Is Nordås the least talented runner to break 3:30 in history? He thinks so, "I can guarantee you I'm the slowest sub 3:30 guy in history." Text highlights from his appearance on the LRC Track Talk podcast.
Archived Homepage For June 29, 2023
Archived Homepage For June 29, 2023
The Most Untalented 3:29 Guy Ever?
Lausanne DL is Friday (2-4 pm ET), Stockholm is Sunday (12- 2 pm ET)
In the 1500, Ingebrigtsen will clash with steeple WR holder Girma as Girma tries to break the Ethiopian NR. In the 5000, Cheptegeti, Barega, Aregawi, Bekele and Ky Robinson of Stanford will battle.
*4 non-distance things to get excited about in Lausanne: Amusan v. Camacho Quinn, Crouser, Ta Lou
Inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia will now take place on one day, Octobrer 1 It originally was going to be 2 days but they want the mass races and elite races on the same day. It will now all be on Oct 1 "with the mass races over 5km and the road mile to be followed by the elite races over the same distances. Then attention will turn to the half marathon distance with the elite races to be followed by the mass race."
On The Boards
On The Boards
Distance News
- Outside Mag Asks "Why Are Runners Suddenly So Fast?" (Obviously The Shoes, But What Else?) Some interesting data and graphs that shows how big an impact that super shoes have made on the depth of running performances.
- NY Times: Want to Run a World-Record Time? Follow the Green Lights. The Wavelight tech that is helping athletes set records was actually developed by a former pacer, Bram Som. Som says taht Nike representatives told him they were glad Wavelight was causing controversy as "technical doping" because it was taking heat off their super shoes.
- Caster Semenya's Wife Says She's Not Retired Yet And Hasn't Given Up On Her Career Any chance for Semenya to compete against women would have to happen in the courts as she's said she doesn't want to reduce her testosterone levels.
- Good Read: 50 Years Ago, A Man Who Didn't Even Start Running Until He Was 20, Italy's Marcello Fiasconaro, Became The First Human To Run 1:43 for 800 Fiasconaro had an interesting life and career which started in South Africa where he was born because his Italian father was a prisoner of war there after being shot down during World War II. Watch highlights above.
Ostrava was Tuesday
In other action, steeple world record holder Lamecha Girma (3:33.15 pb) won a wacky men's 1500 (see video above) as Diribe Welteji (3:57.38) won the women's race and Ryan Crouser made his 2023 European debut.
- Elsewhere On Tuesday: Laura Muir Runs 1:57.30 At British Milers Club Meet Second fastest time in the world this year.
Valby Nabs Nike NIL Deal
The NCAA 5000 champ is the first female track and field athlete to sign an NIL deal with Nike.
LRC Podcast
We break down the latest in the running world and are joined by Narve Nordås, the Norwegian 1500m sensation coached by Gjert Ingebrigtsen.
Sprints / Jumps
- Devon Allen Might Need To Make The Choice Between Track And Football This year World Champs falls during the Eagle's training camp/preseason games, so if Allen makes Worlds, he's going to have to decide between that and trying to make the Eagles' roster. He said he's not worrying about it until after USAs.
- AP: Ukrainian HJer Yaroslava Mahuchikh Insists Russians Should Be Banned From Paris Olympics She said, "It is very difficult to compete with people who destroyed your country."
- Wayde Van Niekerk Announced For The London DL On July 23
Lausanne DL Is Friday
- AW Lausanne Preview: Jakob Ingebrigtsen Vs Lamecha Girma In The 1500m, Keely Hodgkinson Vs Mary Moraa Over 800m, Jacob Kiplimo Vs Joshua Cheptegei In The 5000m Femke Bol in the 400H and Ryan Crouser in the shot put lead non-distance action.
- MB: Lausanne 1500 predictions
- MB: Jake Wightman and Jake Heyward out of Lausanne 1500
NCAA News
- Britton Wilson, Julien Alfred And Jasmine Moore Named Finalists For The 2023 Bowerman Award
- Kyle Garland, Jaydon Hibbert And Leo Neugebauer Named As The Three Men's Bowerman Award Finalists
- MB: Princeton track coach Fred Samara retires after 46 years of coaching
- MB: Cameron Meyers (3:34/7:56 17 year old AUS) signs 'NIL' deal with Nike - might he run NCAA?
- Title IX BS?: East Tennessee Cutting Men’s Indoor Track They cut indoor, but will keep men's XC and outdoor.
USA Champs Start Next Week - Discuss
More Recent Results
- Australian Runner Phil Gore Breaks Men's Backyard Ultramarathon Record At The Dead Cow Gully Backyard Masters Gore ran 373 miles over four days on a cattle farm in the race that requires runners to complete a 4.1 mile loop every hour (the race goes until only one runner remains).
- Japan's World 100k Silver Medalist Jumpei Yamaguchi Misses WR By 33 Seconds At Lake Saroma 100k
- Bryan Lindsay (4:25) And Katie Sherron (5:06) Win USATF Masters Road Mile Champs
- Shun Sadakata (61:37) And Mao Ichiyama (70:23) Win Hakodate Half In Japan
- Japan HS Freshman Sherry Drury Wins Regional Championships 800m Title In 2:08.72
Week That Was
Last week, both Hobbs Kessler and Cole Hocker PRd at 800 meaning all of the Big 4 in the US in the 1500 have PRd this year. So which of the Big 4 - Hocker, Teare, Nuguse, or Kessler - will miss out Team USA?
Who WON'T make Team USA in the 1500?
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Your vote has been counted. Thank you!
We Wish This Wasn't The News We Were Breaking
After bumping into him at the NYC Grand Prix this weekend, Brazier told LetsRun.com that racing this season was not looking good coach Pete Julian has confirmed it, texting, "racing is unlikely this summer as Donavan won't race until he's back to 100% health."
- MB: Breaking: We wish this wasn't true: Donovan Brazier unlikely to race this year
- 800 fans might also enjoy this: LRC Meet Will Sumner, The 2023 NCAA 800m Champ In case you missed our podcast with Sumner who won NCAAs as a true frosh, we've typed up some highlights for you.
Early Release Pod For Our SC Members
In a great candid talk, Nordås talks about his incredible breakthrough in 2023, what he thinks about the LRC doubters who say the improvement is too good to be true, his relationship with Jakob Ingebrigtsen and much more. This interview will also be put at the end of our regular podcast at the end of the week but if you want instant access, join the SC today.
This Is Not The Way
- An Australian Entrepreneur Is Starting An Olympic-Style Competition For Dopers Called "The Enhanced Games" Aron D’Souza says, "Athletes are adults ... and they have a right to do with their body what they wish.” D'Souza added that he expects to see someone break 9-seconds in the 100m and 40 to 60 year-olds breaking world records. Their website even has a section celebrating "enhanced world records" from doped athletes like Lance Armstrong and Ben Johnson. Funny enough, they actually also list Flo-Jo's 100m and 200m world records.
The Performance Of The Weekend?
Belgium's hurdler pulled out injured, so team captain Boumkwo stepped up and ran (while stepping over the hurdles) the race in 32.81 seconds to keep her country from being DQd. She was also hoping the 2 points she scored would keep Belgium from being demoted from Division 1 to Division 2 at the Euro team champs. The bottom three teams are demoted and despite Boumkwo's points, Belgium finished one spot too low, 6.5 points short of what they needed to stay in Division 1.
European Team Champs Catch Up
- Italy Wins European Team Championships For The First Time Ever Wins from Gianmarco Tamberi in the HJ and Samuele Ceccarelli in the 100m lead Italy to their first victory since the start of the event in 1965. Other winners included Femke Bol in the 400m (49.82) and Ewa Swoboda in the 100m (11.09).
- MB: Bo Katir equals El Guerrouj - closes 1500 in 1:47.10
- Hungary Triumphs While Lithuania Pips Slovenia For Promotion In The 2nd League At Euro Team Champs
- Ireland Excels On Final Day To Clinch The 3rd Division Title At Euro Team Champs
Olympic News
- What A Joke: Alcohol Not To Be Sold At Paris 2024 Venues Apparently there is a law banning alcohol in sports stadiums. Organizers for the Rugby World Cup this year in France negotiated an exemption, but Paris 2024 organizers won't. Alcohol will still be served in VIP and corporate hospitality areas.
*The Guardian: "Let Them Drink Water - Alcohol Ban At Paris Olympics Does Not Apply To VIPs"
- IOC President Thomas Bach Criticizes Ukraine For Blocking Athletes From Some Paris Games Qualifiers Bach said, "It is hard to understand why the Ukrainian government is depriving their own athletes from their chance to qualify."
- Paris 2024 Torch Relay To Cross Atlantic By Trimaran (Boat)
- Paris 2024 Athletes' Village Apartments Put Up For Sale The athletes' village is going to be converted to housing after the Olympics. They did this at Tokyo 2020 as well and there was a lawsuit because the Olympics were delayed a year so people couldn't move into their homes.
- US Olympic Skaters Still Don't Have Their Medals 500 Days Later The hold up is because of the doping case surrounding Russia's Kamila Valieva.
The 2023 USATF Grand Prix is in the books
Athing Mu went wire-to-wire in 1:58.73, Zharnel Hughes ran 9.83 in the 100, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran a 400 pb of 49.51.
Stumptown Twilight
Brooks Beasts Devin Dixon got the win in the men's 800m over Cole Hocker (1:45.98 to 1:46.32). High schooler Daniel Watcke ran 1:47.70 to finish 2nd in the second heat and moved to #12 on the all-time prep list while Nia Akins won the women's race in 1:59.76. Sifan Hassan won the 5000m by a minute and a half in 14:55; Cole Sprout took the men's race in 13:39.
- MB: Cole MF Hocker 800m PR 1:46.39!!! 53.3/52.9!!!
- MB: Connor Burns goes home devastated. Blows up, runs 14:06. He was trying to run in the 13:20s to break the high school record.
- MB: Raevyn Rogers PR @ Stumptown - 4:11.16 for 1500m She finished 7th.
BAA 10k
Obiri let a 21-second lead shrink to 4 seconds. Emily Sisson was 4th in 31:35.
More Distance Action
- Courtney Dauwalter Crushes Course Record, Tom Evans Wins At Western States 100 Dauwalter ran 15:29:33 (9:18 pace) to break the previous course record by a ridiculous 78 minutes. Evans ran 14:40:22 (8:48 pace) for the 4th fastest time ever on the course.
*MB: Give Courtney Dauwalter a black screen! - GB Olympian Andy Butchart Breaks Parkrun Record With 13:45 At An Edinburgh 5k The previous record was 13:48 from a London Parkrun race in 2012.
Tinch Makes It Official
Tinch already had the all-conditions NCAA record at 12.87 when he won D2 Champs in last month. This also puts him #11 on the US all-time list (#19 world all-time). Tara Davis-Woodhall won the long jump with 6.99m.
Ethiopian 10,000 Trials
Aregawi outdueled Olympic champ Selemon Barega over the final lap while Tsegay blew out everyone in a historically fast women's 10,000. Full results included. Video above is last lap of men's race.
2023 Chicago is going to be great
Hassan took down one of the gretest marathon fields in history in London but she'll have her hands full with defending champ Ruth Chepngetich (2:14:18 pb), just 6 weeks after Worlds.
Wetmore and Burrousghs Keep Their Jobs
The report did find that many women had problems with the testing and close to half of the female athletes didn't trust the coaching staff. Moving forward it will be allowed but only with restrictions. *Full 82-page report
Paywall lifted!
Paywall lifted!
The Latest JG Feature
What links Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the NAU cross country team, and Sebastian Coe? Double threshold training, which is having a moment in 2023. Note, most of this article is behind our SC paywall for 72 hours (until Saturday).
High School Phenom
18-year-old Niels Laros would have the American high school records at 800m, 1500 AND 5000m. The only reason you may not have heard of him is he is Dutch. Update. Laros just ran 3:32.89 for 1500.
2023 Bislett Games
What a track and field meet. Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran 3:27.95 as 8 men went sub 3:30 including Yared Nuguse in an American record time* of 3:29.02. In the men's 5000m, Yomif Kejelcha and Jacob Kiplimo both ran 12:41.73 with Kejelcha getting the win.
Oslo DL
WA recap of meet. Race videos further down. Plus Our live reaction show is here. *Full Results
- Seb Coe wasn't in Oslo, he was in Budapest racing kids to promote Worlds - buy your tickets now Seriously, accommodations are way cheaper than Eugene and who doesn't want a vacation to Central Europe? This is the first time Central Europe has hosted.
First 15 minutes is for everyone. Supporters Club members get the full thing.
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Lamecha Girma capped the Paris Diamond League with an impressive 7:52.11 world record on an night that saw 3 world records (see below). We break that down and the other non world record highlights including Sydney McLaughlin-Lavrone getting beat at 400, Keely Hodgkinson getting a PB and Noah Lyles a big 100 win.
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Faith Kipyegon is no longer just a legendary 1500m runner, now she's the 5000m world record holder.
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Jakob's run is one of the greatest men's times on the books as he obliterated Daniel Komen's world record.
Doping Polls are Baaack!
When track and field fans walk into a bar or go on a run, doping is often the topic of conversation. With that in mind, we want your thoughts on which current track and field stars you think are clean and which you think are dirty.
Doping Polls are Back
One of the worst things about track and field is you're not sure what you're watching is real. We polled you whether you think the world records are dirty or clean.
Woody Speaks
Woody Kincaid is charting his own path in the running world for the first time as a professional. He opens up why he left Bowerman, his desire for American records, and a lot more including Shelby Houlihan.
How do you explain the ridiculous indoor distance times?
Are all the fast times merely a product of supershoes? Or is it something more? We spoke to coaches Dathan Ritzenhein, Jason Vigilante and Dave Smith to figure it out.
Nuguse Dreaming of Olympic Gold
Yared Nuguse surprised the world by getting one American record last weekend. By the time, the winter is over, he may have 3. Nuguse joined the LRC podcast to talk about his dreams, goals, training with the OAC, and his unorthodox start in the sport.
Kipchoge loving the LetsRun Shirt in Berlin
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
‒ Narve Nordås, who recently ran a 3:29.47 pb in Oslo, talking on this week's edition of the LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast. Subscribe today.