Running News Daily

The running accomplishments of Rachel Drake and Tyler Green are astonishing on their own—but there’s far more to this pair of high-achievers than paces and race results. Drake recently earned her entry to the 2024 edition of the legendary Western States 100 with a strong win at Black Canyon Ultras 100K in Arizona, and Green finished second at the 2023 edition of Western States (and capped off his season with a sixth-place finish in the men’s race at UTMB 171K); the couple juggles demanding careers, school (Drake), coaching (Green) and family time with their one-and-a-half-year-old son, Lewis. We connected with the couple to find out how they make it work.

Drake, now 32, grew up in White Bear Lake, Minn., and the family currently lives in Green’s hometown of Portland, Ore. They will soon be moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, so Drake can begin her anesthesiology residency in the summer. The dynamic trail-running duo met at the McKenzie River 50K, and now combine their strengths in raising a family while balancing high-level running performance. Green, 40, works as a trail running coach and a high school cross country and track coach.

From Western States to World Trail Majors

The couple has similar goals for the 2024 season—they are both racing Western States on June 29, and both hope to capture another top performance at one of the World Trail Majors races, with the current plan being to run Ultra Trail Cape Town in November. The couple exemplifies flexibility in running and life—when a recent trip to run Ultra Trail Madeira was entirely derailed due to travel difficulties, they rallied, enjoying time at home instead. And when Black Canyon Ultra 100K in February was delayed several hours due to bad weather, Drake rose to the occasion.

“I’m really proud of how I handled the multiple changes in plans, I never felt stressed or perturbed,” Drake posted on Instagram after Black Canyon 100K was delayed several hours. “And I guess my ability to fall back asleep showed that my catecholamines were indeed not yet surging through my bloodstream. I think having been through medical school, graduate school and the birth of a child has really put things in perspective.”

An element of surprise

Both Green and Drake love being a part of the trail running community, and while being parents adds an element of challenge, they are finding joy in bringing Lewis to events. “Just a few weeks ago we were at the Gorge Waterfalls trail races, and it’s so fun to bring Lewis into the fold,” Drake told Canadian Running. “He was making friends and wandering around at the finish line, and it was just the best.”

While Drake is quick to express gratitude for their lives, she also acknowledges that they have their hands full. “It’s challenging to balance everything. Lewis is a super easygoing kid, but having a toddler definitely adds an element of surprise to every well-laid plan,” she says. “When we travel, the logistics are a lot more complicated, but it’s always worth it.”

Combining strengths

Drake says that, as athletes, her strengths and Green’s are quite different. “Tyler is much more of a 100-mile specialist, and I am more of a 50K specialist,but moving up in distance this year,” she says. “I think I am also more of a speed-oriented runner and Tyler is probably more of a strength runner.”

As well as being partners through life, Drake and Green share a specific dynamic in the running world—that of coach and runner. “Tyler actually coaches me, so he gives me a lot of advice,” Drake explains. “I’ll weigh in on race strategy and planning our competitive calendars, but I don’t get involved with his training, since he has a great coach.”

Drake and Green share a mutual sponsor in the backpack brand Osprey. “Rachel has partnered with Osprey for five years now, and I followed suit three years ago as I saw how positive the partnership was,” Green explains. “Our connection with Osprey runs deep; they have supported us as people first, whether that’s celebrating a great race result, jumping for joy when we shared we were expecting a baby, or caring for us through injury. We feel like our stories are interwoven.”

The brand’s commitment to sustainability and longevity in its products pairs well with the couple’s values. “I have an Osprey backpack I’ve had for 20 years, it’s still my favorite pack, and I think that tells a lot about how our values align with the company,” says Green. “The gear Osprey makes truly performs and lasts. We’re ultrarunners who work incredibly hard to keep going and going and going, and an Osprey pack on our backs reflects that process.”

Running as a new mom

Drake and Green are now parenting a toddler, and while Drake’s top-notch performance may seem remarkable so quickly after having a child, she says she wouldn’t call it a fast return. “I had a sacral stress fracture at four months postpartum and had to take time to recover from that and then build back fitness,” she says, emphasizing that the culture that celebrates “bouncing back” from postpartum rarely includes any discussion about the challenges of returning to running after giving birth.

“I nursed Lewis for a year after he was born,” she adds. “I loved nursing and it felt important to me to prioritize that. While I was nursing, I felt much more limited with my training, so I had to accept that, even though I was preparing for races that I really cared about.”

Drake’s social media captures enviable images of family, travel, running and mountains, almost always with Lewis in tow. The key to the couple’s success: “Lots of communication with each other, planning our days out and capitalizing on getting stuff done during Lewis’s nap time,” Drake says. One could safely predict fans will follow Drake’s and Green’s performances on trails and off, long after the results of this year’s Western States.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden delivered a sensational performance in Budapest, storming to victory in the women’s 100m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in a breathtaking 10.62 seconds.

The American produced a superb display of acceleration and composure to claim the World Ultimate Championship title while recording the fastest women’s 100m time in the world this year. Her 10.62 mark underlined her exceptional form and placed her firmly at the top of the global sprinting hierarchy.

Jefferson-Wooden controlled the race through the decisive stages and maintained her form all the way to the finish to secure a statement victory against a field packed with championship pedigree. She crossed the line ahead of Olympic champion Julien Alfred, who clocked 10.74 seconds with a -0.2 m/s wind, while Sha’Carri Richardson took third in 10.76.

Women’s 100m Final

1. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden — 10.62

2. Julien Alfred — 10.74 (-0.2 m/s)

3. Sha’Carri Richardson — 10.76

The victory was especially significant given the quality of the opposition. Jefferson-Wooden held her nerve against Alfred and Richardson, two of the most accomplished sprinters of the current generation, to produce the fastest performance in the world this year when it mattered most.

Alfred once again demonstrated her consistency at the highest level by taking silver, while Richardson completed an all-star podium in a race that brought together three of the biggest names in women’s sprinting.

But beyond the time, the title and the celebration, one of the most touching moments came after the race when Jefferson-Wooden embraced her father, Melvin, in an emotional celebration.

Their moment carried a deeply personal meaning. When Melissa was just 17 years old, she donated her stem cells to help her father undergo a bone marrow transplant after he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. Years later, the two shared an unforgettable embrace in Budapest after she had become the World Ultimate Champion.

For Jefferson-Wooden, however, the evening was about far more than a medal. It was the culmination of an extraordinary journey, now highlighted by a world-leading 10.62 seconds on one of the biggest stages in athletics.

With the Ultimate Championship title secured and her father by her side, Jefferson-Wooden leaves Budapest with more than being an ultimate champion. She leaves with momentum, confidence and a powerful statement of intent — turning a high-profile showdown into one of the defining sprint performances of her season.

Audrey Werro has added another major title to her extraordinary season, storming to victory in the women’s 800m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.

The Swiss star delivered a commanding performance, taking control from the opening gun and refusing to surrender the lead as she powered through an absorbing battle against two of the biggest names in the event.

Werro stopped the clock at 1:55.88 to become the Ultimate Championships 800m champion, producing another statement performance on one of the sport’s newest and most prestigious stages.

Behind her, Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson fought her way to second in 1:56.26, while the Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol completed the podium in 1:56.74.

The result once again brought together the same formidable trio that featured on the podium at the European Championships, but Werro again proved to be the athlete who could rise above the challenge when it mattered most.

Her Budapest triumph is the latest chapter in a season that has already included records, a successful Diamond League Trophy defence and European Championship gold. Now, she can add the Ultimate Championships crown to a growing list of accomplishments.

Werro’s consistency has been particularly impressive in an 800m event packed with elite talent. Rather than simply relying on a fast finish, the Swiss athlete showed her authority by taking the initiative from the beginning and maintaining enough strength and composure to hold off Hodgkinson and Broeders-Bol all the way to the line.

The victory also underlined the remarkable depth of the women’s 800m, with three athletes separated by less than a second at the finish. Hodgkinson’s 1:56.26 and Broeders-Bol’s 1:56.74 showed just how fiercely contested the race was, but Werro’s decision to dictate the pace ultimately gave her the decisive advantage.

For Werro, this was more than another medal. It was another opportunity to demonstrate that her rise is no passing moment. On a stage featuring established champions and elite rivals, she once again produced the performance required to claim the biggest prize.

For Hodgkinson, the silver medal adds another major podium finish, while Broeders-Bol once again demonstrated her ability to compete with the very best over two laps.

But the spotlight in Budapest belonged unmistakably to Werro.

With another championship crown secured, the Swiss star has strengthened her claim as the athlete setting the standard in women’s 800m running. This is Audrey Werro’s era — and the rest of the field is chasing.

Busang Collen Kebinatshipi has delivered another sensational performance, storming to victory in the men’s 400m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

The reigning world champion stopped the clock at an astonishing 43.39 seconds, smashing his own Botswana national record and moving to fifth on the world all-time list.

Kebinatshipi produced a commanding finish to pull away from his rivals and secure the Ultimate Championship title. American star Rai Benjamin finished second in 44.15, while Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago completed the podium in 44.23.

 Men’s 400m

1. Busang Collen Kebinatshipi — 43.39 NR

2. Rai Benjamin — 44.15

3. Jereem Richards — 44.23

The performance is even more remarkable considering that Kebinatshipi had already rewritten the Botswana record just one week ago in Brussels, where he ran 43.40. In Budapest, he lowered that mark by another 0.01 seconds to establish a new national record of 43.39.

That improvement has also propelled the 22-year-old into rare territory. His latest time now ranks him fifth fastest in history over 400m, placing him among an extraordinary group of athletes who have broken the 43.40 barrier.

Kebinatshipi's victory also caps an extraordinary season for the Botswana star. After establishing himself as a global champion, he has continued to demonstrate that he belongs among the very best one-lap runners in the world.

And there is a major reward for his historic night in Budapest: Kebinatshipi walks away as the Ultimate Champion and $150,000 richer.

From another national record to a place among the five fastest 400m runners ever, Kebinatshipi has turned an already remarkable season into something truly special.

Botswana has its latest sprinting superstar — and Kebinatshipi is showing that his ceiling may be even higher than anyone imagined. 

Marileidy Paulino once again proved why she is the undisputed queen of the one-lap event, powering to victory in the women’s 400m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

The Dominican Republic superstar produced a sensational 49.07 seconds to claim gold, pulling decisively away in the final straight and holding off a fiercely competitive field to extend her remarkable unbeaten run.

Paulino delivered her trademark combination of controlled speed and devastating finishing strength. She remained firmly in contention through the opening stages before unleashing her decisive move down the home straight, where she quickly opened a gap on her closest challengers.

Norway’s Henriette Jæger mounted a strong challenge but could not match Paulino’s finishing speed, crossing the line second in an impressive 49.28. Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce completed the podium after clocking 49.56, ensuring that three of the world’s leading 400m talents occupied the medals.

The result once again underlined Paulino’s extraordinary consistency at the highest level. She entered Budapest as the world leader after running 48.48 in Paris in June, a performance that also set a Diamond League record. She subsequently remained unbeaten throughout her Diamond League campaign, closing the circuit with a meeting-record 48.64 in Brussels.

Budapest has also become a special venue in Paulino’s career. Three years ago, at the same National Athletics Centre, she captured her first individual world title, marking the beginning of another dominant chapter in her career. She later added Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, further establishing herself among the defining 400m athletes of her generation.

The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship has brought together the sport’s biggest stars in a new winner-takes-the-spotlight format, with Olympic and world champions, Diamond League winners and leading performers competing for ultimate honours.

For Paulino, the occasion once again ended with Ultimate Crown on her arms.

With 49.07 seconds, she did more than win another major 400m title. She delivered another statement of authority, powering through the final straight with the confidence and speed that have made her one of the most dominant figures in modern women’s athletics.

Marileidy Paulino remains unbeaten, remains relentless and, once again, remains the queen of the one lap.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen has made a major decision regarding the remainder of his World Athletics Ultimate Championship campaign, confirming that he will withdraw from the men’s 1500m in Budapest despite producing a sensational performance to win the 5,000m title.

The Norwegian superstar stormed to victory in the inaugural Ultimate Championship 5,000m on Friday night, clocking a season-best 12:59.24 and delivering a devastating finishing kick to defeat Olympic 5,000m champion Cole Hocker and American Parker Wolfe.

Ingebrigtsen’s final 100 metres was arguably the defining moment of the race. The Olympic champion produced a remarkable 12.60-second closing 100m, powering away from the field to secure the $150,000 winner’s prize and underline just how far his fitness has progressed since returning from Achilles surgery.

The victory was particularly significant after what has been an extremely difficult period for the 25-year-old. Earlier in the season, Ingebrigtsen faced serious uncertainty over whether he would even be able to compete at the highest level again. His return has gradually gathered momentum, and his performance in Budapest offered perhaps the clearest indication yet that the Norwegian is rediscovering his formidable racing ability.

But rather than risk pushing his recovering body further, Ingebrigtsen has now opted to step away from the 1500m.

The decision means the highly anticipated showdown with British rival Josh Kerr will not take place in Budapest after all. The two stars had been expected to renew one of the biggest rivalries in modern middle-distance running in the 1500m final.

Instead, Ingebrigtsen is looking beyond the immediate opportunity and towards the bigger picture.

“I’m thinking about 2027… Fitness cannot be faked,” the Norwegian said, signalling that protecting his long-term condition has become more important than chasing another major victory only days after his return to peak-level competition.

The decision comes just one week after an emotionally charged Diamond League Final in Brussels, where Ingebrigtsen finished fourth in the 1500m behind Australia’s Cameron Myers, Kenya’s Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech and American Ethan Strand.

After that race, Ingebrigtsen delivered a fiery assessment of his rivals and questioned the tactics surrounding the pacemaking, particularly involving Hocker. He later acknowledged that there had been “a little too much adrenaline and emotion” when microphones were placed in front of him immediately after the race.

Yet his latest decision shows that beneath the emotion and competitive intensity lies a longer-term strategy.

Ingebrigtsen has already demonstrated that he can compete at an elite level again. His 12:59.24 in Budapest was not simply a victory — it was a statement that the Norwegian remains capable of producing a world-class finish even after months of injury rehabilitation.

Now, however, he is choosing not to gamble with that progress.

For a runner who has spent much of the year fighting his way back from injury, another 1500m race could have offered enormous rewards but also carried unnecessary risk. By withdrawing, Ingebrigtsen is effectively prioritising longevity over one more opportunity for immediate glory.

His message is clear: the comeback is underway, but it will not be rushed.

The 5,000m victory has given Ingebrigtsen confidence, momentum and perhaps, most importantly, proof that his body can once again handle elite competition.

Now comes the harder part — knowing when to stop.

With 2027 already firmly in his sights, the Norwegian has chosen recovery over risk. And after everything he has endured, that could ultimately prove to be one of the most important decisions of his comeback.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen is not walking away from the sport. He is protecting his future in it.