Running News Daily

The 50th edition of Grandma’s Marathon delivered a memorable chapter in long-distance running history on Saturday morning as Eritrea’s Amanuel Mesel stormed to victory in Duluth, becoming the first athlete from his nation to win the prestigious race.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Superior, the iconic course from Two Harbors to Duluth provided ideal racing conditions for both elite athletes and thousands of recreational runners celebrating the event’s golden jubilee. Cool temperatures and calm weather created the perfect stage for a fiercely contested battle among the men's elite field.

At 35 years old, Mesel demonstrated experience, patience, and tactical brilliance as he emerged from a tightly packed lead group to claim victory in 2:11:21. His triumph was more than just a personal achievement—it marked a historic breakthrough for Eritrean athletics at one of North America's most respected marathons.

Kenya’s veteran marathoner Elisha Barno, 41, fought courageously throughout the race and secured second place in 2:12:50 after remaining in contention deep into the closing stages. Ethiopia’s Getinet Gedamu completed the podium in 2:13:03, capping off a highly competitive East African sweep of the top three positions.

The race remained remarkably close from start to finish, with several athletes separated by only seconds as they approached the final miles. In one of the tightest finishes in recent Grandma’s Marathon history, the fourth through sixth-place finishers crossed the line within just six seconds of one another, highlighting the extraordinary depth of the field.

Kenya’s Milton Rotich narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in 2:13:04, while Americans Will Norris and Joseph Whelan impressed on home soil with fifth and sixth-place finishes respectively. Fellow Kenyans Benard Rotich and Sammy Rotich also secured top-ten positions, while Ethiopia’s Mohammed Bati and American Dillon Maggard rounded out the leading ten.

Men’s Top 10 Results – Grandma’s Marathon 2026

1. Amanuel Mesel (Eritrea) – 2:11:21

2. Elisha Barno (Kenya) – 2:12:50

3. Getinet Gedamu (Ethiopia) – 2:13:03

4. Milton Rotich (Kenya) – 2:13:04

5. Will Norris (USA) – 2:13:08

6. Joseph Whelan (USA) – 2:13:10

7. Benard Rotich (Kenya) – 2:13:30

8. Mohammed Bati (Ethiopia) – 2:13:38

9. Sammy Rotich (Kenya) – 2:14:13

10. Dillon Maggard (USA) – 2:14:42

As the sun rose over Minnesota’s North Shore, the 50th Grandma’s Marathon delivered everything fans could hope for—historic achievement, dramatic competition, and a new champion whose name will forever be etched into the race’s rich legacy. For Amanuel Mesel, it was a victory years in the making. For Eritrea, it was a milestone moment that will be celebrated for generations.

In elite sport, the smallest moments can have the biggest consequences. For Sifan Hassan, one routine training session on a treadmill proved to be the turning point of an entire marathon season.

Earlier this year, the reigning Olympic marathon champion announced her withdrawal from the 2026 London Marathon after suffering an Achilles injury during what her management described as an unfortunate treadmill accident. The setback occurred approximately six weeks before race day, abruptly halting preparations for one of the most anticipated appearances of the season.

Hassan entered the year carrying the weight of extraordinary expectations. She was not only the defending London Marathon champion but also one of the strongest contenders to challenge the elusive 2:15 barrier in women’s marathon running. Few athletes possess a résumé comparable to hers. From Olympic gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m to her historic marathon triumphs, Hassan has consistently pushed the boundaries of what distance runners can achieve.

Initially, there was hope that the injury would be manageable. Like many elite athletes, she attempted to train through the discomfort, believing time and careful management might allow her to return in time for London. But the Achilles tendon had other plans. As the weeks passed, recovery failed to progress as expected, leaving Hassan with little choice but to step away from competition.

Her withdrawal created a significant shift in the dynamics of the London Marathon. What had been expected to be a showdown featuring one of the sport’s greatest champions suddenly became an open race. The absence of Hassan altered the landscape and opened the door for others to seize the moment.

Among them was Tigst Assefa, who delivered a performance for the ages. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Ethiopian star stormed to a remarkable 2:15:41, setting a new women-only world record and producing one of the finest marathon performances ever witnessed. It was the kind of historic race many believed Hassan would have been central to contesting.

Instead, she watched from the sidelines as the record books were rewritten.

Yet Hassan's response reflected the maturity and patience that have defined her career. Rather than rushing back, she emphasized the importance of listening to her body and allowing the healing process to take its natural course. It was a reminder that even the greatest champions cannot negotiate with injury.

For athletes operating at the highest level, talent, preparation, and determination can overcome many obstacles. Recovery, however, follows its own timeline. No amount of ambition can accelerate an Achilles tendon's healing process.

The marathon world continues to wonder what might have happened had Hassan lined up in London healthy and fully prepared. Could she have challenged the record? Could she have become the first woman to break the 2:15 barrier?

Those questions remain unanswered.

What is certain is that Sifan Hassan's story is far from finished. If her career has demonstrated anything, it is her remarkable ability to return stronger after adversity. The treadmill incident may have delayed another historic chapter, but it has not closed the book.

For now, the marathon world waits patiently for the return of one of the most extraordinary distance runners the sport has ever seen.

In a sport filled with record breakers, Olympic champions, and marathon legends, few people have shaped the running world as profoundly as Hal Higdon. This week, the iconic coach, author, and lifelong runner celebrated his 95th birthday—a milestone that offers the global running community a chance to reflect on an extraordinary legacy that continues to inspire runners of every level.

For countless marathoners, Higdon's name is instantly familiar. Long before training apps and smartwatches became the norm, aspiring runners were printing out his training plans, pinning them to refrigerators, and following them mile by mile toward goals they once thought impossible. His programs transformed marathon preparation from something reserved for elite athletes into a journey that ordinary people could embrace with confidence.

Born and raised in Chicago, Higdon's relationship with running stretches back nearly eight decades. He began competing in 1947 and built a remarkable competitive career that included eight appearances at the U.S. Olympic Trials. His achievements on the roads were equally impressive. A regular competitor at the prestigious Boston Marathon, Higdon delivered one of his finest performances in 1964, finishing fifth overall in 2:21:55 and emerging as the top American finisher.

Yet what makes his story truly remarkable is not simply the races he ran, but the longevity and passion with which he pursued them. Over the course of his life, Higdon completed 111 marathons. Even approaching his 70th birthday, he demonstrated the same determination that defined his younger years by running seven marathons in seven consecutive months.

While his accomplishments as an athlete earned admiration, it was his work as a writer and coach that cemented his place in running history. Over the years, he authored more than three dozen books and became one of the most trusted voices in the sport through his extensive work with Runner's World. His landmark publication, Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, now in its fifth edition, remains a trusted companion for first-time marathoners around the world.

What sets Higdon apart is his ability to make the marathon feel achievable. His training philosophy emphasized consistency, patience, and gradual progress rather than intimidating mileage or complex workouts. Through simple, structured plans, he helped generations of runners discover that the marathon was not reserved for a select few—it was a challenge that anyone willing to commit could conquer.

Perhaps the most remarkable part of the story is that his influence remains active today. His training plans continue to be freely available online, reaching new runners every year. The family business remains strong, supported by his children and grandchildren, ensuring that his guidance continues to inspire future generations.

Many lifetime achievement awards serve as a final chapter in a distinguished career. Hal Higdon's story is different. At 95, he remains engaged, writing, teaching, and encouraging runners across the globe. His impact is measured not only in races completed or books sold, but in the millions of lives he has touched through the simple belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.

As runners around the world shared their stories and gratitude in celebration of his birthday, one message rang clear: the sport owes Hal Higdon far more than applause. It owes him generations of first miles, first finish lines, and first marathons.

At 95, the legendary coach is still inspiring runners to take the next step forward—and that may be his greatest achievement of all.

British marathon star Calli Hauger-Thackery has become the latest elite athlete to join UCAN, announcing a new sponsorship agreement while navigating one of the most significant chapters of her life — pregnancy.

The 33-year-old Olympian revealed the partnership on Instagram this week, describing the nutrition brand as a key part of her recent training and racing success. Hauger-Thackery said she relied on UCAN's slow-release carbohydrate products throughout her preparation for the Boston Marathon and during the race itself, crediting the brand for helping her manage the demands of elite competition.

“UCAN has literally been a saviour during this time for me,” she wrote, sharing the news with her followers.

The announcement comes at a remarkable stage in Hauger-Thackery's career. Despite being pregnant, she remains one of Britain's most accomplished distance runners. Her personal best of 2:21:24 makes her the second-fastest British woman in marathon history, trailing only legendary marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe.

Recent months have highlighted her outstanding form. Hauger-Thackery claimed victory at the JAL Honolulu Marathon in December before following it up with another impressive win at the Chevron Houston Marathon in January, cementing her place among the world's leading marathoners.

Yet the sponsorship news arrives against a backdrop that has already placed UCAN under public scrutiny.

Earlier this year, American marathon star Emma Bates publicly alleged that the company ended their three-year partnership shortly after she informed them she was pregnant. The claim sparked widespread discussion across the running community about athlete sponsorship, maternity protections, and the challenges female athletes often face when starting families while pursuing professional careers.

UCAN disputed Bates' account and rejected suggestions that her pregnancy influenced the decision. Bates has since moved on, signing a sponsorship agreement with sports nutrition company NeverSecond.

Neither Hauger-Thackery nor UCAN referenced the controversy when announcing their new partnership. Instead, the focus remained on performance, trust, and the athlete's positive experience with the products.

Still, the timing of the announcement inevitably draws attention. In a sport that continues to examine how pregnancy and motherhood intersect with professional athletics, the signing of a pregnant elite marathoner by a company recently involved in a high-profile maternity-related dispute is likely to generate discussion.

For Hauger-Thackery, however, the story is currently about a new partnership and the next phase of an already remarkable journey. As one of Britain's greatest marathon talents balances elite competition with impending motherhood, her latest sponsorship deal adds another compelling chapter to a career that continues to break barriers both on and off the road.

The future of the 400m hurdles may have arrived sooner than anyone expected.

At just 17 years old, Japan's Taiju Goto delivered one of the most remarkable performances ever seen from a high school athlete, breaking the U18 world record not once, but twice in the space of two days at the Japanese Athletics Championships in Aichi.

Goto first announced himself to the world during the heats, producing a stunning 48.31 seconds to erase a global age-group mark that had stood untouched for nearly a decade. It was the kind of performance that would have been enough to dominate headlines on its own.

But the teenager was not finished.

Returning for the final less than 24 hours later, Goto lined up in lane seven with the pressure of expectation suddenly resting on his shoulders. Rather than feeling the weight of history, he embraced it. Powering over the barriers with remarkable composure and rhythm, he crossed the finish line in an astonishing 48.09 seconds, slicing another 0.22 seconds off the record he had set the previous day.

Pending official ratification, the performance will stand as the new U18 world record.

What makes the achievement even more extraordinary is the level of the time itself. A 48.09 is not merely exceptional for a teenager—it is a performance capable of competing on the senior international stage. In several recent Olympic cycles, that mark would have been fast enough to reach the Olympic semifinals.

And Goto is still balancing elite athletics with life as a high school student.

The previous U18 world best of 48.84 had remained on the books throughout the 2010s and was widely considered one of the toughest age-group marks in the event. In just two races, Goto lowered it by an incredible 0.75 seconds—a massive margin in an event where records are often broken by hundredths of a second.

The men's 400m hurdles is currently enjoying a golden era led by world-class stars such as Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin, and Alison dos Santos. After this historic weekend, another name deserves a place on every athletics watchlist: Taiju Goto.

The timing could not be more intriguing. With the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles approaching, Goto will still be only 19 years old when the world's biggest sporting stage arrives.

Many teenage prodigies generate excitement. Few produce performances that force the athletics world to rethink what is possible.

In Aichi, Taiju Goto did exactly that—twice. One record-breaking run announced his arrival. The second confirmed that a new star may already be on the rise.