Plus the coaching merry-go-round among the top US women's 1500 runners this year and thoughts on the NBC broadcast, which disappointed.
*MB Awful Announcing on PRE Broadcast
*MB NBC "story" vs. international feed "race"
Trackerati: Prefontaine Classic was not just sold out - it was rocking and fairly young - “It felt like 1972 again.” “This was a young crowd,” noted Bruce Mortensen, the 1965 NCAA steeplechase champion for Oregon.
More Post Pre News
- When you factor in wind, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden's 10.75 (-1.4) at Pre was the 7th best 100m ever run by a woman. And only 4 women have ever run faster if you factor in wind.
- 2019 NCAA xc champ Edwin Kurgat realizes he's got a lot of work to do before Worlds after punching ticket to Worlds at Pre as top Kenyan He's correct as he was only 5th at Doha DL, 6th at GST Philly and 4th at Pre.
- BBC's Sportsworld interviews Cole Hocker for 45 minutes - How Cole Hocker won Olympic 1500m gold Around the 45 minute mark, he still speaks positively about GST even though LA was cancelled and many athletes haven't been paid.
*MB: Cole Hocker: "There's nothing up for debate. Olympic record, Olympic gold. I don't even care how people view me. I know what I've done at that point." - New Mexico's Ishmael Kipkurui went pro with Nike and then promptly made the Kenyan WC team
On The Boards
On The Boards
Sifan Hassan Stepping Way Down In Distance Later This Month
- Sifan Hassan Announced For London Diamond League Mile On July 19 Hassan said she's moving back down from the road to shorter distances for the track season explaining, "Last year my curiosity pushed me to take a risk and compete in three distances at the Paris Games. I know I’m probably a bit crazy to mix it up so much, but I like the combination of track and road and I want to see what is possible."
Non-Distance News
- Greece's European Indoor Champ Emmanouil Karalis wins Fly Athens PV meet with 6.00m GB's Molly Caudery won the women's with 4.80m.
- 2021 world jr champ Imaobong Nse Uko of Baylor blames Nigerian federation for her whereabouts ban “I struggled for months with the online system meant to report my whereabouts,” Uko wrote. “Despite reaching out to AFN repeatedly for help, I was met with excuses and silence. When I was ultimately suspended, I was devastated.”
- Mississippi State's NCAA Decathlon champ Peyton Bair transferring to Oregon Bair also won the heptathlon at NCAA Indoors and is just the 7th male to win both multi events in the same year. Oregon now has landed him and the decathlon WR holder in the discus.
- Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme (8478 Points) and Colombia’s Martha Araujo (6451 Points) win Decastar multin Talence
- Former Oregon, current Texas HJer Osawese Agbonkonkon has published a sci-fi book You can check out Psychic Suit here.
More News Of Note
- India To Bid For Both 2029 And 2031 World Championships World Athletics will announce the host of both those championships in September 2026.
- New Short Film Focuses On The "Real Heroes" Who Finish At The Back Of The Pack At The NYC Marathon Talking about the recent string of Netflix series that follow elite athletes from various sports (like Drive To Survive and Sprint) one amateur runner from the film said, “That’s kind of boring. It’s just another guy who figured out what he was best at in middle school, and didn’t go to high school with normal kids, and maybe went to college, and dropped out and became a millionaire tennis player.”
- Washington State AD Claims Cutting Program To Mostly Distance Wasn't For "Financial Reasons" She said, "The decision was made not for financial reasons as much as for competitive success and the ability to provide a high-level experience." But one would think if finances weren't an issue, they'd be able to afford to provide a high-level experience for all event groups.
- Shannon Rowbury Officially Upgraded To 2012 Olympic 1500m Bronze By The IOC We've known this was coming since last year when Russian Tatyana Tomashova was banned, but now the IOC has officially updated the results.
- New Women-Only Event At GB's Crystal Palace Will Combine A Fashion Show And A Track Meet The athletes will be take part in the fashion show before competing on the track.
Laros edged out Yared Nuguse by .01 in a thrilling Bowerman Mile while Mu finished last in her return to the 800 in 2:03.44.
For the first time in 32 years, two outdoor women's distance world records on the track fell on the same day. Chebet is the first woman under 14:00 for 5000m on the track while Kipyegon broke the 1500 record for the third time. *WA Recap
*Cornell grad Rudy Winkler breaks US and Diamond League record with 83.16m heave in hammer
What a meet. Full results as well as race replays.
Pre on the MB
- Official 2025 Prefontaine Classic Discussion Thread
- Niels MF Laros. Steals it from Nuguse. Bowerman mile win 3:45.94!!! Nuguse WENT for it but tied up and got nipped at the line. Hocker 4:37. Fisher 3:48.'
- Jefferson-Wooden (10.75) takes down Alfred (10.77) at 2025 Prefontaine Classic as Sha'Carri Richardson is DFL - 11.19
- Athing Mu-Nikolayev looks HORRIBLE. Runs 2:03.44 for DFL. Dugume wins in 1:57.20.
- To the women just lapped in the Pre Classic 5000, please turn in your pro cards What a race. Chebet led the whole thing and ran 13:58.06 WR!!
- Owen Powell 3:58.12 @ Pre Ethan Strand DOMINATED the B mile in 3:48.
- The Bowerman Mile has been bumped: 2025 Pre Classic will now finish with the women's 1500 -- WR incoming for Faith Kipyegon?
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Protecting Women's Sport
- Trump Administration Releases $175 Million In Federal Funding To UPenn After They Erase The Records Of Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas UPenn President J. Larry Jameson also said they "will apologize to those who experienced a competitive disadvantage or experienced anxiety because of the policies in effect at the time."
*MB: Donald Trump 1: U Penn 0. Penn agrees to remove Lia Thomas from school record books. - New IOC President Kirsty Coventry Says The IOC Will Actually Take A Stance On Trans Issue Previously the IOC left it up to individual sport federations, but now is working to establish an overall policy. It's very simple, hopefully they don't screw it up.
Non-Pre Weekend Action
- Japan's Yuki Takei Wins Gold Coast Marathon In Course Record 2:07:33 Japanese men took the first 6 spots while Ethiopia's Tegest Ymer won the women's race in 2:29:27.
- The Netherlands' Minke Bisschops Runs 10.89/22.39 Sprint Double In Greece The 100m was wind-aided (3.2m/s).
- Kenya’s Valentine Jepkoech Rutto Wins Uphill And Classic Mountain Race Double In China On the men's side, Germany’s Lukas Ehrle won the uphill race and Kenya’s Michael Selelo took the classic race.
- Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme And USA’s Taliyah Brooks Lead After Day 1 Of Decastar Multi-Event Meet In Talence, France
Outside Pre Coverage
- Mondo Duplantis Narrowly Misses Breaking His Own PV WR At Pre He took three attempts, but said the wind at Hayward made it difficult. “Sometimes the wind was unbelievably good. I was excited to use the pole I was on for my last attempt. But it wasn’t really as good of a wind as my first two attempts. It was a bit unfortunate.”
- World Athletics Full Pre Classic Recap
- Kishane Thompson Dominates Pre 100m In 9.85 Ahead Of Zharnel Hughes And Trayvon Bromell
- USA Today: Sha'Carri Richardson Finishes 9th (DFL) In Pre 100m
- DyeStat: From Spectacular To Sublime To Surprising, Performances Dazzle At 50th Prefontaine Classic
- The Register Guard Shares Their Best Photos From Pre
Track Drama
- Inside Source Says Grand Slam Track Still Owes Athletes $13 Million In Prize Money And Appearance Fees One source said that the GST isn't taking much longer than the Diamond League to send out payments, but rival track meet, Athlos, says they paid athletes in "just a few business days" after the meet.
- MB: USATF is SUING its former Board chair Mike Conley. This could get REAL interesting. Former USATF board member Jim Estes is suing USATF over the mess that was the disqualification of Chattanooga from the 2024 Marathon Trials bidding. USATF is suing Conley, alleging that he colluded with Estes and has refused USATF's request for documents, impeding their ability to defend themselves in the Estes lawsuit.
Distance News
- Ireland's European 1500m Champ Ciara Mageean Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer She posted the news on Instagram and revealed she's already started treatment.
*MB: Ciara Mageean diagnosed with cancer - Andy Buchanan Sets Australia All-Comers' Record With 61:08 Win At The Gold Coast Half-Marathon He won in a close race with Japanese runners Kenya Sonota (61:10) and Naoya Sakuda (61:11). Aussie Leanne Pompeani won the women's race in 69:14.
- Sarah Tait, The First Recipient Of Eilish McColgan's "Giving Back to Track" Program Ended Up Breaking Her Scottish Steeplechase Record Tait ran 9:27 to finish 4th at NCAA Champs this year.
- World Athletics Ratifies Tigist Assefa's 2:15:50 "Women's Only" Marathon World Record She won the London Marathon this year which has a separate start for women (as opposed to the Chicago Marathon where Ruth Chepngetich ran her 2:09:56 alongside the men).
More Pre Classic Coverage
Fisher's 3:59.38 mile PB is 10-years-old from when he was in high school. At the pre-meet press conference he joked, "You look at the start list and you see a 3:59 in there and it's like, how'd that guy get in to it?"
- The Oregonian: Sinclaire Johnson Ready For World-Record Pace In The Pre 1500m She says, “I’m looking forward to putting myself up near the front and see what happens." She also talks about how she decided to stay in Portland to train alone (and be coached by her fiance Craig Nowak, after the Union Athletic Club moved to Boulder.
- RRW: Athing Mu-Nikolayev To Run Her First 800m In Nearly A Year At Prefontaine Classic
- DyeStat Does A Year-By-Year Summary Of The Prefontaine Classic Through The Last 50 Years
NCAA Sprint Stuff
- Nigerian/Baylor Sprinter Imaobong Nse Uko Gets 2-Year Doping Ban Uko was the 2021 world U20 400m champ.
- Penn State Signs Canadian Olympic Sprinter Marie-Éloïse Leclair Leclair ran for Canada's 4x100 at Paris 2024.
Non LRC Coverage of Pre
- Recommended Read Athing Mu-Nikolayev opens up on comeback, marriage and chasing joy in return to Prefontaine Classic – Orange County Register "There’s nothing more that I want than gold. But I think most importantly this year, it’s just me regaining my joy back and finding my love for the sport," says the newly married 2021 Olympic champ. Plus coach Kersee reveals why he thought it was important to take her to Paris last year.
*MB: Athing Mu opens up about her love of running, marriage and overcoming 2024 disappointment - As The Prefontaine Classic Turns 50 Years Old, The Register Guard Looks Back At Some Of The Most Memorable Moments One of the top moments happened in 2001 when Alan Webb ran the high school mile record of 3:53.43. The race was won by WR holder Hicham El Guerrouj who took Webb's arm and ran a victory lap with him.
- World Athletics Pre Classic Preview: Fields Feature 17 Olympic Champions With Full Paris 2024 Podium Rematches In Five Events Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Mondo Duplantis, Julien Alfred, Quincy Hall, Rai Benjamin headline the non-distance action.
- MB: Conner Mantz - Entered in Pre Classic 10k
- AW Preview: Golden Line-Ups For 50th Prefontaine Classic
Distance News
Jane Hedengren unsurprisingly wins Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Player Of The Year award She's the first since Katelyn Tuohy to win the award in both XC and in track. What was she most proud of? Her 4:23.50 mile. “I was pleasantly surprised with how I was able to progress in that event this past track season,” Hedengren said. “I was excited that I could have that turnover.”
- The Marathon Project Announces $40,000 Prize Purse and Early Professional Entries - Four 2:10 men have already committed 7 men broke 2:10 in the first edition of the race in 2020. Will more do it in 2024?
- 67-yr-old woman finishes 10th in historic Lake Saroma 100 km in Japan
Japanes Nationals Are This Weekend / Non Distance News
Other News Of Note
- The Times: Track Stars Still Chasing Unpaid Appearance Fees And Prize Money From Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track Some athletes have reached out to World Athletics expressing concerns, but a statement from GST said they plan to pay athletes for Kingston prize money by the end of July and for the other meets (including appearance feeds for the cancelled LA meet) by the end of September
*MB: Grand Slam Track Unpaid Payments - Justin Gatlin Says He's Coming Out Of Retirement At 43-Years-Old Gatlin talked about going for Kim Collins' 9.93 over-40 WR: “Kim Collins is 9.93 actually. When I went out there and ran my time, my last race, when I was like 39, 40 years old, Kim texted me, was like, thank you so much for not breaking my record. Happy retirement.”
*Video Of Gatlin Making The "Announcement" - Deep Women's Field Set For 2025 Sydney Marathon Lead By Sifan Hassan And Former WR Holder Brigid Kosgei There are also five other sub-2:20 women including defending winner Workenesh Edesa (2:17:55 PB).
HS / Youth News
- T&F News Profile On New Balance Nationals Triple Champ Natalie Dumas Dumas says one of the big things that helped her improve this year was running XC in the fall. She's going to race against the pros USA Champs this month, although hasn't said which events (she's qualified in the 800m, 400m and 400H).
*MB: Natalie Dumas wins 800 (2:00:11), 400 (51:15), and 400h (55:95) at NBNO - Jane Hedengren Named Gatorade Girls Track Player Of The Year Hedengren thought she was meeting her future coach, BYU's Diljeet Taylor, at a café to talk about training, but instead, Katelyn Tuohy was there to surprise her with the award.
- MB: Wow: 49-year-old father admits he doped his 16-year-old 4:40 miler son for a Jr Olympic Track meet - both banned!! USADA said they initiated an investigation after receiving information from a whistleblower.
- MB: Age cheating in Ethiopia exposed. MRI body scans done for African U20 Champs and only 29% passed Of the 76 athletes screened, only 22 were cleared to compete.
RIP To A Legend
As an athlete, Dellinger, 91, was an NCAA champion, American record holder, world record holder and Olympic medalist As a coach, he won four NCAA XC titles as coach at the University of Oregon, where he coached legendary athletes such as Steve Prefontaine, Alberto Salazar, and Matt Centrowitz.
Admin News
- InsideTheGames: Thomas Bach Officially Passes The IOC Torch To Kirsty Coventry Bach said, "I pass the baton to a new generation; a new chapter full of opportunities begins. I leave with a sense of peace, knowing that I gave everything I had. It has been a respectful transition. ...With Kirsty Coventry, the Olympic Movement is in the best possible hands."
- IOC Hits "Pause" On Olympic Bidding Process As New President Kirsty Coventry Orders Review Of Timing And Member involvement India is the considered one of the current frontrunners to host the 2036 Olympics.
- UK Athletics Signs Major Sponsorship Deal With Financial Services Brand, Novuna
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.
Post Euro Team Champs News
- The Top Photos From The European Team Championships
- List Of All The Records Set At Euro Team Champs There were 56 national records set across all three divisions.
- The Best Quotes From The European Team Championships
Japan Running News
- Kok Wai Tse And Mikko Ota Win Lake Saroma 100k In Japan 67-year-old sub-3 marathoner Mariko Yugeta was 10th in the woman's race.
- Oga Ekiden Recap: Hakone Ekiden ChampS Aoyama Gakuin University Win Collegiate Division Shingenden Kogyo corporate team won the open division.
- Stephen Muthini (61:08) And Mizuki Matsuda (69:48) Win Hakodate Half In Japan
NCAA News
- Washington's Two-Time NCAA 1500m Champ Nathan Green Signs With Adidas Green already had a NIL dead with adidas and will remain in Seattle and continue to be coached by Washington head coach Andy Powell.
- Texas State University Joins Pac-12 Conference The conference now has 9 universities, up from the just two (Oregon State and Washington State) that remained after the major exodus last year.
- Georgia Head Coach Caryl Smith Gilbert Named Team USA Women's Head Coach For 2025 World Champs
News From Jamaica
- Four Top Jamaican Athletes Have Recently Switched Allegiance To Turkey; Paid $500,000 Signing Bonuses They include three Olympic medalists in Olympic discus champ Roje Stona, Olympic shot put bronze medalist Rajindra Campbell and Olympic LJ silver medalist Wayne Pinnock plus 2022 world U20 TJ champ Jaydon Hibbert.
- Jamaican Champs Final Day Recap: Bryan Levell (20.16) And Ashanti Moore (22.66) Won The 200s In the women's 800m, Natoya Goule lost her first national 800m since 2013 to Kelly-Ann Beckford (2:00.23 to 2:00.97). Tyrice Taylor (1:45.26) surprised national record-holder Navasky Anderson (1:46.03) in the men's race. *Results
- The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Confident Will Still Qualify Relays For Worlds Their men's 4x100, women's 4x400 and mixed 4x400 all failed to qualify at World Relay Champs.
European Team Championships In The Books
- Niels Laros Wins Competitive 5000m On Final Day Of European Team Championships He closed in 52.31 to win in 13:44.45 over Switzerland’s European 10,000m champ Dominic Lobalu (13:45.37) and Spain's Euro 10,o00m bronze medalist Thierry Ndikumwenayo (13:45.38). Finland’s European U20 gold medalist Ilona Mononen won the women's steeple.
- World Athletics Final Day Recap: Larissa Iapichino (Long Jump) And Leonardo Fabbri (Shot Put) Help Italy Defend Its Crown At Euro Team Champs
- Belgium Wins 2nd Division At European Team Championships As Slovenia And Norway Also Gain Promotion The top three teams gain promotion to Division 1 while the bottom three teams from Division 1 are relegated to Division 2.
- Dominant Iceland Win Euro Team Champs 3rd Division They along with Luxembourg and Bosnia & Herzegovina gained promotion from Division 3 to Division 2.
- BBC: GB Finish Fifth At Euro Team Champs
More Weekend Results
- Kenyan National Champs Recap: 2022 World U20 Champ Reynold Cheruiyot Nips 2019 World Champ Timothy Cheruiyot In the 1500m By 3:37.23 To 3:37.28 Kelvin Loti won the 800m with a big PB of 1:43.61, George Mutinda (44.51) and Mercy Oketch (50.32) took the 400s and Ferdinand Omanyala won the 100m in 10.08. This meet did not serve as Kenya's world trials (those are in August).
- Two-Time World Champ Chase Jackson Breaks Her Own US Shot Put Record With 20.95m At The Iron Wood Classic In Idaho It's the farthest throw in the world since 2013.
- MB: Tyreek Hill Beats Josephus Lyles (Noah's Brother) In ATX Sprint Classic 100m In Texas (10.10 to 10.25)
Western States 100
Olson won in 14:11:25 ahead of Chris Myers (14:17:39) with Killian Jornet third (14:19:22). Hall won in 16:37:16 while Fu-Zhao Xiang finished runner-up again in 16:47:09.
European Team Championships
- Spain's Mohamed Attaoui Breaks 800m Championship Record With 1:44.01 Victory At Euro Team Champs Femke Bol dominated the flat 400m in 49.48, just .04 off her PB from three years ago. Olympic silver medalist Nadia Battocletti won the 5000m in 15:56 and Germany's Karl Bebendorf took the steeple in 8:20. Hungary’s Boglarka Takacs got a surprise win over Poland's Ewa Swoboda in the 100m (11.06 to 11.13).
*MB: Bol easily wins 400m at European Team Championships
- Greece's Two-Time Olympic Long Jump Champ Miltiadis Tentoglou Leaps World-Leading 8.46m To Highlight Saturday At European Team Champs France’s Anais Bourgoin won the women's 800m in a meet record 1:58.60.
- Defending Champions Italy Lead, But Nailbiting Climax Ahead Going Into Final Day At Madrid 2025
- Belgium, Norway And Slovenia Sit In Promotion Places After 2nd Division Day 1
NCAA News
- T&F News Chooses New Mexico's Ishmael Kipkurui And Michigan's Savannah Sutherland As Their Collegiate Outdoor Athletes Of The Year Kipkurui won the NCAA 10,000m title and earlier in the year set the collegiate record at 26:50.21 while Sutherland set the collegiate 400H record at 52.46 when she won her second consecutive NCAA title.
- Bowerman Award Men’s Semifinalists Announced Distance runners to make the list were UNC's Ethan Strand, BYU's James Corrigan, New Mexico's Ishmael Kipkurui and OSU's Brian Musau. The list of 10 will be whittled down to three finalists on July 8.
- Bowerman Award Women’s Semifinalists Announced Distance women on the list are Stanford's Roisin Willis, New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei and Alabama's Doris Lemngole.
RIP Bill Dellinger
Dellinger was titan of the sport, beloved by so many of his former athletes. He did it all -- set American records in the 1500m and 5000m, NCAA mile champ, made three Olympic teams, earned 1964 Olympic bronze, coached Oregon to four NCAA XC titles (and one on the track), coached Steve Prefontaine. What a life.
- MB: RIP Bill Dellinger, 1934-2025
- DyeStat: Oregon Hall of Fame Coach And Three-Time Olympian Bill Dellinger Dies
- USTFCCCA Mourns The Passing Of Two-Time Hall-of-Famer Bill Dellinger Dellinger was inducted into the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998 and then into the Collegiate Track & Field/Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame in 2024.
- The Register Guard: Bill Dellinger's Life In Photos
- GoDucks.com Bill Dellinger Tribute
Jamaican Champs
Kishane Thompson moved up to #6 all-time in the 100m, as 20-year-old Tina Clayton emerged as the future of Jamaica women's sprinting.
- Discussion: Kishane Thompson 9.75 #6 All-time at Jamaican Champs
- 38-Year-Old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Qualifies For Her 9th World Championships She finished 3rd in 10.91 behind Tina Clayton (10.81) and Shericka Jackson (10.88).
- Usain Bolt Pays Tribute To SAFP, Says "She Showed That I Should Have Stayed Longer"
- World Athletics Recap
Two Very Different Headlines From The British Media On Kipyegon's Sub-4 Attempt
- The Independent: "Faith Kipyegon Didn’t Run Four Minutes For The Mile – But This Is How She Can Succeed Next Time" Some interesting insights from GB's Georgia Hunter Bell who served as one of the two female pacers. She says that they used her to practice the drafting strategy with the elite men and that 60 second 400m reps "felt more like 65 seconds for the effort."
- The Telegraph: "Faith Kipyegon’s Gutsy Failure Suggests Women May Never Break The Four-Minute Mile" They ask, "If Kipyegon, perhaps the greatest female middle-distance runner, cannot get closer even with the might of Nike’s multimillion pound innovation department behind her, can any woman run a mile under four minutes?"
Breaking-4
Kipyegon gave it a go but after hitting 1200 in 3:01.84 (4:03.82 mile pace), she faded to a 63-second last lap. *Full race video
- MB: Faith Kipyegon breaking-4 official discussion thread
- MB: I've timed it twice - I'm pretty sure Faith Kipyegon didn't run a 4:06.42 mile today in Paris. What was here real time?
- MB: What did Nike actually spend on the sub 4 mile attempt? The numbers we are hearing may shock you.
- MB: Nike claims that in a pre-race test, another Nike pro ran 3% faster in mile with pacers and speedsuit. So what happened?
- MB: This Faith Kipyegon thing illustrates something that really bothers me with how women are marketed to/treated in general
- MB: Whoever came up with the idea of Faith Kipyegon breaking 4min should be fired
- MB: Faith Kipyegon Not Even Close to Sub 4
Non-LRC coverage Breaking 4 Coverage
- Toni Reavis: You can't hurry love - or, a 4-minute mile "Ater Paris today, we—at least, I—didn’t come away thinking a sub-4-minute mile is imminent for women. In fact, it seems to have quite a long way to go."
- Outside: Faith Kipyegon Didn’t Break the 4-Minute Mile. But She Ran a Damn Good Race.
- NY Times: Faith Kipyegon falls short in attempt to break four-minute mile
- Independent: Faith Kipyegon agonisingly close to Breaking 4-minute mile goal We can't believe multiple media outlets acted like she was close.
- The Guardian: Faith not enough as Kipyegon misses four-minute mile barrier by six seconds
Live LRC Watch Party & Reaction Show
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.
Steve Prefontaine Shoe News
- Good Read: A Pair Of Steve Prefontaine's Shoes From 1973 Recently Went Up For Auction The shoes were modified by Bill Bowerman, worn extensively by Pre, modified and have been in the possession of his former girlfriend's nephew since he died. An interesting article that touches on the history of Pre and Nike.
*The Shoes Ended Up Selling For $69,850
*The Oregonian: "A 10-Year-Old Boy Was Given Nike Shoes In 1975. Now They're Worth A Small Fortune." - Nike Pays Tribute To Steve Prefontaine With Special "Pre Montreal" Vaporfly 4 The look is based on the shoe Bill Bowerman made for Prefontaine for the 1976 Montreal Olympics (which Pre never got to compete in). They look pretty cool.
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)
Ingebrigtsen Verdict Is In
He received a suspended 15-day prison sentence and has to pay $1000 for the altercation where his daughter says he hit her in the face with a towel. He was cleared of other charges of abuse including those against Jakob. Gjert Ingebrigtsen lawyers said, “The decisive factor in the court’s conclusion was that there was no evidence that created a continuous fear in his children. The court has particularly emphasized that several close family members and outside witnesses have not seen or experienced abuse.”
- MB: Gjert Ingebrigtsen CLEARED of charges of abusing Jakob
- The Guardian's Sean Ingle: "The Trial That Gripped Norway Like A Soap Opera Has Ripped Apart Track And Field's Most Famous Family" Ingle writes, "A court cleared Gjert Ingebrigtsen of many of the abuse charges made against him but the father and coach’s hope of reconciliation seems remote."
- BBC: "The Tumult In The Ingebrigtsen Fairytale Was Never Far From The Surface"
Portland Track Festival - Brazier's Back Baby!
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.
- MB: DONNY MF BRAZIER: In case you weren't convinced. He's officially, officially back. 1:43.81 negative split
- DyeStat Recap: "Donavan Brazier Makes Triumphant Return To Portland Track Festival With Fastest Time Since 2020"
- MB: Owen Powell and Josiah Testosterone 3:36
- MB: Katelyn Touhy 15:04
- Donavan Brazier Video Interview
- Portland Track Festival Day 1 Results UA Dark Sky's Isaac Updike (8:13) and Gracie Hyde (9:24) won the steeplechases. NAZ Elite's Abby Nichols (31:52) took the women's 10,000m.
GST LA Cancelled
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.
World XC Will Be Here Before You Know It - Make Your Travel Plans Now
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.
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
‒Cole Hocker talking to BBC Sport in a 50-minute podcast entitled, "The Warm Up Track 2025: How Cole Hocker won Olympic 1500m gold"
MB: Cole Hocker: "There's nothing up for debate. Olympic record, Olympic gold. I don't even care how people view me."