15-Year-old Goes Sub-4

He ran 3:58.35 in New Zealand where one of his pacers was Olympian Sam Tanner. Ruthe breaks Jakob Ingebrigtsen's record for youngest runner to go sub-4 (Ingebrigtsen ran 3:58.07 when he was 16-years-old). This after he ran 3:41.25 for 1500m a week ago.

World Indoors Are Friday

The World Indoor Track and Field Champs start Friday in China. Jakob Ingebrigtsen goes for the 1500/3000 double while American Josh Hoey is the favorite in the 800.

All six US women's mid-d/distance entries have a legitimate shot at the podium in Nanjing, including Nia Akins and Shelby Houlihan.

European Distance News
Doping News
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The AIU says three athletes coached by Phiri tested positive for the same substance between 2023 and 2024 -- including sprint phenom Issam Asinga, who was banned four years in 2024.
*Discussion thread

Ngao, the Big 12 1000m champion, ran 2:01.71 this season for 800m but the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya says she is currently provisionally suspended.

D2/D3 Champs Were Also Over The Weekend
First American To Win LA In 31 Years!

Richtman, a 13:47/28:21/1:01:14 guy who never made NCAAs on the track at Montana State (but was 26th in XC), had run 2:10:47 for his marathon debut for 4th at Twin Cities.

Videos of the races at the 2025 NCAA indoor track and field championships

Nike And New Balance High School Nationals

She dominated the race by over 14 seconds. Joseph Socarras won a tactical boys mile with a 27.67 last lap in 4:07.
*MB: Jane Hedengren, ANOTHER national record - indoor mile 4:26.14

NYC Half

O'Keeffe ran 67:46 in the women's race as American Hillary Bor (59:55) also broke 60 on the men's side.

Weekend Road Results
International Track Action
NCAA Recap Show

The LetsRun crew will break down the meet live from Virginia. If you'd rather have this as a podcast, join our Supporters Club today!

    Major Doping Bust
    Embed from Getty Images

    The 57:32 man is currently #3 on the all-time list and has a 10,000m bronze medal from the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He was also 5th at 2023 World XC.

    NCAA Indoors Day 1

    Gary Martin split 3:48 on the DMR to take down UNC and Ethan Strand as Virginia coach Vin Lananna won another NCAA title. The 5k sizzeld as Brian Musau closed in 26 to win in 13:11.

    Day 1 Women

    BYU’s Riley Chamberlain ran down Oregon’s NCAA mile record holder Silan Ayyildiz on the anchor leg of the DMR while Lemngole added the NCAA 5k crown to her steeple and XC titles.

    Previous High School Nationals Coverage
    World Indoors Is Next Weekend
    Previous High School Nationals Results

    The old marks were 15:25 and 15:20 respectively but Hedengren's was well under both as was FSU commit Rylee Blade in 2nd (15:16.72). Blade came within 5 seconds of her mile pb at the end of the race and beat her 3k pb by 13 seconds. *Dyestat
    *MB: Official 2025 NBN Indoor Live Discussion Thread

      GST #1 is Coming Soon - 3 Weeks Away

      While some of the fields are AMAZING, it's impossible to deny that the 4 biggest names in Jamaican sprinting will not be in Kingston - Kishane Thompson, Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah - nor will arguably the 4 biggest names in all of the short sprints - Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo, Julien Alfred, and Sha'Carri Richardson.

      Start The 7 Month Countdown Now

      Olympic champs Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Marileidy Paulino are all confirmed for the women's-only meet which will take place 2 weeks later than last year due to the late Tokyo Worlds. What type of temps can be expected? The expected temp at start time looks like it will be 61 degrees.

        More Distance Links
        Two Good Distance Reads
        • Athletics Weekly Q&A With Grant Fisher Fisher compares and contrasts his two WRs this indoor season saying he preferred the 3000m because he was racing against Cole Hocker whereas the 5000m was a lot harder. He also talks about his plans for Worlds this year and doing the 3000m/5000m double at Grand Slam Track.
        • Irish Examiner: "How Sarah Healy Stopped Her Mind From Sabotaging Her Body" The Euro 3000m champ says she doesn't let herself envision winning medals ahead of races, even if that's her goal. She said, “I’ve been really strict with myself. Anytime my mind goes to that feeling, I’ve been like, ‘Stop. Think about the process.’ Putting those outcome goals creates a lot of pressure for me, so I’ve really tried to avoid thinking about how it’d feel."
        Seb Coe In The News
        Upcoming: World Indoors Is Next Weekend
        Shelby Speaks

        Last week, Houlihan spoke with LetsRun.com for more than an hour with no questions off the table. Houlihan shares which supplements she took at the time of her positive test, why she said she didn't know what nandrolone is, running a 30:31 10k in practice, and her hopes for World Indoors and the rest of 2025.

        Distance News

        2025 Euro Indoors

        George Mills tried to tighten the screws on Jakob but Ingebrigtsen closed in 2:19 flat to win by more than a second in 7:48.37 - Mills 2nd, Habz 3rd. Sweden's Andreas Almgren closed in 2:21.2 and didn't even medal. In the women's race, Ireland's Sarah Healy outkicked Britain's Melissa Courtney-Bryant in the 3k 8:52.86-8:52.92. In the men's 800, the Netherlands Samuel Chapple delighted the home fans by edging Belgium's Elliott Crestan for 800m gold with a 1:44.88 NR as Poland's Anna Wilgosz won the women's race in 2:02.09. 

        We Have another 1500 phenom

        Already in 2025, Ruthe has set a world record for the fastest 1500 (3:41.25), mile (4:01.72) and 3000 (7:56.18) ever run by someone at the age of 15 (he turns 16 on April 12). That being said, Ruthe tying his training mate Tanner is a shock as Tanner ran 3:51 in the mile for the win at BU on February 21 and has a 3:31 1500 pb from 2023. Race video embedded above.

        The Largest All-Women's Marathon

        Japan's Sayaka Sato was 2nd in a 2:20:59 pb to give herself a shot for Tokyo Worlds. The US's Natosha Rogers ran a big PB of 2:23:51 for 7th (2:34:51 previous pb) while Aussie Leanne Pompeani ran 2:24:53 in her debut for 8th.

        HS / NCAA News

        He's just the fourth American high schooler to go sub-10 (all conditions). He has a wind-legal PB of 10.14. *Video
        *MB: Texas HSer and Georgia commit Brayden Williams CELEBRATES early and still runs windy 9.99 (+2.6)

        Saturday - Day 3 at Euros

        In the 3000s, the top two seeds Jakob Ingebrigtsen and George Mills cruised into the final, which takes place at 11:50 am ET (Americans, don't forget to move your clocks forward tonight), with heat wins. In the men's 400m, Attila Molnar won Hungary's first track title in 40-years in 45.25, .06 ahead of Poland’s Maksymilian Szwed.

        Day 2 - Mission Completed For Ingebrigtsen In Euro 1500m

        The LetsRun crew went live during the back half of the Supporters Club podcast to breakdown Jakob's European 1500m. Up next is the 3000m final vs Niels Laros. *European Athletics Recap

        More From Euro Champs
        Stop Obsessing Over Your Diet
        NCAA Indoors are Next Weekend (March 14-15)

        It took 1:46.62, 3:54.12, 7:40.38, and 13:21.11 to make it in the men's distance events and 2:01.99, 4:29.49, 8:48.96, and 15:28.29 to make it in the women's distance events -- all of which were the fastest cutoff times in meet history. And are you ready for an Ethan Strand, Parker Wolfe, Gary Martin men's 3k?
        *The Official 2025 NCAA Indoor Nationals Thread

        Big Administrative News

        WA announced today that San Diego will no longer host the World Running Champs.  Ken Stone is reporting in the Times of San Diego that the event was moved despite there reportedly being a $3 million title sponsor. We believe race registrations were nowhere near what they were expecting but feel that easily could have been fixed. With 1 week notice, easily 10,000 people would have signed up if they had known this was a possibility.
        *MB: Breaking: San Diego pulls out of hosting World Road Champs 4 days after qualifier!!

        This is a stunning development for a championship but the lights will be off for the first 1/3rd of the race.
        *MB: Jakob says wavelight wasn't added at Euros at his request: "I wasn't aware of that. I assume it's a spectator stunt."

        MB: US Olympians will now receive $200k each thanks to a $100 million donation by Ross Stevens They'll have to wait for the money though as they get 100k 20 years after they compete (or when they turn 45) and then 100k goes to their estate when they die.

        Non Distance News
        Embed from Getty Images
        The Shelby Interview

        Houlihan spoke to LetsRun for over an hour and answered a slew of questions about her doping ban, what she thinks happened, and her return to racing. Full talk out for SC members. Everyone else can watch the clip above or wait for wider release. Join the SC today.

        European Distance News
        Some Long Standing Records Go Down

        He ran 2:20.14 at the Virginia state meet on Tuesday to break Andrews' 2:22.28 16-year-old mark. It was Boone's third attempt to break the record this season (he ran 2:23.68 and 2:23.50 in his previous attempts).

        More Distance News
        NCAA Indoor Champs Are Next Week
        More From Conference Champs Weekend
        USATF Half Marathon Champs

        It was a great morning for Amy and Alistair Cragg's Puma Elite Distance squad as their two Oklahoma State grads got the wins in races where spots at Worlds in San Diego were on the line. American record holder Weini Kelati had the lead early but stunning faded to 6th (69:07) while Olympians Joe Klecker (8th - 61:34), Clayton Young (13th - 62:38) and Dakotah Popehn (10th - 69:57) weren't close to making the teams.

        Tokyo Marathon

        Ethiopians Tadese Takele (2:03:23 pb), who ran 8:09 in the steeple at age 18, and Kebede (2:16:31) were the champions on Sunday while Joshua Chpetegei (9th in 2:05:59) struggled again in marathon #2.

        NCAA Conference Champs

        US Distance News
        Another WR For Duplantis

        He cleared it on his first attempt at the All Star Perche meet in France. *WA article

        Big Doping Story

        Jeptanui, a freshman from Kenya, finished 12th at NCAAs in November, but has been provisionally suspended since September. She's currently triple entered in the AAC championships which start today.

        Previous Weekend Indoor Results
            It's A Busy Weekend of Action

            It's a wild weekend for distance fans. In Tokyo, LRC's top two men's marathoners of 2024, Benson Kipruto and Deresa Geleta, take on 5k/10k WR holder Joshua Cheptegei. Plus there are Team USA spots for the World Half on the line in Atlanta where five male Olympians will seek 3 spots and the last BU meet of the year is on Sunday as well. And it's conference championship weekend at the NCAA level where 25 sub-4 milers will compete at the Big 10 meet

                  US Half champs Sunday in Atlanta

                  Joe Klecker has some unfinished business in the half marathon after his debut in Houston didn't go as planned. $20,000 and spots for the US team to the World Road Running Championships  in San Diego are on the line Sunday in Atlanta.

                  Upcoming

                  The women's field has 9 sub-2:19 women whereas the men's field has 11 sub-2:05 guys plus Joshua Cheptegai. The pace will be HOT (60:50 first half). *WA Preview
                  *Kebede: "I’ve covered everything in training, long distance, speed work, everything. I’m in PB shape.”
                  *Cheptegei: "I'm still a student of the marathon. I'm on a learning curve and hope to learn from the big guys in the marathon like Benson (Kipruto, 2:02:16 pb) and (Deresa) Geleta (2:02:38 pb)."

                    The Latest Distance Links
                    Non-Distance Running News
                    Is A Sub-4 Women's Mile Just Around The Corner?
                    Euro Indoor Champs Are Next Week
                    Grand Slam Track News
                    2025 USA Indoors
                    2025 USA Indoors
                    Barega Goes For It In His Debut

                    (link fixed) The 2021 Olympic 10,000 champ went out in 14:18 (2:00:40 pace) and was still on 2:03 flat pace at 35k before holding on for the win. Compatriot Anchinalu Dessie won the women's race in 2:22:17 in her debut as well.

                    Day 1 at 2025 USA Indoors
                    Day 1 at 2025 USA Indoors

                    Kessler beat Jacobs, 7:38.00 to 7:38.02, in a sensational last-lap duel as Sam Gilman (7:38.64) was a surprising 3rd. Grant Holloway improved to 69-0 in the 60m hurdles while former DII star Wes Ferguson impressed in the 800 prelims.

                    Hiltz edged Houlihan just before the line to win a great race, while Houlihan is heading back to World Indoors in her first year back from a doping ban.

                    More Fast Times At BU

                    Hocker (12:57.82) got a pb and edged training mate Teare (12:57.97) as both went under the 13:01.00 Worlds standard. Powell ran 3:56.66 to take a second off Hobbs Kessler's HS indoor record while Crater (OR)'s Josiah Tostenson (3:57.47) and Tayvon Kitchen (3:59.61) became the first HS teammates to break 4:00 in the same race.

                    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.

                    Bekele In London

                    Bekele joins a field that includes Eliud Kipchoge, Jacob Kiplimo, defending champ Alex Mutiso, Olympic champ Tamirat Tola and Sabastian Sawe (2:02:05). Bekele ran 2:04:15 for 2nd place in London last year.

                    Another Record For Fisher

                    Jonathan Gault onsite story   Six days after his 7:22.91 WR in the 3,000m at Millrose, Fisher broke the 5,000m record at Boston Universityand also bettered his outright American record of 12:46.96.

                    LRC Rankings

                    From GOATs (Faith Kipyegon), world records (Ruth Chepngetich) and breakthroughs (Keely HodgkinsonBeatrice Chebet), this year's women's world rankings had a bit of everything.

                    LRC Rankings And Other Distance News

                    From the 800 through the marathon, we rank our top 10 men in the world and top 5 in the United States from 2024.

                    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.

                    Unlike other Publications, We wait until the year is over to hand out our awards
                    Unlike other Publications, We wait until the year is over to hand out our awards

                    We actually hand out six awards in this piece - overall Athlete of the Year, Runner of the Year, and Distance Runner of the Year - but Chebet swept all three for the women, edging out SML. For the men, our Runner of the year goes to Grant Holloway over Rai Benjamin and our Distance Runner of the Year is Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

                    From world records to unlikely breakthroughs to one very strange session of Kenyan parliament, Jonathan Gault recaps the highs and lows of running in 2024.

                    Year in review podcast

                    The LRC crew has it's annual 2024 trivia challenge and takes a look at an incredible year of track and field.

                    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.

                    Tim Rowberry Interview Highlights

                    Rowberry began as a pacer and errand boy at the Nike Oregon Project but has since coached Hassan to six medals across the last two Olympics. He dives into their relationship and why he's looking to expand his training group -- and land a coaching contract from a shoe brand.

                    World Marathon Majors Soon Will Be Dead....... Unless

                    Expanding the number of world marathon majors to nine is an absurd idea unless the majors make one simple change that will instantly keep them being compelling, elite sporting events.

                    Your latest American stars share their insights.

                    Three legends of the sport.

                    One of the greatest US runners ever.

                    We chatted with Frank on the 50th anniversary of his Olympic Marathon gold

                    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
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                    Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
                    Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level