- MB: Jeff Galloway, Olympian and pioneer of run / walk method, dies at age 80 Galloway did a little bit of everything you could in the running world. He was college teammates with Boston Marathon winners Amby Burfoot and Bill Rodgers, started the first specialty running store in the US (Phidippides), helped found the Peachtree Road Race, authored more than 20 books, and even let his friend Jack Bacheler take third at the US Olympic Trials. *Amby Burfoot *RW *NYT *AP
Distance News of Note
Wild Sprint News
- 2024 NCAA 100m champ Louie Hinchcliffe, who went pro with Asics, has returned to Houston and the NCAA is allowing him to compete at Big 12s this weekend Coach Carl Lewis famously won't work with you unless you are Houston athlete and the NCAA has allowed him to regain his eligibility.
MB: Insane: Pro sprinter Louie Hinchcliffe allowed to return to NCAA. And he's competing at Big 12s this weekend!!! - MB: NCAA sprinter charged with MURDER. She allegedly stabbed her boyfriend after finding him in bed with her roommate Denita Jackson and Kevaughn Goldson were both on the track team at Lincoln University - a DII school in Missouri. She claims it was self defense.
USA Indoors are Sat/Sunday in Staten Island
Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, Nico Young, Nikki Hiltz and Elle St. Pierre headline USA Indoors. Make your picks in our Aletheia Run Prediction Contest and win big.
- Dyestat's USA Indoor preview: With Worlds spots on the line, there will be A LOT of drama 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus's quest for US title #1 will be a highlight. Hocker is going for the 1500/3000 double. Yared Nuguse is also double-entered. Noah Lyles is in the 60. Lots more.
- Vincent Ciattei is running 1500 at USAs and then the shift will turn to road mile Ciattei would have made his first US team last year but the Word Road Running Champs were cancelled.
On The Boards
On The Boards
- European Marathon Classics (EMC) officially launched! There are 8 cities in the series including surprisingly London. Also includes Rome, Vienna, Madrid, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Lisbon, and Frankfurt. If you run 5 of the 8, you get a cool medal. And the EMC isn’t just for future races. Historical results are being recognized, dating back to the very first editions of each event — as far back as Madrid’s inaugural 1978 race and Lisbon’s first in 1986. Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon, was apparently one of the main architects of EMC.
*MB: World Marathon Majors get a rival? European Marathon Classics officially launched!! London is part of it - MB: Eileen Gu used to be a big-time runner - 40th in California state XC meet as frosh. 3:24 marathon in Paris.
- Should Winter Olympians be paid? Track & field is the only sport to ever pay its medallists
- Cheptegei says his London preparation is going well "I am preparing well and am very focused ahead of the London Marathon because my target is to improve my time by a big margin as I also set my sights on finishing among the top three," said Cheptegei. If Cheptegei doesn't run at least 2:03 this year, can he please return to the track for LA 2028?
- Yoga for runners with tight, tired hips Four poses to bring some range back to overworked hips: Lizard pose, Fire log pose, Reclined quad stretch with a strap, Malasana (yogic squat).
- College swimming is now giving auto qualifiers for mid-major conference winners. Should track & field follow suit?
USATF Half Champs
The men's race has 59:57 man Isai Rodriguez, Charles Hicks, Hillary Bor and Wesley Kiptoo. Emma Grace Hurley (67:35) has the fastest PB in the women's race and faces Jessica McClain, Erika Kemp, Annie Rodenfels and Grace Hartman.
The OG Weekly Recap - Published Every Monday
What a week. Keely Hodgkinson took down the women's indoor 800m world record, there were some wild DMRs at the NCAA level in the US, there was a controversial DQ of a budding 1500 star in Europe, Sam Ruthe's US tour came to a close, European records fell for the men and women in the 10k, and an American no one had had heard of ran 2:07 in Japan. We break it down for you and tell you what it all means below.
NCAA News - Conference Champs Weekend
- Arkansas men stay ranked #1 in latest NCAA rankings; Oregon move up to #2 Tennessee and Kansas State are ranked 3-4.
- No changes to top 3 women's ranked NCAA teams as Illinois stays #1 Georgia, BYU and Arkansas are ranked 2-4.
- Preview: Storylines to watch at the Big Ten Indoor Championships The women's 800m has sub-2 runners Hayley Kitching (Penn State) vs Chloe Foerster (Washington), the Big Ten has 26 men who have gone sub-4 in the mile (lead by Oregon's 2024 NCAA 1500m runner-up Elliott Cook) and Penn State's Handal Roban goes for the 600m/800m double.
- 5 storylines to follow at indoor conference championships this weekend Will the Arkansas women make it 12 straight SEC indoor titles in a row? They are ranked 4th in the country and face Georgia who are ranked #2.
- Class of 2026 Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame announced by USTFCCCA Inductees include 1988 Olympic 800m champ Paul Ereng, two-time Olympic 100m champ Gail Devers and 1968 Olympic 200m bronze medalist John Carlos.
- University of South Dakota receives $40 million in state funding for new indoor track
European News
- Keely Hodgkinson says she feels "closer than ever" to breaking the women's 800m outdoor record - the longest-standing world record in track and field Talking about Jarmila Kratochvilova's 1:53.28 record from 1983, Hodgkinson says, "We're on the right path and we've seen evidence in training that we think that it's possible. I think the reason this year has gone so well for me is because I've had my healthiest winter training I've had in years."
- Double world medalist Nadia Battocletti won her sixth consecutive Italian XC title over the weekend
- UK Athletics admit corporate manslaughter after cage fell on athlete They face a potential fine of over $6 million for the 2017 death of UAE’s Abdullah Hayayei which was caused by a metal pole falling off a throwing cage while he was training for the London World Para Athletics Championships.
- Serbia's Angelina Topić clears 2.0m for first time to win at Tipos Banskobystricka latka HJ meet Czech Republic's world bronze medalist Jan Stefela won the men's competition in a world-leading 2.32m.
Masters Running News
- French 61-year-old Mohammed El Yamani runs 2:28 marathon to shatter age group WR It was his first race in three years and he broke the previous 60-64 age group record by 34 seconds.
- Records Fall at USATF Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque Multiple sprinting world age-group world records went down and 4-time Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs lowered the American 60-64 200m record to 27.66.
Assorted Distance News
- 2019 1500m world champion Timothy Cheruiyot is considering making a move to the 5000m He said, "Because I have been in the 1,500m for a long time, maybe this year I will try to test my legs on the 5,000m to see how it will go."
- Kenya's Lilian Kasait wins Daegu Marathon over Ethiopia’s Meseret Belete after falling in the last quarter mile Kasait won in her marathon debut, 2:19:33 to Belete's 2:19:52. Tanzania's Gabriel Geay won a close men's race in 2:08:09, outkicking Ethiopia's Chimdesa Gudeta who finished with the same time.
- MB: Year of the Stork: Congrats to Emily Infeld for joining the prenancy list Her and her husband made the announcement on Instagram that she is due August 2026.
- Hosts Japan sweep the team titles and win 3 out of 4 individual races at Asian XC Champs Japanese steeplechase national record holders Ryuji Miura and Miu Saito won the men's and women's senior races.
- Lucy Jones and Hugo Milner win English National Cross Country titles
Fair Or Foul?
Yesterday, Botswana's Tshepiso Masalela was DQd for making a gun gesture and pointing it in the direction his chief rival. In 2022 at USAs, Noah Lyles did something very similar and was lauded on national TV in America for "posterizing" his rival. What do you think: Is it great showmanship or a something worthy of a DQ?
Saucony Battle in Boston
Ruthe's US tour has come to an end with a second-place finish behind Arkansas' Ernest Cheruiyot (7:40.53) while Wolfe won in a solo effort. Plus the Oregon men ran 9:14.88 (#4 all-time NCAA) to win the DMR after their mishap on Friday in Arkansas. Under Armour Dark Sky's Jack Anstey won the mile in 3:52.48 and Under Armour Baltimore's Foster Malleck the separate 1500m (3:33.39).
- MB: Parker Wolfe BU 5k, pace set at 12:56. Update. He just broke 13:00 for 1st time - 12:59.03!!!
- MB: Heather MacLean bounces back from the Millrose disaster, 1:59.59 win in Boston Other women's winners included Racel McArthur (mile, 4:27.56), Harvard's Sophia Gorriaran (1000m, 2:37.72 NCAA record) and Grace Fetherstonhaugh (3000m, 8:46.86)
More Track Action
- Toruń recap: Belgium's Eliott Crestan wins 800m in 1:44.07 ahead of Poland's Maciej Wyderka (1:44.30) World 1500m champ Isaac Nader was 5th (1:45.05). France’s European indoor champ Agathe Guillemot won the 1500m in 4:00.64 ahead of Ethiopia’s two-time world indoor champ Freweyni Hailu. Ethiopia’s world indoor silver medalist Nigist Getachew won the women’s 800m (1:59.32) in a race where the top six all went sub-2. Non-distance action as highlighted by WR holder Devynne Charlton just holding off world 100H champ Ditaji Kambundji by .01 in the 60H (7.77 to 7.78). *Results
*MB: Tshepiso Masalela DISQUALIFIED for pretending to shoot Azeddine Habz on finish line Habz ran a meeting record of 3:32.56 (#3 in the world this year).
*MB: Isaac Nader 1:45.05
- Michigan men run 9:14.80 DMR at Alex Wilson Invite The team of Brendan Herger, Miles Brown, Camden Law and Trent McFarland are now #3 NCAA all-time (all-conditions), but World Athletics notes that it is actually faster than the ratified outright world record of 9:15.50 by Team USA from the 2015 World Relay Champs. (WA also notes that another US team ran 9:14.58 in April 2024, but that mark is still "pending ratification.")
- NXN/Brooks XC champ Jackson Spencer wins Simplot Games 3200m in 8:50.50 The altitude conversion for the time (the race was at 4500 feet) is about 8:36.
- Mondo Duplantis opens his season with 6.06m victory and world lead at the All Star Perche meet in France Czechia’s Amálie Švábíková won for the women on countback with 4.76m.
- Anna Hall wins the pentathlon at USATF Indoor Combined Events Championships She scored 4831 points in her first indoor pentathlon in three years (the mark is #2 in US history behind her own 5004 record). Hakim McMorris scored 6255 points to beat Heath Baldwin in the men's heptathlon by just 10 points.
Never give up on your dreams
He ran one race in college. He moved to Japan for a job. Unsponsored and largely training alone, now Ethan Shuley has run 2:07:14 in Osaka and sits 6th on the all-time U.S. list. Thanks to Brett Larner for the video.
*Discussion: Breaking: Unheralded American Ethan Shuley runs 2:07:13 at Osaka Marathon!
*Japan Running News Osaka recap: Djibouti's Ibrahim Hassan (2:05:20) and Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba (2:21:44) get the wins
Other wild results:
More Sunday Road/Trail Results
- Uganda's Harbert Kibet (26:39) and Kenya's Caroline Gitonga (29:34) at the 10K Facsa Castellón in Spain; Yann Schrub and Megan Keith set European records Kibet's time puts him 5th on the world all-time list while France's Schrub ran 26:43 for 2nd to beat Andreas Almgren (26:45) and break Almgren's previous 26:45 European record. Gitonga won her race by 9 seconds (tied for 9th all-time) with GB's Keith finishing 4th in 30:07 to break Eilish McColgan's record by one second (McColgan was in the race as well, finishing 6th in 30:35).
*MB: Yann Schrub runs a new European record of 26:43 at the Castellón 10k
- Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa wins Naples City Half Marathon in a national record 59:01 (#2 on the European all-time list) Kenya’s Lucy Ndambuki won the women's race in 68:48.
- Laura Muir wins Scottish XC Championships It had been 14 years since she raced these championships.
This Weekend's Track Action
- Gout Gout opens his 2026 with 100m PB of 10.00 (+0.9) Gout equaled the fastest legal 100m run by an Australian on home soil.
- Sam Ruthe is racing 3000m at the Saucony Battle for Boston on Sunday The race is being paced for 7:40 (the world U18 record is 7:38.04 from 20 years ago). *Live Results
- Quincy Wilson wins 500m at Garden State Open in 1:01.09 The time is the third fastest by a HS ever behind the 1:00.56 he ran earlier this season and the HS record of 1:00.47.
- Torun preview: Belgium’s Eliott Crestan (1:43.83 indoor PB) vs world 1500m champ Isaac Nader in the 800m on Sunday Two-time world indoor champ Freweyni Hailu vs Olympic 800m silver medalist Tsige Duguma and European indoor champ Agathe Guillemot in the women's 1500m while the men's 1500m has 2025 world leader Azeddine Habz and European indoor 800m champ Samuel Chapple. Two-time world indoor champ and world record-holder Devynne Charlton leads non-distance action in the 60m.
- Mondo Duplantis opening his season at the All Star Perche meet in France on Sunday
Distance News
- 44-year-old Ashley Paulson breaks 100 mile world record at USATF 100 Mile Championships in Nevada She ran 12:19:34 (7:21 pace) to break the previous record (set just last year) by over 17 minutes. Rajpaul Pannu won the men's race in 11:38:56 (6:58 pace).
- Man runs 2:36 at the Austin Marathon in a pair of jeans The 2:29:49 runner Truett Hanes (who has the Guinness World Record for the most pull-ups in 24 hours with 10,001) says he wants to qualify for the 2028 US Olympic Marathon Trials.
- Sad news: 74-year-old runner dies after being hit by a car during the Florida Half Marathon
WR Goes Down In Lievin
Hodgkinson crushed the previous record of 1:55.82, which was set on the day she was born, and was only .26 away from her outdoor pb. In other action, Isaac Nader dominated the 1500, Jessica Hull came up short in her WR attempt and Eliott Crestan marked himself as the favorite for World Indoors. *Full Results
*Hodgkinson smashes world short track 800m record in Liévin with 1:54.87 | REPORT | World Athletics
LetsRun Live Video Reaction
Watch above or here on youtube. If you'd rather listen as a podcast, join our Supporters Club today.
This week's pod & debate
After a huge indoor weekend, Rojo has two huge hot takes on the podcast: Nico Young has passed Grant Fisher — and Josh Hoey might never beat Cooper Lutkenhaus.
More Distance News
- D3 NCAA xc champ starts petition demanding full and public investigation into Seth Clevenger's eligibility Over 250 DIII athletes have signed the petition written by Emmanuel Leblond of Johns Hopkins. He believes there is more than enough information out there to warrant at a minimum a provisional suspension of Seth Clevenger, who transferred to Rowan University from Iowa State after many members of the Iowa State team were suspended in the fall. A recent video appears to show an emailed receipt for an EPO purchase for Mr. Clevenger. Addiitonal, Leblond claims Clevenger admitted to peptide usage as well.
- Does ultrarunning wear out your red blood cells? The day after you finish an ultra, you might feel like you’ve aged years overnight. According to new research from the University of Colorado Anschutz, that sensation might have a small biological basis.
- Interesting: Here are the fastest people in history who didn't make TFN's top 10 end of year list From Cooper Lutkenhaus at 1:42.27 to Emily Mackay at 3:55.90 to Andreas Almgren's 12:44.27.
- Former Boston Marathon champion Ibrahim Hussein hints Kenya could soon host Diamond League leg meet “I have also been informed that there is a possibility of going for a Diamond League event, one country might pull out, and we will pursue the chance,” he said.
Love helps
After a year away from the sport, British hj champ Joel Clarke-Khan is back competing and he just won the UK title He credits his fiancé, former world indoor pole vault champ Molly Caudery, with keeping him in the sport after he didn't make the Paris Olympics.
More links of Note
- Was last weekend's Black Canyon Ultra the equivalent of London for ultras? Citius says it was:'This year’s Black Canyon, featuring the Appalachian Trial FKT holder, the Western States champ, the 50 mile WR holder, and the Speedgoat course record holder all going head-to-head with a 2:23 marathoner really is the equivalent, in terms of field quality, of a London elite field."
- 1968 Canadian Olympian, former 10,000 NR holder Dave Ellis has died at 88 What a legendary figure in the Canadian running world. He was also a Pan Am Games silver medallist and a training partner of Jerome Drayton, who held Canada's marathon national record for 43 years. He also founded The Runners Shop which has been going for 50+ years.
- Faith Kipyegon's 29:47 won't count as she wore a prototype - the Nike Alphafly 4.
- 80-year-old Gary Patton smashed indoor mile world record last week At last week’s NYRR Night of the Races at The Armory in New York City, the Rock Rapids, Iowa, native stormed to a new M80-84 indoor mile world record, clocking 6:38.10. You slow down a lot between 71 and 80 as in 2017, he became the first athlete older than 70 to break 5:30 for the indoor mile, running 5:29.81 at 71.
- Grant Fisher surprises Jackson Spencer and hands him Gatorade XC AOY award
- Toni Reavis isn't happy there are Russians competing as neutral athletes in the Olympics "A complete, unequivocal ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, however harsh, could serve a greater purpose."
More 800 News
- Roisin Willis reflects on her first taste of life as a pro (yes, sadly she's skipping World Indoors) Dyestat's Mary Albl has written a nice profile but surprisingly it says nothing about her decision to skip the rest of indoors and USAs. From reading the article, it's pretty clear Willis isn't doing anything else indoors as the article quotes Willis saying, "yesterday, I was at the track and I'm not doing any track workouts right now."
- Is Penn State's Hayley Kitching feeling pressure as the NCAA 800m leader at 1:59.22? Find out in the latest Stride Report podcast. Kitching didn't even make the finals at NCAAs last year but has finished as high as 4th in the past. She's improved from 2:01.14 to 1:59.22 this year.
Big Sprint News
Thanks to the Rodchenkov Act, doping in track and field can result in some serious penalties as it's considered international sport. We love it. If only the big wigs treated doping HS, NFL and NCAA level similarly.
- Back story: LRC Track and field rocked by a secret doping ban. Was the coach the snitch? - LetsRun.com
- More sprint news: Zachary Jeggo is the first Canadian teenager to run sub 47s in the 400m indoors (46.72)
A LOT Happened last week - Let us break it down for you and tell you what it all means
It was quite the weekend for American mid-d and distance runners and we break it all down for you. Cooper Lutkenhaus 1:44.03, Cole Hocker 3:45.94, + Elle St. Pierre is now the world leader in three events just nine months after giving birth. Are you ready for a men's American sweep of the golds in the distance at World Indoors? What's up with the disappearing Africans, and what does it mean to break 2:10 in the year 2026? Plus crazy fast women's NCAA times and let us introduce you to Alisa Vainio, the Finnish marathon star who has run 4 marathons in 5 months, setting national records in the last 3 after placing 5th at Worlds. And a 400m WR, is Cordell Tinch the next Carl Lewis, and more.
Distance Analysis
- LRC Alisa Vainio’s 154-day marathon heater: 4 marathons, 3 national records, and controversy in Seville Heading into World's in September, Finland's Alisa Vainio had run 13 marathons and never broken 2:25. Now she's finished 5th at Worlds and broken 2:25 three times in the span of 134 days including a big win over the weekend in 2:20:39 in Seville that made her the first European winner of the race since 2017. She got the win even though she had to overcome a "horrible" start where competitors allegedly targeted her water bottles. We look at her incredible transformation.
*MB: Finland's Alisa Vainio's amazing last 5 months - 4 marathons - 5th at Worlds + 3 PBs & 2 wins - LRC The case for Keely Hodgkinson: Why the indoor world record is already hers The two women ahead of Hodgkinson on the all-time world indoor list both served multi-year suspensions for violating the anti-doping rules.
Assorted Distance News
- NXN/Brooks XC champ Jackson Spencer will open his indoor season this weekend in the Simplot Games 3200m He won last year in 8:56.
- 2024 NYC Marathon champ Sheila Chepkirui returns to defend her title at the Nagoya Women's Marathon in Japan on March 8 The 2:17:29 woman faces two other sub-2:20 women and a total of 10 with sub-2:22 PBs.
- Masato Arao becomes first man in 40 years to score back-to-back Ome 30k Road Race wins He won by over a minute in 1:30:54 (4:53 pace) while Shiori Zama won the women's race (1:44:57, 5:38 pace).
- Faith Kipyegon announced for Monaco 3000m on July 10 Last year she came within one second of the 3000m WR when she ran 8:07.04 at the Silesia DL.
- Josai University wins National University Mixed-Gender Ekiden
More Recent European Results
- World champ Isaac Nader wins 1500m/3000m double at Portugal Indoor Champs with 4:04.97/8:11.30 Gerson Balde jumped a new Portuguese indoor record of 8.32m to win the LJ (#3 in the world this year).
- Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui wins Erfurt Indoor meet 800m, but misses in national record attempt He won in 1:45.76, coming well short of the Spanish indoor record of 1:44.65.
- Netherlands' World and European shot put champion Jessica Schilder sets 20.69m world lead in Apeldoorn
- European throwing round-up: 2024 Euro champ Sara Fantini throws 72.38m to set hammer world lead at Italian Winter Throwing Championships
NCAA Indoor Rankings
- Arkansas men jump 10 spots to #1 ranking in NCAA Tennessee and Oregon stayed 2-3 while former #1 Kansas State dropped to #4.
- Illinois women stay #1 in updated NCAA rankings Georgia is #2, BYU moved up to #3 and South Carolina down to #4.
Sprint Stuff
- Noah Lyles runs 20.56 indoor 200m PB to win at the Tyson Invitational It was Lyles' first indoor 200m in 5 years and he celebrated by showing off his championship belt to the crowd. World 110H champ Cordell Tinch won the long jump with an 8.29m PB.
- Multi-time Olympic champ Elaine Thompson Herah runs her first race since 2024 with 7.24 for 60m in Jamaica She finished third in the race won by Levanya Williams (7.17).
- South Carolina's men's 4x400 runs #2 all-time (both NCAA and world) with 3:00.86 at the Tiger Paw Invite
- Italy's Alessia Succo improves her world U18 60H record to 8.05 at Italian U18 Champs
- Rhasidat Adeleke breaks her own Irish 300m record at Arkansas' Tyson Invite with 36.30 She finished second behind Jamaica's Stacey Ann Williams (35.92).
More Weekend Distance Results
- Penn State's Hayley Kitching leads four women sub-2 minutes at Husky Classic She won in 1:59.22 ahead of Washington State's Rosemary Longisa (1:59.71) and Stanford's Juliette Whittaker (1:59.76). Oklahoma’s Billah Jepkirui won a fast women's mile in 4:22.92 and Utah Valley’s Silas Kiplagat won the men's race in 3:58.29. Florida’s Kelvin Cheruiyot (13:15) and Eastern Kentucky’s Edna Chelulei (15:05) won the 5000m races and Iowa State's Betty Kipkore beat New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei in the 3000m (8:44.09 to 8:44.91).
- High schooler Blair Bartlett runs 9:44.34 for 2 miles (#4 on the HS all-time list) at the Armory Paige Sheppard won the 800m in 2:02.81 (#6 on the prep all-time list) and Caleb Winders won the boys' race in 1:48.82 (#9 all-time). There was also an age-13 WR from Gunner Hammet (1:56.23 for 9th place).
- Joey Whelan (2:13:18) and Kellyn Taylor (2:33:29) win Austin Marathon Whelan said he took advantage by putting in a surge when his Kenyan competitor Elisha Barno made a wrong turn around the halfway point.
International Distance News
- Femke Bol ends her season early due to a foot injury She was supposed to race over 600m this week, but has hurt a tendon in her foot. She was already dealing with the injury when she made her 1:59 800m debut.
*MB: Femke Bol ends indoor season early with injury. Is her 800m career already over?
- World XC champ Agnes Ngetich wants to break the half-marathon WR this year Ngetich has ran 63:04 and 63:08 which puts her #2 behind Letesenbet Gidey's 62:52 WR from 2021.
- MB: Stewart McSweyn now sponsored by On
Big Weekend at BU / ASICS Sound Running
Big Weekend at BU / ASICS Sound Running
Cole Hocker was sensational in the men's mile, and Cooper Lutkenhaus moved to #6 in indoor world history in the 800. Nico Young and Nikki Hiltz won the 3ks. 16-year old Sam Ruthe ran 3:52. We share our 5 biggest takeaways.
*Hocker race video
And ESP did it just nine months after giving birth. Behind her, BYU's Riley Chamberlain (4:20.61), Oregon's Wilma Nielsen (4:21.04), and BYU's Jane Hedengren (4:22.22) ran the three fastest times in NCAA history.
- MADNESS IN BOSTON – St. Pierre ties up (4:17.83) just misses AR. 3 women under the old collegiate record in the mile
- BU times are fake, let’s be honest
BU Valentine day 1: Marco Langon wins controversial 3000m thriller Langon (7:34.00) was fortunate not to be DQ'd after veering into lane 3 in a home straight duel with North Carolina's Colton Sands (7:34.05) as 19-year-old Tayvon Kitchen of BYU ran 7:36.23. *Full results
Cole 3:45
Nico 3000
Cooper 1:44
Boston Mile
UK Champs Day 2
- Issy Boffey takes advantage of Keely Hodgkinson absence to retain UK 800m title She dominated in 1:59.64. Hannah Nuttall won the women's 3000m in 8:41. Josh Kerr was supposed to run the men's 3000m, but pulled out due to a back injury he felt during his warm-up (Tom Keen won in 7:51).
- Ben Pattison returns from 2025 injury to win UK 800m title in 1:46.74 Jack Higgins went from 4th to 1st on the last lap to win the men's 1500m in 3:38. Jemma Reekie took a very tactical women's race in 4:26.
- Renee Regis adds to her family legacy with 22.95 200m win at UK Champs Her father is 1989 world indoor 200m champion John Regis and her mother, Jennifer Stoute, won 4x400m bronze at the 1992 Olympics. As a surprise, her father presented his daughter with her gold medal.
- Jeremiah Azu seals UK Champs sprint double with 20.77 win in 200m
- Shot putter Scott Lincoln wins his 21st national title with 20.80 victory at UK Champs
Faith Kipyegon 10k Debut
The time puts her 14th on the world all-time list. European 10,000m silver medalist Diane van Es ran a Dutch record of 14:33 to win the 5K.
XC / Trail News
- No finishers at the 2026 Barkley Marathons Cold and rainy weather saw no one finish the notoriously difficult 100+ mile ultra for the second consecutive year. One of this year's racers included 2011 world mountain running champ Max King. He was one of only four runners to successfully start the third of five laps. No one hit the time cutoff to start a fourth.
- World XC champ Agnes Ngetich and John Korir win Sirikwa Classic XC race in Eldoret, Kenya Ngetich dominated the race by over a minute in a field that include world XC silver medalist Joy Cheptoyek (4th place). Korir outkicked Amos Kiprotich by 2 seconds in a race that included 2023 world 10,000m silver medalist Daniel Ebenyo (5th place).
- MB: Molly Seidel finished 4th at Black Canyon 100k, gets ticket to Western States The winner was Jen Lichter in 7:47 as Seidel was 28 minutes back. Only the top 3 were guaranteed a Western States entry but one of the top 3 already had one.
More Road Action
In the end, former London winner Shura Kitata Tola was given the win over compatriot Asrar Hiyrden Abderehman as both ran 2:03:59. Three Americans broke 2:10 led by Daniel Mesfun's 2:08:24 and a 4th ran 2:10:06. *Results
- Weini Kelati breaks her own American record with 66:04 at the Barcelona Half as Hagos Gebrhiwet (58:05) and Loice Chemnung (64:01) get the wins Kelati broke her own record by five seconds while Chemnung moved to #6 on the world all-time list. US's Taylor Roe finished 4th in 66:52.
*MB: Weini Kelati goes home the happiest
UK Champs Day 1
- Keely Hodgkinson runs British indoor 800m record of 1:56.33 at UK Champs She broke her own record of 1:57.18 from 2023 and ran the fastest women's indoor time in 24 years. Dina Asher-Smith won the 60m in 7.05 over world 200m silver medalist Amy Hunt (7.15). Molly Caudery returned from injury to win the PV with 4.65m.
- Keely Hodgkinson won't race 800m final at UK Champs; focused on breaking the world indoor record next week in Lievin Her 1:56.33 is #3 on the world indoor all-time list and now she wants Jolanda Ceplak's 1:55.82 WR set in 2002, saying, "I feel like it is my record to break.
- 16-year-old Tito Odunaike wins British TJ title with 15.75m He became the youngest ever to win a British indoor title, the previous youngest being from 1979.
- Jeremiah Azu defends his UK Indoor 60m title in 6.56
RAK Half
- Multiple-time world champion Kamworor first won this race 13 years ago and came within 13 seconds of his PB from 2019. Ethiopia's Asmarech Anley won a close women's race in 67:22 with the top 5 separated only by 13 seconds.
The First Record Of The Weekend
He took .05 off the record Kerron Clement set back in 2005 (Michael Norman with 44.52 and Christoper Morales Williams with 44.49 had both ran faster, but their times weren't ratified as records.) In the 60m, Jordan Anthony (6.43) and Olympic 100m champ Julien Alfred (6.99) both won with world-leading times. World 110H champ Cordell Tinch won the long jump with an 8.29m PB.
BU Day 1
Langon (7:34.00) was fortunate not to be DQ'd after veering into lane 3 in a home straight duel with North Carolina's Colton Sands (7:34.05) as 19-year-old Tayvon Kitchen of BYU ran 7:36.23. *Full results
Friday 15 Live
Weekend Preview - BU / Sound invite / UK Champs
In 1965, a US teenager (Jim Ryun) stunned the Olympic 1500 champ from New Zealand (Peter Snell). Now 60.5 years later, the roles are reveresed. Can Ruthe take down Hocker? Plus Jane Hedengren (mile) and Doris Lemngole (5k) will chase NCAA records in Boston. Updated: Elle St. Pierre has been added to the women’s mile field and may be going for the American record.
Grand Slam Track has filed its bankruptcy plan
Grand Slam Track’s bankruptcy plan proposes paying athletes about $6 million, or roughly 85% of the $7 million they are still owed while paying other creditors only 1.5%. If approved, this would open up the possibility for a season 2.
USAs are going to the NE for the 1st time since the 90s
USAs will be at Icahn Stadium from July 23-26, the first time the meet has been held outside of Eugene since 2019. Meanwhile the USATF Grand Prix is relocating from New York to Texas A&M.
International Indoor Results: Bol's 800m Debut
Bol blitzed the first 200 in 27ish before basically running 30s all the way home. Rojo had her in an unofficial 27.4, 57.4 (30.0), 1:28.3 (30.9), 30.7. Watch it above.
- GB's Georgia Hunter Bell runs world-leading 4:00.04 to win Karlsruhe 1500m Canada's Gabriela DeBues-Stafford won the 3000m in 8:35.94 ahead of Elise Cranny (8:37.06), who was making her debut for the M11 Track Club.
*MB: Cranny's 2026 debut
- GB's Divine Iheme breaks European U18 60m record with 6.68 at the England Athletics Indoor Championships The previous record of 6.70 had stood since 1999, set by Olympic 4x100 champion Mark Lewis-Francis.
Kelati won't be joining Mike Smith
Kelati has left Under Armour's Dark Sky Distance team in Flagstaff which is coached by her agent Stephen Haas. Who coaches her moving forward is TBD but we do now she won't be joining Mike Smith's Nike group in Flagstaff.
Another Indoor World Record for the Americans
Sean Dolan ran a sensational anchor leg of 1:45.79 all alone as the Atlanta Track Club team beat the old record by 1.01. He did it on the UPenn track where his father is the coach.
2026 Millrose Games
Olympic 1500m champ Cole Hocker earned the biggest non-championship win of his career in a stacked 2-mile while teenage sensation Cam Myers showed while he might be a future Olympic champ in winning the men's Wanamaker mile. The women's Wanamaker mile was won for the 1st time by Nikki Hiltz. Collegiate records went to Colin Sahlman and Doris Lemngole while highschooler Cooper Lutkenhaus continued to roll in the men's 600 where he set an U20 world record.
- Official 2026 Millrose Games Discussion Thread
- Cam Myers BOSSES the Americans. 19-year old wins Wanamaker Mile in 3:47.57!!! rojo
- HOCKER FTW. Kerr 2nd, Wolfe 3rd. That was a RACE. 8:07.31!!
- Cooper Lutkenhaus 1:14.15 for 600m. World Jr Record!!!
- Colin MF Sahlman!!! 1:44
- NikkiMFHiltz This was Hitlz's first Wanamaker miler title.
- Is Hocker becoming too arrogant?
- Where is Athing Mu? And where is Mr. Indoor Grant Holloway as well?
- Grant Fisher has scratched from the milrose 2 mile
Hocker Speaks
Cole Hocker is ready for the Millrose 2-mile showdown, a fast mile in 2 weeks, and world indoors. Plus he responds to Jakob Ingebrigtsen's comments about Paris.
Richardson Arrest Video
Video of Sha'Carri Richardson pleading not to be taken to jail for excessive speeding has been released.
Grant Fisher talks
Fisher was the guest on the LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast.
Rewriting The Record Book
From 600m to 5,000m, there have now been six world indoor records by four separate American men over the last 12 months. Jonathan Gault asks, "What explains it?"
The 2026 NBIGP was fantastic
The 2026 NBIGP was fantastic
St. Pierre won her first track race since the Paris Olympics by outkicking Linden Hall in the 3,000. Myers looked incredible in the men's 3,000. And Lyles got the pre-race attention but lost the 300 to Jereem Richards.
Hoey called his own shot before the race and then backed it up, breaking Wilson Kipketer's 1:42.67 that had stood since 1997. And he was paced by his brother Jaxson.
- Discuss: JOSH MF HOEY 1:42.51 i800 WR
Kesler exploded past Grant Fisher in the final 125 and got the WR thanks to a 26.31 final 200 and 13.02 final 100.
Getting ready for Millrose
Cooper Lutkenhaus started 2026 in fine form with a 1:45 win in New York. Meghan Hunter went sub 2 in the 800 (Ajee Wilson 2:00.92), Wilma Nielsen won the mile at Katelyn Tuohy faded. *Race video
Discuss: UPDATE: Cooper Lutkenhaus DESTROYS pro field. Opens in 1:45.23!!!
2k Shot #1 Fired on Friday
Cole Hocker opened his indoor season in stunning fashion at the Hokie Invitational, running 4:52.92 to break the American 2,000m record of Bernard Lagat, which Cooper Teare tied in 2nd place, as George Couttie smashed the collegiate record in 3rd. The Olympic champion now turns his attention to a loaded Millrose Games 2 mile featuring Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman, Parker Wolfe, and more.
Age Group Mile WR
He finished runner-up to Sam Tanner (3:53.36), breaking Cam Myers' previous record. *Race Video
Grant is Moving Up
Grant is Moving Up
In an exclusive with the NY Times, Fisher says he wants to run 13.1 to see if he might run 26.2 in LA.
The Latest Jonathan Gault Feature
Midway through 2024, Brazier had begun to accept he may never race again; in 2025, the former world champ returned faster than ever. Hear from Brazier and coach Mike Smith about how he pulled off one of the sport's greatest comebacks.
Boston 2026
The 2026 Boston Marathon elite fields are out and we break it down for you. From a US perspective, the fields are sensational, but what top pros from Africa are entered? Benson Kipruto vs John Korir leads the way for the men. Does American Fiona O'Keeffe have a shot for the win? *Full fields
The 1980 and 1981 World XC champ gives a passionate defense of cross country. He also admits he is concerned about the state of World XC given the lack of support from several federations and the three-year gap until the next championships in 2029 but is hopeful it can be added to the Winter Olympics: "If they can have breakdancing in the Summer Olympics, then we can certainly have cross country in the Winter Olympics."
A final look at the fantastic 2026 World XC Champs
A final look at the fantastic 2026 World XC Champs
World XC in the USA was amazingly fun to attend. How do we transform World’s Greatest Footrace into a spectacle / event that tens of thousands want to attend? How can we make it our sport's version of the Kentucky Derby - or maybe the grass version of the London Marathon?
XC legends Kenenisa Bekele & Beatrice Chebet were in Tallahassee as was Cooper Lutkenhaus, who left with the LetsRun.com flag.
More World XC News
- The Cheptegei-Kiplimo effect? A look at how Uganda has risen over the last decade to become an XC power A Ugandan man has now won the last 4 senior titles. At under-20 level in Tallahassee, Uganda’s women claimed a historic team gold – the first time any nation other than Kenya or Ethiopia had won that title.
- Daniel Ebenyo's first World XC medal at age 30 and after two sub-par marathons was special “Winning the bronze medal was more than standing on a podium; it was the echo of every early morning, every lonely road, every silent prayer answered in God’s perfect time,” said Ebenyo who failed to finish higher than 10th in any of his 2 marathons in 2025.
- Did you know Jacob Kiplimo ran his final 2k in 5:22? That’s 4:19 mile pace.
- Meet the Scottish duo that has been to every World XC since 1999 Niall Walker and David John Condra are super fans.
2028 OT
USATF confirmed that St. Louis (who hosted the women's Trials in 2004) and Phoenix (who have never hosted) are the only two bidders for the 2028 Trials.
World XC Was Saturday
World XC Was Saturday
Jacob Kiplimo put on a show and won his third title by 18 seconds as Ethiopia took the team title. The US led by Parker Wolfe (12th) was 4th.
- Men: Kiplimo 3 peats as Aregawi silver for 3rd straight time Deja vu.
- Women: Agnes Ngetich DOMINATES, Wins by 42 seconds Ethiopia took the team title with the US a distance 4th.
- Relay: Jess Hull anchors Australia to World XC mixed relay victory Australia won ahead of France and Ethiopia. Team USA finished 5th.
- Jr Girls: Marta Alemayo repeats with master class performance She won the 6k race by 26 seconds. HS. Jr Blair Bartlett finished off her first xc season with a 16th place finish.
- Jr Boys: Frankline Kibet leads Kenya to 1-2-3-4 performance. Tyler Daillak was 16th and Jackson Spencer 18th.
World XC Video Analysis + Discussion
A big thank you to the big crowd that turned out for the LetsRun party to celebrate the American running community at World XC.
- 2026 World Cross Country Championships - OFFICIAL THREAD (+ live reaction show @ 2:30 pm ET)
- Biggest winners & losers from World XC
- Confirmed: Rocky Hansen OUT of World XC, US will only run 5 guys
- Strand had the fastest 2k split of anyone in the world today
- World Cross - what an adorable, cute course.
- Nico Young + Swoosh TC, Brand Mismatch or Bad Idea
This is Disgraceful
The NCAA has done a lot of stupid things over the years but this has to to appear near the top of the list. They have stripped all remaining eligibility for NCAA D3 XC runner-up (and 2:12 marathoner) Mohammed Bati, who works a full-time job 5 days a week at an assisted living facility from 11 pm to 7 am while attending school and running track/XC. His sin? The local community came together and raised $6k for him.
Another controversial ban
Art and Linda Kranick built a dynasty at Saratoga Springs as they won 3 national titles and 28 NY state federation titles. Many runners RAVED about them. Many also HATED them. Banning them for life even though one of them is dead seems the definition of administrative over reach. SafeSpot has a policy not to ban dead people. Does USATF even know Art Kranick is dead?
Two LRC Exclusives On The 2021 Olympic 800m Champions
After three years with Kersee that included an American record in 2023, a devastating injury in 2024, and a failure to make the US final in 2025, Mu-Nikolayev has left Kersee and moved from LA to Dallas.
The Kenyan 800m star has largely disappeared since winning Olympic and world titles in 2021 & 2022. And the physiotherapist who treated him twice a day, every day for 6 months leading up to the Olympics is worried for him. "We’ve been trying to help him, but he hasn’t been willing to receive the help."
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Jager Q&A for Supporters Club Members
Evan Jager retired this week and then sat down with LetsRun.com for his most candid interview ever. He opened up about the Paris fall, the Olympic silver, the Fancy Bears leak, and the tension between Alberto and Jerry that shaped parts of his career.
- World Athletics' article on Evan Jager's retirement A good rundown of the highlights of his long career.
Message Board Q&A
Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson, runner, best-selling author, and host of “The Most Interesting Thing in A.I.", just ran over three hours in the marathon for the first time in 20 years. He joins LetsRun Friday to talk running, life, and his new book The Running Ground. If you'd like a book for free, just join our Supporters Club. Click for more info.
Josh Hoey parts ways with yet another coach
Somehow Justin Rinaldi transformed Josh Hoey, who couldn't break 1:47 for 6+ years, to a 1:42.01 world indoor champ and DL winner. How has he been rewarded? With a pink slip. Rojo thinks it's hard to think of a dumber decision than this but then again Jerry Jones once did fire Jimmy Johnson.
After disagreements on training philosophy, Justin Rinaldi will no longer be coaching Hoey despite engineering one of the greatest turnarounds in American middle distance running history, taking Hoey from 1:47 to 1:42 and World Indoor champion in two years. Plus get the inside scoop on a key workout Hoey overcooked before USAs.
- MB: Breaking: Josh Hoey has parted with Justin Rinaldi, the man who took him from 1:47 also-ran to 1:42 World Champ!!
- LRC How Josh Hoey Went from Also-Ran to World Indoor Champion, Part I: A Coaching Odyssey
- LRC How Josh Hoey Went from Also-Ran to World Indoor Champion, Part I: Going All-In With Justin Rinaldi & The Fast 8 Track Club
Great listen/read
Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, joins the LetsRun.com Podcast to talk about his new book The Running Ground, how he ran 2:29 at 44, his late father, and why he still checks LetsRun every day.
LRC Q&A
The US achieved its most successful relay medal haul since the introduction of the mixed 4x400 with four golds and a silver at the 2025 Worlds. We asked Woodson about Team USA's performance in Tokyo. Plus we asked USATF about what really happened with Rai Benjamin, who said he went out on the town the night before the men's 4x400 final.
Paywall lifted
After five coaches, six states, and hundreds of hours of listening to the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast, steepler Dan Michalski will make his World Championship debut in Tokyo. He dedicated his runner-up finish at USAs to the grinders who keep going without a big shoe contract. "They know the grind, they know what it’s like to fight through injuries, what it’s like to feel like you have the talent to make a team and keep coming up short," Michalski says. "This is for them, in a sense."
IF you are going to play a video game, play this one
XC Racing 2 is now out and free to play on ios and android and in this version you get to race the famed Detweiller Park course in Illinois.
Random Links A Human Found Interesting
- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden goes on CNN after triple gold and says she's not satisified “There are so many things out there that I’ve accomplished this year. But there’s so many more things that I do want to accomplish.”
- Former Yale swimmer, who had her leg bitten off by a shark, is running NYC marathon She quickly joined the Paralympic ranks and won Paralympic silver.
- Former Queen's Park Rangers star Don Shanks, 73, will run the New York marathon on November 2 to raise money for Alzheimers
- NYC is experiencing a 2nd running boom & some are unhappy about it In 2019, it took an average of 121 days for an N.Y.R.R. race to sell out. This year, races have sold out in an average of four days.
- NYRR claims running boom $934 million for the local economy in the fiscal year through March That’s up 58% from the comparable period five years earlier and they say last year’s marathon alone generated $692 million.
Sean Brosnan & Chris Lear & Andrew Greif's book is here
In Beyond Fast, Sean Brosnan, with Chris Lear and Andrew Greif, traces the unlikely rise of Newbury Park High School from an overlooked program to a distance-running powerhouse. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories, training insights, and cultural shifts, the book shows how Brosnan and his athletes rewrote the high school record books.
Sean Brosnan Podcast
From BMX to building the greatest HS team ever, Sean Brosnan tells us how he did it at Newbury Park, plus what really went on at UCLA, and what’s next. Don’t miss this one.
Data doesn't lie
We've run the numbers by comparing Lutkenhaus's run against every other age-16 world record, and the data is clear.
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."
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
‒four-time Boston and NYC Marathon runner Bill Rodgers talking about his old college teammate Jeff Galloway who died on Wednesday.
MB: BREAKING NEWS: Olympian & Pioneer of Run/Walk Method Jeff Galloway Has Passed Away at 80