Running News Daily

Kenya's Mary Keitany opened up a lead after a 4:54 mile at the 20 mile mark.  The 36-year-old with a PR of 2:17:01 while winning the 2017 London Marathon was in control.  Mary won three consecutive TCS New York City Marathons from 2014 to 2016.  In 2016 her 3:34 margin of victory was the greatest in the women's race since 1980.  Last year she was runner-up to Shalane Flanagan clocking 2:27:54.  Today Shalane Flanagan was about a quarter mile back with six miles to go holding on to fifth place.  Molly Huddle (USA) was close behind.  At 35K Mary projected finish time was just 50 seconds off the course record.  The course record of 2:22:31 was set in 2003. Shalane Flanagan moved up to fourth at 35k with Molly in 5th.   Meanwhile Mary Keitany continued pulling further ahead clipping off 5:05 miles.  35-year-old Vivian Cheruiyot who won the 2018 London Marathon (2:18:31) upped her pace to 5:21/mile making a move on Ethiopian's Rahma Tusa who was second at 23 miles.  Mary crossed the finish line first clocking 2:22:48 crushing the field. Vivian Cheruityot was second in 2:26:02.  America’s Shalane Flanagan finished third in 2:26:22 and Molly Huddle was fourth in 2:26:44.  Rahma Tusa faded to fifth clocking 2:27:13.   2018 Boston marathon winner Desiree Linden placed 6th clocking 2:27:51.  Allie Kieffe (US) places 7th clocking 2:28:12.  

Masai Russell has called time on a remarkable 2026 campaign, withdrawing from ATHLOS London and ending a season in which the Olympic champion won every race she contested.

The American hurdler confirmed the decision on September 15, just days before ATHLOS London’s September 18 meeting at StoneX Stadium. Russell said she and her team believe stepping away is the right decision for her body as they turn their attention to what comes next.

“I'm grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this year,” Russell said in her message to fans, before signing off with a promise to return to the track in 2027.

It brings an extraordinary season to a close: 14 races, 14 victories and an unbeaten record in 2026.

Russell’s season reached another level in August when she produced one of the defining performances of the year at the Weltklasse meeting in Zurich. The Olympic champion stormed to 12.09 seconds in the 100m hurdles, breaking Tobi Amusan’s world record of 12.12 and becoming the fastest woman ever over the barriers.

The performance was not a one-off. Russell followed her world-record run by winning the Diamond League Final in Brussels in 12.20 seconds before heading to Budapest for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.

In Budapest, she completed her perfect season in style, winning the 100m hurdles in 12.22 seconds ahead of Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan and the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser. The victory was Russell’s 14th of the year and secured her unbeaten record for 2026.

Her withdrawal means fans will not get to see the world-record holder compete at ATHLOS London, where she had originally been announced among the star-studded field. The event takes place at StoneX Stadium on Friday, September 18, as ATHLOS makes its first international appearance.

For Russell, however, the decision closes the chapter on a season that has already placed her among the defining figures of the 2026 athletics campaign.

She has collected Olympic, Diamond League and World Athletics Ultimate Championship success, while adding a world record that erased one of the most significant marks in women's sprint hurdles.

And perhaps most remarkably, she did it without losing a single race.

Now Russell turns her attention to recovery, preparation and whatever comes next.

After a year of 14 wins from 14 races, a world record and an unbeaten streak, the next time Masai Russell steps onto the track will be in 2027 — with the 12.09 world-record holder entering a new season carrying an entirely different level of expectation.

South America will be represented by a strong eight-man contingent at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26, with the athletes set to take on one of the deepest and most competitive men’s half marathon fields on Sunday.

The championship will bring together leading road runners from around the world, creating a demanding stage for the South American representatives as they battle for strong championship positions and potentially significant personal breakthroughs.

Bolivia’s Héctor Garibay headlines the group, joined by Colombia’s Mauricio González and Uruguay’s Cristhian Zamora. Peru will be represented by Ferdinand Cereceda, while Brazil has the largest presence with Fabio Jesus Correia, Lucas Paulo Ferreira and Giovani Dos Santos.

Argentina completes the contingent with Marcelo Fabian Manrique, giving South America a diverse eight-man lineup ready to take on the challenge in Copenhagen.

Competing at a World Athletics championship is never simply about chasing a fast time. Championship racing often demands patience, tactical awareness and the ability to respond when the pace changes, particularly when the field contains athletes capable of producing world-class performances.

For the South American runners, Copenhagen offers more than an opportunity to compete for championship honours. It is a chance to test themselves against the very best in the world and measure how far they have progressed on the international stage.

The contingent also brings a fascinating mix of experience, ambition and emerging talent. Each athlete arrives with a different racing background, but they share the same opportunity: to turn months of preparation into one memorable performance on the biggest road-running stage. Against a world-class field, even a small improvement in the closing kilometres could make a significant difference in the final standings.

Copenhagen is therefore set to provide a true test of character as much as fitness. The championship atmosphere, fast competition and relentless pace will demand that the South American runners remain composed from the opening kilometres to the final stretch. If they can execute their race plans and find another level when it matters most, several could leave Denmark with performances that represent important milestones in their careers.

With the pressure of a global championship and the depth of talent expected on the starting line, every kilometre will count. A personal best would be a major achievement, but strong tactical racing and a competitive finish could prove just as valuable.

The eight athletes will now look to arrive in Copenhagen ready to embrace the challenge, with South America hoping to make its presence felt when the world’s best half marathoners take over the streets of the Danish capital. 

British ultrarunner and oncologist Lucy Gossage has etched her name into the history of British ultrarunning, becoming the first woman on record to complete the 268-mile Pennine Way in under three days.

Gossage reached the finish at Edale early Monday morning after an extraordinary 70 hours, 47 minutes and 15 seconds on England’s oldest National Trail. Her journey began at 8 a.m. on Friday at Kirk Yetholm on the Scottish border, with the challenge taking her south through some of the Pennine Way’s toughest and most remote terrain before finally arriving in Derbyshire.

By the time Gossage crossed the line, most people were only beginning their Monday morning. She had already spent almost 71 hours moving through darkness, daylight, changing weather and relentless fatigue to achieve a milestone that had never before been reached in the women’s field.

Her performance also represents a major improvement on the previous women’s best. Anna Troup’s 72:46:37, set in August 2021, had stood as the benchmark for the fastest known women’s time on the route. Gossage lowered it by almost two hours. Before Troup, Sabrina Verjee held the women’s mark with 74:28:46, recorded in 2020.

What makes Gossage’s achievement even more remarkable is that the Pennine Way challenge was not originally part of her September plans.

She had entered the Northern Traverse, but when that race was cancelled, Gossage quickly changed direction and turned her attention to the Pennine Way. Rather than allowing the disappointment to derail her plans, she transformed it into an opportunity to chase one of the most demanding endurance records in Britain.

And this was far from her first encounter with the legendary trail.

Earlier this year, Gossage demonstrated her familiarity with the route by winning the Winter Spine, the brutal 268-mile January race that follows the Pennine Way. She completed that winter challenge in 87:41:38, battling freezing conditions and some of the harshest terrain the trail can offer.

Her recent record-breaking run adds another major achievement to an already remarkable endurance résumé. In June 2025, she won the South Downs Way 100 in a course-record 16:30:35, further underlining her ability to combine speed, resilience and tactical patience over ultra-distance races.

The Pennine Way, however, demanded something different. Covering 268 miles on foot is an immense challenge under any circumstances, but completing it in barely three days leaves almost no room for recovery, sleep or mistakes. Gossage had to keep moving through successive nights while managing fatigue and the physical toll of one of Britain's most demanding long-distance trails.

At the finish, the magnitude of what she had accomplished had not yet fully sunk in.

“Too tired to know what to think yet,” Gossage said, before adding a heartfelt tribute to the people who helped her through the challenge: “Other than that I have amazing friends.”

Those friends, along with her own extraordinary endurance, played a crucial role in a journey that has now secured Gossage a place in Pennine Way history.

Seventy hours, 47 minutes and 15 seconds after setting off from Scotland, Lucy Gossage had done what no woman on record had done before — conquered the 268-mile Pennine Way in less than three days.

The Buenos Aires Marathon is set for an exciting edition on September 20, with a strong international field preparing to take on the 42-kilometre challenge through the streets of Argentina’s capital.

Kenyan marathoner Bethwel Kibet Chumba has been highlighted as one of the major international stars arriving in Buenos Aires, where he will headline a highly competitive men’s field featuring athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Chumba will be joined on the start line by fellow Kenyans Felix Kiptoo Kirwa, Kipkemoi Kiprono, Gevin Kipkurui Kerich, Vincent Kibor Raimoi, Kelvin Kiptoo Kororia, Vitalis Kibiwott and Zacharia Krop.

The Ethiopian challenge will feature Deribe Robi Melka, Dechasa Alemu Moreda, Embay Goitom Dimtsu and Tilahun Amsalu Beyene, while Rwanda will be represented by John Hakizimana.

With such depth across the field, the men’s race promises to produce a fascinating battle from the opening kilometres, as experienced marathoners look to position themselves for a shot at victory on one of South America’s most prominent road-racing stages.

The women’s race is equally intriguing, with Kenyan star Rodah Jepkorir Tanui set to headline the international field. Tanui arrives with a clear target: to claim her fourth Buenos Aires Marathon title, adding another chapter to her impressive record in the race.

Tanui will face strong opposition from a group of international contenders led by Ethiopia’s Sintayehu Lewetegn Hailemichael, Lomi Muleta Tefera, Agere Adera Tamir, Alem Tsehay Birm Zerihun and Tadelech Bekele Nedi.

Kenya will also have Rebecca Kangogo Chesir and Emmah Cheruto Ndiwa in the women’s elite field, setting up another potentially gripping contest over the classic marathon distance.

The presence of Chumba and Tanui gives the Buenos Aires Marathon two major Kenyan figures to watch, but neither race is expected to be a straightforward affair. The depth of the international line-up means that the leading contenders will have to manage the pace carefully, conserve energy and produce their best efforts when the race enters its decisive stages.

As Buenos Aires prepares to welcome the international running community, attention will turn to September 20, when the elite athletes take to the streets for 42 kilometres of racing, with victory, prestige and another major marathon title on the line.

Buenos Aires is ready. The international stars are coming—and the battle for the 42K crown is set to be one to watch.

Africa finally has its moment. Kenya has won the race to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, turning years of ambition into a landmark reality for the continent.

In a historic decision announced in Budapest, Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African nation to stage the senior global track and field championships.

World Athletics confirmed that Nairobi and Munich have been selected to host the 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships respectively, following what the governing body described as one of the strongest bidding processes in the history of its flagship event.

For Kenya, the announcement represents far more than a successful hosting bid. It is the latest chapter in a remarkable athletics story built over generations.

The Kenyan capital overcame strong competition from London, Rome and Munich to secure the 2029 edition, bringing the world's biggest senior athletics championship to African soil for the first time.

The championship will be staged at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in Nairobi, giving Kenya the opportunity to welcome the world's greatest athletes to a country that has produced countless champions of its own.

For generations, Kenya has established itself as one of the most influential nations in global athletics.

From pioneering Olympic champion Kipchoge Keino and distance-running legend Tegla Loroupe among others to modern icons such as Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon, David Rudisha, Faith Cherotich, Vivian Cheruiyot and Ezekiel Kemboi among others. Kenyan athletes have repeatedly conquered the world's biggest stages.

Their Olympic victories, world titles, records and unforgettable performances have made Kenya one of the most recognizable names in track and field.

But Kenya's athletics identity extends far beyond medals.

Running is deeply rooted in communities across the country, while the high-altitude training regions of the Rift Valley have become synonymous with the development of world-class distance runners. Behind the champions are coaches, families, training partners and communities that have helped create an athletics culture admired around the world.

Now, for the first time, that culture will become the backdrop for the sport's biggest senior global championship.

Nairobi 2029 will be historic before the first race even begins.

Kasarani, already an important venue in Kenya's sporting history, will take center stage as athletes from across the globe descend on Nairobi in pursuit of world titles.

For Kenyan fans, the opportunity to watch the world's greatest sprinters, middle-distance runners, distance stars, hurdlers, field-event athletes and relay teams compete on home soil will be extraordinary.

For the country's next generation of athletes, the impact could be even greater.

Young runners who have grown up watching Kenyan champions compete around the world will now have the chance to experience a World Championships in their own country. The sight of the world's best athletes competing at Kasarani could inspire a new generation to believe that they, too, can reach the highest levels of the sport.

The significance, however, stretches well beyond Kenya's borders.

Africa has produced generation after generation of Olympic champions, world champions and global athletics icons. From Kenya and Ethiopia to Uganda, Morocco, South Africa and numerous other nations, African athletes have played a central role in shaping the history of track and field.

Yet the continent had never hosted the senior World Athletics Championships.

Nairobi 2029 changes that forever.

The successful Kenyan bid therefore represents a major breakthrough for African athletics and a powerful recognition of the continent's contribution to the sport.

World Athletics' decision also secures the future of the championships beyond Nairobi. Munich will host the 2031 World Athletics Championships, creating a two-edition sequence that will see the global showpiece move from Africa to Germany.

But the spotlight now belongs to Nairobi.

The announcement in Budapest has transformed what was once an ambitious bid into a confirmed date with history.

In 2029, Kenya will not simply send athletes to compete for world titles.

Kenya will welcome the world.

It will be a celebration of the pioneers who laid the foundation, the champions who carried the country's name across the globe and the young athletes who represent the future of African athletics.

After decades of producing champions for the world, Kenya will finally have the opportunity to bring the world's greatest athletics stars into its own backyard.

For Africa, this is more than a hosting victory.

It is a breakthrough. It is recognition. It is a new chapter.

And when the athletes walk into Kasarani for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, they will be stepping into a moment that will belong not only to Kenya, but to an entire continent.

NAIROBI 2029 — THE WORLD IS COMING TO AFRICA.