .12 off his high school record -- to finish 2nd in his semifinal behind American record holder Bryce Hoppel. Josh Hoey and Donavan Brazier made the final as well.
A police report alleges that video surveillance shows Richardson got into a heated exchange with Coleman at the Seattle airport on Sunday night where she repeatedly shoved him and threw a pair of headphones that struck him. Coleman denied that anything physical happened and didn't want to be a victim but Richardson was arrested due to the video evidence.
International Distance News
- European national championships round-up: Narve Gilje Nordas wins 5000m in 13:08.33 He beat out Magus Tuv Myhre by less than a second. At France National Champs, Yann Schrub outsprinted Jimmy Gressier for the 5000m title, 13:31.15 to 13:31.29. In Spain, Marta Garcia won the 5000m national title in 14:59.23.
- Ireland's Nick Griggs fighting way back to fitness and form after being sidelined due to injury Griggs was diagnosed with a bone infection in January which likely came from an infected wound he sustained when he was knocked to the ground during the European XC Champs in December. He had to be hospitalized for a week and lost months of training.
- UK won't have a trials for 2026 World XC Champs in Tallahassee, Florida Instead they'll choose the team based on performances at Euro XC Champs one month earlier.
More US News
- FloTrack is tracking the performance of the 10 high schoolers competing at US Champs Quincy Wilson (400m) didn't make the final and Sadie Engelhardt (1500m) and Natalie Dumas (800m) didn't advance out of the first round. didn't make the final. Read our article on the amazing performance of Cooper Lutkenhaus here.
*World Athletics: Under-20 athletes to watch at USA Champs - Vin Lananna Wins USATF's Legend Coach Award Lananna has 11 NCAA team titles to his name, six at Oregon and five at Stanford.
- WA profile on 2016 Olympic 400H champ and former WR holder Dalilah Muhammad Muhammad is retiring after this year. She didn't make it to Paris last year after finishing 6th at the Trials, but is the second fastest American this year besides SML.
- WA profile on US's Olympic 100H Champ Masai Russell She went from not making the final at Worlds in 2023 to winning the Olympics and now is #2 on the all-time list with12.17.
NCAA News
- Kentucky's NCAA indoor/outdoor 200m Champ Tapiwanashe Makarawu goes pro with On
- UT Dallas reverses decision to eliminate track and XC programs after backlash It was absolutely absurd that they were cutting the programs with so little notice for the athletes (only three weeks before the semester started). However, the statement from the school's president only commits to keeping the programs for the 2025-26 season, not anything past that.
*Previously: UT Dallas Cuts Cross Country And Track Programs They cited "budget constraints" and "lack of on-campus facilities," but what is it with universities making these decisions at the last second giving athletes little to no opportunity to transfer?
*MB: Another One Bites The Dust —UT Dallas XCTF eliminated for both genders 3 weeks before school starts
Day 1 at USAs
Day 1 at USAs
All 12 qualifiers for the men's 1500m final ran 3:34 or faster. Plus Athing Mu-Nikolayev said her 2:00.06 sb in the 800 felt "way more comfortable" than her last race in Memphis.
- LRC Lutkenhaus impresses and Dumas fades in the first round of the 800m at USA's Cooper Lutkenhaus advanced to the 800m semifinals with ease while fellow high schooler Natalie Dumas faded to last in her heat.
Infeld has run 15 USATF track finals in her career. Until Thursday, all of those races (281.5 laps, or just shy of 70 miles of racing) had ended the same way: with someone other than Infeld crossing the finish line first. But with a new sponsor (Brooks) and a new (old) coach in Chris Miltenberg, Infeld finally won her first US track title in the 10,000m, 16 years after first appearing at the USATF junior championships in the 800 meters.
Day 1 MB Talk:
- MB: Official 2025 Toyota USATF Outdoors Day 1 Live Discussion Thread It was a fun day. Click on the video player to see our instant reactions. Or listen to it on demand as a podcast by joining the Supporter's Club.
- Nico Young gold medal favorite? Young took down Fisherin a 29:02 race with a 3:57.03 final 1600. We debated ourselves if he's the gold medal favorite but think that honor goes to Berihu Aregawi.
- EMILY MF INFELD What an inspiration. She won her first US outdoor title at age 35!! Shockingly Weini Kelati was just 4th.
- Eric MF Holt!!! HOLTMANIA has officially started! The 1500 heats were super fast and he ran 3:32 out of nowhere.
- No wonder this sport is dying... (men's 10k runners blew my family off and wouldn't sign autographs)
- Mens 10K will be a heartbreaker for someone
- Sha’cari speaks to the media after her prelim!!! You can watch/listen to what she had to say here.
- U.S. Championships: Tough Luck 4th Place Finishers
- Track town pizza in Eugene is WAY overrated
Non-US National Champs
- MB: Jake Wightman OUT for British Champs due to stomach bug Wightman missed British Champs last year as well, but still got the third selection spot for the Paris Games.
- After overcoming years of injury issues, 23-year-old Max Burgin is eyeing a world 800m medal and Seb Coe's British record Burgin is #5 in the world this year with the 1:42.36 he ran at the London DL. He is also #3 on the British all-time list (Coe's record is 1:41.73).
- Mark English’s long dominance over the Irish 800m threatened by Cian McPhillips McPhillips is #2 on the Irish all-time list with the 1:44.19 he ran a couple weeks ago, only behind the 1:43.92 English ran in June.
- Andre De Grasse withdraws from Canadian National Champs due to hamstring tightness He said it happened a couple weeks ago and he wants to "play it safe" by skipping this weekend (he'll still be selected for Canada's team for Tokyo).
- Olympic 400m 4th placer Rhasidat Adeleke pulls out of Irish Champs due to injury
- BBC Preview: British athletes battle for Worlds places at trials
GST Update
GST committed to paying Kingston prize money by the end of July; Fisher, who is owed $100,000 for that meet, said he has still not been paid. "I don't want it to come to a lawsuit and a big headache and Grand Slam being crushed and everyone saying 'I told you so,'" Fisher said. "I don't think that's a good outcome for anybody."
- MB: Grant Fisher says he'll be "upset" if GST payment isn't made by July 31 deadline, insinuates legal action may be taken
- Update: Grand Slam Track misses July 31st deadline to pay athletes $3 million Three agents for athletes who won prize money in Jamaica told Front Office Sports that instead of payments promised by Thursday, they received an email.
*MB: Grand Slam Track misses July 31 deadline to pay Kingston prize money GST says it "is anticipating investor funds to hit our account imminently."
*MB: Michael Johnson Appears On Ready Set Go Podcast With Justin Gatlin The episode is titled, "Michael Johnson | Paying Back Everyone He Owes, Spending $30 Million Dollars & Investor Dropouts!"
The Latest LetsRun Feature By Jonathan Gault
Three years ago, USATF published a document on its website titled "Journey to Gold: Strategic Roadmap to 2028." The idea: capitalize on a six-year window bookended by two rare opportunities -- a home World Championships in 2022 and a home Olympics in 2028 -- to grow the sport domestically. The aim, spelled out in a purple box on page 1, was to make track & field the country's fifth-most followed sport by LA28. As part of this initiative, USATF launched a series of professional meets known as the "Journey to Gold Tour." Three nationally-televised meets stood at the heart of those efforts. Last year, the USATF Bermuda, NYC, and LA Grand Prix meets were all shown nationally on NBC. In 2025, none of those meets were even held. What happened to them? And what should USATF's role be in promoting/staging professional track meets?
We've never seen anything like this before? 1:45 for a HS sophomore. 3 individual national track titles for a HS junior. What can the talented duo do in Eugene?
Could a HS star win an event (or two) in the men's meet? Quincy Wilson has a shot in the 400 as do Tate Taylor and Maurice Gleaton in the 100.
2025 USAs is gonna be wild. The women's 800 is WIDE OPEN. The 400s should be especially good, with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone vs. Aaliyah Butler and HS junior Quincy Wilson trying to make the men's team. Plus who makes the team in the loaded men's 5,000? Did you know the men's 10k and 5k have never had the same 1-2-3 at USAs? And that this will be the first USAs since 2018 that men's 100 won't be broadcast on tv?
After more than a week with no explanation for Hall's withdrawal, his agent John Regis told LetsRun.com that he will not compete at USAs due to a hamstring injury. Hall could theoretically still make it to Worlds by winning the DL title.
Just three years ago, the US SUCKED at the men's 800. But this year, five Americans have broken 1:44 and 14 have broken 1:45, both all-time records. Oh, and there's a 16-year-old named Cooper Lutkenhaus who has run 1:45.45, taking a full second off a 29-year-old US high school record. We break it down for you.
It's been 89 years since the US had the same top three in consecutive USA men's 1500 finals. Could Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, and Hobbs Kessler change that in 2025? Or will recent college grads Ethan Strand and Nathan Green run their way onto the team? Already this year, Hocker has run personal bests in the 800 (1:45.13), mile (3:47.43), 3,000 (7:23.14), and 5,000 (12:57.82). He ran faster and finished higher at Pre this year compared to last year. Last year, Hocker made a big jump in fitness between Prefontaine and the Olympics. If Hocker can make that same jump in 2025, he is going to be a beast come Tokyo.
- MB: Jonathan Gault thinks the US 1500 team will be Hocker - Nuguse - Kessler. Do you agree?
- MB: Hocker and Teare… Hocker esp, is one Bike Crash away from ruining his prime years
- MB: Message to the US B-tier 1500m guys
- Dyestat: Women's Storylines To Watch At The USATF Outdoor Championships 2025
- Dyestat: Men's Storylines To Watch At The USATF Outdoor Championships 2025
Other Nationals
- British Champs/World Champs Trials Are This Weekend In Birmingham The men’s 1500m will be a highlight with Jake Wightman, George Mills, Neil Gourley and Elliot Giles. Josh Kerr has a bye to Worlds so is in the 5000m and Max Burgin leads the 800m. George Hunter Bell and Jemma Reekie are in the 800m and 1500m with Laura Muir in the 1500m. Innes FitzGerald is in the 5000m and Zharnel Hughes and Dina Asher-Smith lead the sprints.
- Heading into Candian champs, Marco Arop is "confident that I’m in the best shape of my life right now, and I’m excited to prove it,”
- After missing Olympic birth last year by 1 world ranking point, Canada's Gabriela Debues-Stafford felt like retiring - Now she's been rejuvenated after a move to Mark Woland and a return Scotland "It's been a bit of a surprise to be so close to my old form," said GDS. In case you didn't know, one world ranking poiny "is ",the equivalent of 0.3 seconds across [her best] three 5,000m [qualifying races]."
- Canadian Olympian Kieran Lumb joins Gjert Ingebrigtsen's Vikings Athletics Club and raves about him “I think for me, what’s important is to make your own opinions on people when you meet them,” he says. “I can only speak to my experience with Gjert, and he’s been extremely welcoming and kind on and off the track. I have nothing but positive things to say.”
*MB: Kieran Lumb —> Gjert Ingebrigtsen
*MB: Message to the US B-tier 1500m guys - Double Euro U23 Champ Stefan Nillessen Is Tripling (800m, 1500m, 5000m) At Dutch National Championships This Weekend Nillessen is training partners with Olympic 1500m 6th placer Niels Laros.
Weekend Listen
Deena Kastor, the Olympic bronze medallist in the marathon, shares stories of the coach who shaped her as a runner and human being.
- LRC Friday 15 Weekend Podcast: USAs Next Week, Grand Slam Track Needs Cash, Kenyan Trials & Byes The LetsRun crew breaks down the latest running news. Only available to Supporters Club members.
Grand Slam Track Financial Update
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
If it's too good to be true....
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?
- Toni Reavis column on Ruth C's bust: Why don't agents, shoe sponsors or marathon Title sponsors do anything about the doping scourge Reavis correctly points out that just banning the athletes isn't working. What is agents were required to put up a bond to vouch fo athletes being clean?
- MB: Breaking: Marathon world record Ruth Chepngetich has tested positive - Will Kenya's Parliament apologize to yours truly?|
- 2024: Amby Burfoot says it out loud - Chepngetich is doping
- 2024: Kenyan parliament is currently discussing my questions of Ruth Chepngetich & are demanding that I apologize Remember when 13 members of Parliament went on a 20+ tirade ripping LetsRun for asking Chepngetich what she would say to people who thought her performace was too good to be true.
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Meet Phanuel Koech
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.
Our Latest Feature
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.
The 800 Gets LetsRun Love
The 800 Gets LetsRun Love
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)
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."
Jonathan Gault pays tribute to two legends
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.
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
