Running News Daily

Forty-one years after Great Britain last celebrated a men's mile world record, Josh Kerr has written a magnificent new chapter in the sport's rich history.

Competing before a passionate home crowd in London, Kerr delivered the performance of a lifetime, storming to a sensational 3:42.66 to erase one of athletics' longest-standing records. It was more than just a personal triumph—it marked the return of the mile world record to the nation that has shaped some of the greatest middle-distance runners the sport has ever known.

With that unforgettable run, Kerr became the seventh British man to hold the men's mile world record, joining a legendary lineage that stretches back nearly nine decades. His achievement places him alongside icons such as Sydney Wooderson, Roger Bannister, Derek Ibbotson, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram—names forever woven into the history of British athletics.

For generations, Great Britain stood at the forefront of mile running. Wooderson first established the country's dominance in 1937 before Bannister forever changed athletics by becoming the first man to break the four-minute barrier in 1954. The baton was then carried by Ibbotson, Coe, Ovett and Cram, whose fierce rivalry elevated the event to extraordinary heights during the late 20th century.

Since Steve Cram's world record of 3:46.32 in 1985, Britain had waited more than four decades for another athlete capable of reclaiming the crown. Many exceptional runners emerged during that period, but none managed to rewrite the record books—until Josh Kerr.

The Scottish star embraced the enormous expectations surrounding his ambitious Project 222 with remarkable composure. Every split demonstrated the precision required to chase history. He opened with 27.5 seconds at 200m, reached 400m in 55.3, passed 600m in 1:23.2, and hit 800m in 1:51.1, perfectly positioning himself for a relentless second half.

Rather than fading, Kerr accelerated. He covered 1000m in 2:18.8, reached 1200m in 2:46.5, passed 1400m in 3:14.0, and crossed 1500m in a blistering 3:27.7 before producing one final surge over the closing 109 metres to stop the clock at an astonishing 3:42.66. It was a masterclass in pacing, endurance and finishing speed—proof that every stride had been meticulously planned.

Roared on by thousands of supporters inside London's packed stadium, Kerr transformed years of sacrifice, discipline and unwavering belief into one of the greatest performances ever witnessed in middle-distance running. He didn't simply attack the record—he dismantled it with authority.

Kerr's achievement is about far more than breaking a world record. It reconnects Great Britain with one of its proudest athletics traditions and signals the beginning of a new era for the iconic mile. His unforgettable run reminds the world that even the longest-standing records can fall when extraordinary talent meets fearless ambition.

On a magical evening in London, Josh Kerr didn't just rewrite the record books—he brought the mile world record back home and secured his place among the greatest middle-distance runners in history.

Kenyan-born 1500m runner Jonah Koech has been handed a three-year ban following an anti-doping violation that has stripped him of his 2025 U.S. 1500m championship title and cast a shadow over what had been a breakthrough season.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Koech accepted the sanction after an investigation into highly atypical blood values recorded in his Athlete Biological Passport. An expert review of his biological profile determined that the abnormalities were consistent with the use of a prohibited blood-doping method.

Koech’s sanction comes with a significant consequence: his victory in the men’s 1500m at the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, has been disqualified. The title, which represented one of the biggest achievements of his career, has therefore been removed from his official record.

The ruling marks a dramatic reversal for Koech, who produced a stunning breakthrough in 2025. After establishing himself as a serious force in the 1500m, he captured the U.S. national title and earned international recognition as one of the country’s leading middle-distance runners.

His three-year suspension is shorter than the standard four-year sanction that can apply to serious anti-doping violations. Koech’s acceptance of the violation and sanction resulted in a reduction of the period of ineligibility, allowing him to avoid the full four-year penalty.

Koech will remain ineligible to compete until July 2029, meaning he faces a lengthy absence from competitive athletics. His return will come after one of the most significant seasons of his career has now been rewritten by the anti-doping ruling.

The Athlete Biological Passport played a central role in the case. Rather than simply looking for a banned substance in an individual sample, the system monitors selected biological markers over time. Significant abnormalities in an athlete’s profile can trigger further examination and, where supported by expert evidence, an anti-doping case.

For Koech, the development represents a painful fall from a season that had appeared to signal the arrival of a major new name in American 1500m running. Born in Kenya before building his career in the United States, he had become a notable figure on the U.S. middle-distance scene.

The case also underlines the increasingly sophisticated approach to anti-doping in modern athletics, where an athlete's biological profile can be scrutinized long after a race has finished. For Koech, the consequences will extend far beyond the loss of one championship title, with three years away from competition now standing between him and a possible return to the track.

Nadia Battocletti produced a superb championship performance in Birmingham to retain her European 5000m title for the second consecutive time, powering to gold in 15:37.84 after unleashing a devastating late kick that left her rivals scrambling for the remaining medals.

The Italian distance-running star remained composed through the race before turning on the speed when it mattered most. With the field tightly packed heading into the closing stages, Battocletti launched a breathtaking attack over the final 200 metres, producing a surge of exceptional quality that ultimately decided the championship.

The decisive moment came in the final 200 metres, when Battocletti unleashed a ferocious finishing kick that dramatically changed the complexion of the race. With the medals still within reach for several athletes, the Italian surged through the final bend with tremendous purpose, her acceleration proving simply too tough to match. She drove relentlessly down the home straight, opening the crucial gap and powering away from her closest challengers to seal a richly deserved European title.

Her closing speed was extraordinary. Battocletti covered the final 400m in 59.2 seconds, including a remarkable 28.2-second final 200m, as she accelerated away from her challengers and powered down the home straight. It was a superb display of strength, speed and championship composure, earning her another European crown in emphatic fashion.

Behind her, Spain’s Marta García fought brilliantly to claim silver in a season’s best of 15:39.98, while Italy’s Micol Majori completed an Italian 1-3 with bronze in 15:40.65.

For Majori, the bronze medal represented a particularly special milestone as she celebrated her first international senior medal on a major championship stage. Her breakthrough performance added another layer to an unforgettable night for Italy.

Ireland’s Sarah Healy narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in 15:40.95, just 0.30 seconds behind Majori. Great Britain’s Hannah Nuttall was fifth in 15:41.27, followed by the Netherlands’ Maureen Koster in 15:41.51.

Amina Maatoug of the Netherlands finished seventh in 15:44.03, while Spain’s María Forero completed the top eight in 15:44.25.

Battocletti’s Birmingham triumph now sets up another title defence. The Italian will return to the track on Friday for the women’s 10,000m, where she will once again look to extend her European dominance.

For now, though, the spotlight belongs to Battocletti and that extraordinary finish — a 28.2-second final 200m that transformed a tightly contested 5000m final into another golden chapter in her championship career. 

World record holder Sabastian Sawe is set to return to the BMW Berlin Marathon on September 27, where the Kenyan superstar will defend his title and attempt to add another remarkable chapter to his already extraordinary marathon career.

Sawe arrives in Berlin with unprecedented confidence after his sensational 1:59:30 performance in London, which made him the first athlete to officially break the two-hour barrier in the marathon. That landmark achievement has elevated expectations for his return to the German capital, where he will once again line up on one of the fastest marathon courses in the world.

The Kenyan won the 2025 Berlin Marathon in 2:02:16 despite warm conditions, demonstrating his ability to produce a world-class performance even when circumstances are far from ideal. This time, he returns as the defending champion and world-record holder, with the famously flat Berlin course providing another opportunity to test the limits of what is possible over 42.195km.

Berlin has a remarkable history of producing record-breaking performances, and Sawe's presence immediately raises the possibility of another extraordinary race. The question now is whether the 31-year-old can go beyond his own 1:59:30 world record and take the marathon to an even higher level.

However, Sawe will face formidable opposition.

Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay has joined the elite field, bringing a personal best of 2:03:00 set in Valencia in 2022. The 29-year-old Tanzanian record holder established himself among the world’s leading marathoners with that performance and further underlined his credentials by finishing runner-up at the 2023 Boston Marathon.

Ethiopia’s Guye Adola will also return to Berlin, the scene of some of the most memorable moments of his marathon career. In 2017, Adola stunned the athletics world on his marathon debut, pushing Eliud Kipchoge deep into the race before finishing second in a remarkable 2:03:46. Four years later, on September 26, 2021, Adola returned to Berlin and claimed victory in 2:05:45, adding another significant chapter to his association with the iconic German marathon. Now, after his recent return to top form, he will once again line up on the streets where he has already made history.

Now 35, Adola has endured injury setbacks in recent years, but his victory at the Rotterdam Marathon in 2:03:54 this spring proved that he remains a major force on the international marathon circuit.

The addition of Geay and Adola adds further quality to a field already packed with athletes capable of running at an extraordinary pace. With Sawe leading the charge, Berlin is shaping up to deliver another thrilling battle among some of the world's finest marathoners.

The depth of the field extends well beyond the leading contenders, with Ethiopia boasting an imposing group of marathoners. Getaneh Molla (2:03:34), Shura Kitata (2:03:59), Dejene Hailu (2:04:15), Selemon Barega (2:05:00), Taresa Tolosa (2:05:17), Tadu Abate (2:05:38), Asefa Boki (2:05:40) and Andamlak Belihu (2:06:40) will all bring proven credentials and the ambition to challenge for fast times in Berlin.

Japan, meanwhile, has assembled a particularly deep contingent, led by Kenya Sonota (2:05:59), Tsubasa Ichiyama (2:06:00), Kyoto Hirabayashi (2:06:14), Yuhei Urano (2:06:23), Hidekazu Hijikata (2:06:26), Yusuke Nishiyama (2:06:31), Naoki Koyama (2:06:33), Kazuya Nishiyama (2:06:45), Daisuke Uekado (2:06:54) and Shin Kimura (2:07:34). China’s Jie He (2:06:57) and Kenya’s Richard Yator (2:07:36) complete a remarkably deep field, setting the stage for a race where the battle for victory could be accompanied by a long list of outstanding personal performances.

For Sawe, though, the challenge goes beyond defending his Berlin crown. Having already broken the two-hour barrier, he now has an opportunity to chase an even more remarkable achievement on a course renowned for producing marathon history.

Can Sabastian Sawe lower his own 1:59:30 world record in Berlin on September 27?

The countdown is on, and if the conditions are right, the defending champion could once again have the marathon world watching every step.

Keely Hodgkinson made an emphatic start to her European Athletics Championships campaign in Birmingham, delivering the fastest performance of the women’s 800m opening rounds as the defending champion immediately underlined her ambitions for another continental title.

The British star looked relaxed yet authoritative throughout her heat, producing a controlled 1:57.28 to qualify fastest for the semifinals. Hodgkinson, who has established herself as one of Europe’s leading middle-distance athletes, never appeared troubled as she secured her progression with plenty of confidence.

Behind her, Italy’s Eloisa Coiro produced one of the standout performances of the opening round. The Italian clocked 1:57.56, setting a new national record and advancing with a performance that immediately placed her among the leading contenders for the medals.

Germany’s Majtie Kolberg also impressed with 1:57.80, while Switzerland’s Audrey Werro followed closely in 1:57.83. Both athletes advanced automatically, adding further depth to an already formidable semifinal field.

The battle for the remaining places was equally competitive. Italy’s Elena Bellò Vancardo ran 1:58.20, while France’s Clara Liberman stopped the clock at 1:58.23. Croatia’s Elena Vuković followed in 1:58.38, with Britain’s Jemma Reekie qualifying in 1:58.45.

Spain’s Lorea Mitjans and France’s Anaïs Lamotte also broke 1:59, recording 1:58.52 and 1:58.65 respectively. Lithuania’s Gabrielė Galvydytė, Switzerland’s Valentina Rosamilia and France’s Anaïs Bourgoin all advanced after running under 2:00.

The Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol completed her heat in 1:59.96, while Slovakia’s Gabriela Gajanová and Spain’s Lorena Martín Royo secured the final automatic qualification places in 2:00.27 and 2:00.62.

With Hodgkinson, Werro, Reekie and Broeders-Bol safely through, and Coiro arriving in the semifinals with a new Italian record, the women’s 800m is already shaping up as one of the most fiercely contested events of the Birmingham championships.

Hodgkinson has made her intentions clear: the European crown remains hers to defend. But with Coiro producing a national-record performance and several of Europe’s strongest 800m runners advancing in impressive fashion, the road to another title is unlikely to be straightforward.

The semifinals now await — and the real fight for European supremacy is only beginning.

Australian athletics’ next generation received a memorable welcome in Los Angeles as rising sprint sensation Gout Gout joined Olympic great Ian Thorpe and a host of high-profile guests at a special Olympic Club of Australia gathering.

The event, hosted by Australia’s Consul-General to Los Angeles, Tanya Bennett, brought together members of the Australian Athletics U20 team on their return journey from Oregon, where they had been competing on the international stage.

Gout, one of the most closely watched young talents in Australian athletics, was among the athletes at the gathering alongside Thorpe, the legendary five-time Olympic gold medallist. Broadcaster Bruce McAvaney and actor Billy Zane were also part of the star-studded occasion, creating an unusual but fitting meeting of Australian sporting excellence, media and entertainment.

The celebration came at an important moment for Australia’s young athletes, with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games increasingly becoming a realistic target for many of the emerging stars. Beyond LA28, the prospect of competing at a home Olympics in Brisbane in 2032 offers an even bigger incentive for this generation to continue developing and dreaming on the world stage.

The occasion also highlighted the newly launched Olympic Club of Australia, an initiative of the Australian Olympic Committee designed to help raise funds in support of Olympians and coaches.

For Australia’s emerging athletes, the significance goes well beyond financial support. Olympic sport can provide young people with role models and demonstrate what can be achieved through ambition, commitment and perseverance.

With Gout and his fellow U20 athletes now beginning to look towards the next stage of their careers, the road to Los Angeles could mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Australian athletics.

And with Brisbane 2032 waiting beyond LA28, the athletes being celebrated today could ultimately become some of the biggest names carrying Australia’s hopes on home soil.