We highly praise Conseslus Kipruto who unseated the GOAT, Ezekiel Kemboi, at the Olympics, and had one of the greatest years in steeplechase history. At just 22 years old, Kipruto could stay at the top for some time. We also give out accolades for the amazing career that Paul Kipsiele Koech enjoyed.

We hope you have recovered from the Olympics as on Thursday, Lausanne will serve up a few tasty matchups at the crossover distances of 1000 and 3000 meters. Centro has an outside shot at Rick Wohlhuter's 42-year-old American record of 2:13.9 but he'll have some serious competition on his hands. Indoor world champ Dibaba tackles Obiri in the 3k while Francine Niyonsaba, Margaret Wambui and Melissa Bishop are all entered in the women's 800.

Wilson looks to be in good shape but has her hands full in a truly spectacular women's 800 with Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba and all of the medalists from 2015. There's also Elijah Manang'oi in the men's 1,500, Trayvon Bromell in the 200, Justin Gatlin in the 100, Wayde van Niekerk in the 400, Marquise Goodwin vs. Greg Rutherford in the LJ, English Gardner vs. Elaine Thompson in the 100 and Gianmarco Tamberi in the HJ. *MB: Official 2016 Rome Golden Gala Diamond League Discussion Thread.

The Diamond League's debut in Africa features some great distance matchups. Everyone is hyping the women's 5000 at Pre next week but the gold (Almaz Ayana) and silver medallists (Senbere Teferi) are both in Rabat this weekend. Adam Kszczot, Amel Tuka and Nijel Amos headline the men's 800, while MMB joins Jairus Birech and Conseslus Kipruto in the steeple. And then women's 800 where World Indoor champ Francine Niyonsaba will aim to take down Caster Semenya. Plus LaShawn Merritt in the 400 and Erik Kynard vs. Gianmarco Tamberi in the HJ.

Are you ready for the start of the 2016 professional track and field season? You'd better be as the 2016 IAAF Diamond League season starts on Friday with a big bang and A TON of awesome races that feature clashes between the very best in the World: #1 Kiprop vs. #2 Manang'oi in the 1,500, #1 Birech vs. #2 Kipruto and #3 Kemboi  in the steeple, #1 Sum vs. #1 Semenya in the 800, and #1 Ayana vs. #1 Cheruiyot in the 3,000. There's also Mutaz Essa Barshim vs. Derek Drouin in the high jump, Tori Bowie vs. Dafne Schippers in the 200, Omar McLeod vs. Aries Merritt in the 110 hurdles. Plus Sandi Morris (PV), LaShawn Merritt (400) and Christian Taylor (TJ).

LRC's latest dispatch from Kenya includes a recap from the "City of Champions," where Andy Arnold tells you who's looking good (Ezekiel Kemboi, Elijah Manangoi, Timothy Cheruiyot), why Kiprop can go sub-3:26 this year and why he's become a Birech fan. Plus did he spot Kenyan's newest teen sensation? Updated with altitude conversions.

LRC has another exclusive update from Kenya as Andy Arnold watched Canova conduct workouts with some of the world's top athletes. Plus Birech makes an Olympic prediction that Evan Jager fans will want to read about.

Conseslus Kipruto failed to medal at Worlds but the rest of his season was so good he earns the #1 ranking. *LRC Evan Jager Is "Extremely" Disappointed He Didn't Break 8:00 Or Medal This Year But Realizes He Made Big Strides Jager: "I feel like I made a huge jump in fitness from years prior. I took myself to a new level of athlete and really proved to myself that I was one of the best steeplechasers in the world and not just hoping I was one of the best."

This week, we get struck with 10,000-meter fever, talk about the greatest mascot of the year and wonder if Abdi Abdirahman can do something no male US track athlete has ever done. Plus we ask for your help in making track and field more interesting: MB: Creative ways to make boring distance races exciting - let's hear them. Post them now.

$50,000 paydays were on the line in a number of events which helped spice up the action and prevent the athletes from succumbing to post-Worlds jet-lag/hangovers. How did Evan Jager, Jenny Simpson, Shannon Rowbury, Emily Infeld, Robby Andrews and Leo the Lion do?

There were doubts surrounding Kemboi's fitness this year, but once Worlds came around, he did what he always does, blowing away the field over the final 200 to win in 8:11.28. Conseslus Kipruto managed second despite tearing his shoe on the final water jump, while Brimin Kipruto (3rd) and Jairus Birech (4th) helped produced an unprecedented 1-4 sweep for Kenya. Dan Huling (5th) was the top American as Evan Jager (6th) and Donn Cabral (10th) struggled.

It's Jager vs the Kenyans in the USA-Kenyan dual meet as Kenya and the USA have the top 7 entrants.

Fresh off a great run at the U.S. Champs, Evan Jager, Donn Cabral and Dan Huling face a stacked steeple field led by '14 world #1 Jairus Birech and world/Olympic champ Ezekiel Kemboi. Taoufik Makhloufi, who ran 2:13.08 for 1,000 on Wednesday, takes on stalwarts Ayanleh Souleiman and Silas Kiplagat. 

Kemboi (8:01.71) outkicked Jairus Birech (8:01.83) as Jager was 4th in 8:05.28, his fastest-ever opener. Justin Gatlin kept winning with a world-leading 19.68 in the 200 while Mutaz Essa Barshim cleared 2.41 but chose not to go any higher even though he had no misses in the competition.

Molly Beckwith-Ludlow, faces world champ Eunice Sum in the 800 while World XC champ Agnes Jebet Tirop faces 2013 WC bronze medalist Almaz Ayana in the women's 5,000. In non-distance action, there's a great HJ with Mutaz Essa Barshim & Bohdan Bondarenko, plus Merritt vs. James in the 400 and VCB vs. SAFP in the 100.

We need your help. Vote and tell us who are the male and female runner's of the year for the World, US, and NCAA. Plus vote for the 'best record-breaking performance', the 'race of the year', 'moment of the year' and 'unusual moment of the year'.

Jairus Birech reigned supreme this year, winning six of the seven DL events to go with a gold medal at the African Championships. Evan Jager was the clear U.S. #1 and enjoyed a PR (and American record) 8:04.71 in Brussels in September. Canadian Matt Hughes sneaks into the top 10 as well.