Running News Daily

From June 21-30, more than 900 runners, throwers, and jumpers will put it all on the line for a chance to compete for Team USA at the Paris Olympics

The U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials is a showcase of hundreds of America’s best track and field athletes who will be battling for a chance to qualify for Team USA and compete in this summer’s Paris Olympics. For many athletes competing in Eugene, simply making it on to the start line is a life-long accomplishment. Each earned their spot by qualifying for the trials in their event(s). The athlete qualifier and declaration lists are expected to be finalized this week.

But for the highest echelon of athletes, the trials defines a make-or-break moment in their career. Only three Olympic team spots (in each gender) are available in each event, and given the U.S. depth in all facets of track and field—sprints, hurdles, throws, jumps, and distance running events—it’s considered the world’s hardest all-around team to make. How dominant is the U.S. in the world of track and field? It has led the track and field medal count at every Olympics since 1984.

At the trials, there are 20 total events for women and men—10 running events from 100 meters to 10,000 meters (including two hurdles races and the 3,000-meter steeplechase), four throwing events (discus, shot put, javelin, and hammer throw), four jumping events (long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vault), the quirky 20K race walking event, and, of course, the seven-event heptathlon (women) and the 10-event decathlon (men).

(At the Olympics, Team USA will also compete in men’s and women’s 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays, plus a mixed gender 4×400, and a mixed gender marathon race walk. The athletes competing on these teams will be drawn from those who qualify for Team USA in individual events, along with alternates who are the next-best finishers at the trials.

There’s also the Olympic marathon, but the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon was held on February 3 in Orlando, Florida, to give the athletes enough time to recover from the demands of hammering 26.2 miles before the big dance in Paris.

Although some countries arbitrarily select their Olympic track and field teams, the U.S. system is equitable for those who show up at the Olympic Trials and compete against the country’s best athletes in each particular event. There’s just one shot for everyone, and if you finish among the top three in your event (and also have the proper Olympic qualifying marks or international rankings under your belt), you’ll earn the opportunity of a lifetime—no matter if you’re a medal contender or someone who burst onto the scene with a breakthrough performance.

The top performers in Eugene will likely be contenders for gold medals in Paris. The list of American stars is long and distinguished, but it has to start with sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, who will be both competing in the coveted 100 and 200 meters. Each athlete won 100-meter titles at last summer’s world championships in Budapest and ran on the U.S. gold-medal 4×100 relays. (Lyles also won the 200) Each has been running fast so far this spring, but more importantly, each seems to have the speed, the skill, and swagger it takes to become an Olympic champion in the 100 and carry the title of the world’s fastest humans.

But first they have to qualify for Team USA at the Olympic Trials. Although Lyles is the top contender in the men’s 100 and second in the world with a 9.85-second season’s best, five other U.S. athletes have run sub-10-second efforts already this season. Richardson enters the meet No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 3 in the world in the women’s 100 (10.83), but eight other Americans have also broken 11 seconds. That will make the preliminary heats precariously exciting and the finals (women’s on June 22, men’s on June 23) must-see TV.

There are five returning individual Olympic gold medalists competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials with the hopes of repeating their medals in Paris—Athing Mu (800 meters), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400-meter hurdles), Katie Moon (pole vault), Vallarie Allman (discus), and Ryan Crouser (shot put)—but there are more than a dozen other returning U.S. medalists from the Tokyo Olympics, as well as many more from the 2023 world championships, including gold medalists Chase Ealey (shot put), Grant Holloway (110-meter hurdles), Laulauga Tausaga (discus), and Crouser (shot put).

The most talented athlete entered in the Olympic Trials might be Anna Hall, the bronze and silver medalist in the seven-event heptathlon at the past two world championships. It’s an epic test of speed, strength, agility, and endurance. In the two-day event, Hall and about a dozen other women will compete in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 meters, long jump, javelin throw, and 800 meters, racking up points based on their performance in each event. The athletes with the top three cumulative totals will make the U.S. team. At just age 23, Hall is poised to contend for the gold in Paris, although Great Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the world champion in 2019 and 2023, is also still in search of her first Olympic gold medal after injuries derailed her in 2016 and 2021.

If you can find your way to Eugene—and can afford the jacked-up hotel and Airbnb prices in town and nearby Springfield—you can watch it live in person at Hayward Field. Rebuilt in 2021, it’s one of the most advanced track and field facilities in the world, with an extremely fast track surface, a wind-blocking architectural design, and 12,650 seats that all offer great views and close-to-the-action ambiance. Tickets are still available for most days, ranging from $45 to $195.

If you can’t make it to Eugene, you can watch every moment of every event (including preliminary events) via TV broadcasts and livestreams. The U.S. Olympic Trials will be broadcast live and via tape delay with 11 total broadcast segments on NBC, USA Network, and Peacock. All finals will air live on NBC during primetime and the entirety of the meet will be streamed on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com and the NBC/NBC Sports apps.

The Olympic Trials will be replete with young, rising stars. For example, the men’s 1500 is expected to be one of the most hotly contested events and the top three contenders for the Olympic team are 25 and younger: Yared Nuguse, 25, the American record holder in the mile (3:43.97), Cole Hocker, 23, who was the 2020 Olympic Trials champion, and Hobbs Kessler, 21, who turned pro at 18 just before racing in the last Olympic Trials. Sprinter Erriyon Knighton, who turned pro at age 16 and ran in the Tokyo Olympics at age 17, is still only 20 and already has two world championships medals under his belt. Plus, the biggest track star from the last Olympics, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, is aiming for her third Olympics and third Olympic gold (she won the 400-meter hurdles and was on the winning 4×400 relay in Tokyo), and she’s only 24.

Several young collegiate stars could earn their place on the U.S. team heading to Paris after successful results in the just-completed NCAA championships. Leading the way are double-NCAA champions McKillenzie Long, 23, a University of Mississippi senior who enters the trials ranked sixth in the world in the 100 (10.91) and first in the 200 (21.83), and Parker Valby, a 21-year-old junior at the University of Florida, who ranks fifth in the U.S. in the 5,000 meters (14:52.18) and second in the 10,000 meters (30:50.43). Top men’s collegiate runners include 5,000-meter runner Nico Young (21, Northern Arizona University), 400-meter runner Johnnie Blockburger (21, USC), and 800-meter runners Shane Cohen (22, Virginia) and Sam Whitmarsh (21, Texas A&M).

It’s very likely. Elle St. Pierre is the top-ranked runner in both the 1500 and the 5,000, having run personal bests of 3:56.00 (the second-fastest time in U.S. history) and 14:34.12 (fifth-fastest on the U.S. list) this spring. Although she’s only 15 months postpartum after giving birth to son, Ivan, in March 2023, the 29-year-old St. Pierre is running better and faster than ever. In January, she broke the American indoor record in the mile (4:16.41) at the Millrose Games in New York City, then won the gold medal in the 3,000 meters at the indoor world championships in Glasgow in March.

St. Pierre could be joined by two world-class sprinters. Nia Ali, 35, the No. 2 ranked competitor in the 100-meter hurdles and the 2019 world champion, is a mother of 9-year-old son, Titus, and 7-year-old daughter, Yuri. Quanera Hayes, 32, the eighth-ranked runner in the 400 meters, is the mother to 5-year-old son, Demetrius. Hayes, a three-time 4×400 relay world champion, finished seventh in the 400 at the Tokyo Olympics.

Meanwhile, Kate Grace, a 2016 Olympian in the 800 meters who narrowly missed making Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, is back running strong at age 35 after a two-year hiatus during which she suffered from a bout of long Covid and then took time off to give birth to her son, River, in March 2023.

No, unfortunately, there are a few top-tier athletes who are hurt and won’t be able to compete. That includes Courtney Frerichs (torn ACL), the silver medalist in the steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021; Alicia Monson (torn medial meniscus), a 2020 Olympian in the 10,000 meters, the American record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, and the fifth-place finisher in the 5,000 at last year’s world championships; and Joe Klekcer (torn adductor muscle), who was 16th in the Tokyo Olympics and ninth in the 2022 world championships in the 10,000. Katelyn Tuohy, a four-time NCAA champion distance runner for North Carolina State who turned pro and signed with Adidas last winter, is also likely to miss the trials due to a lingering hamstring injury. There is also some doubt about the status of Athing Mu (hamstring), the Tokyo Olympics 800-meter champion, who has yet to race in 2024.

Meanwhile, Emma Coburn, a three-time Olympian, 2017 world champion, and 10-time U.S. champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, broke her ankle during her season-opening steeplechase in Shanghai on April 27. She underwent surgery a week later, and announced at the time that she would miss the trials, but has been progressing quickly through her recovery. If both she and Frerichs miss the meet, it will leave the door wide open for a new generation of steeplers—including 2020 Olympian Valerie Constein, who’s back in top form after tearing her ACL at a steeplechase in Doha and undergoing surgery last May.

The U.S. earned 41 medals in track and field at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo—including 10 gold medals—which ranked second behind China’s 51. This year’s Paralympics will follow the Olympics from August 28-September 8 in Paris.

The 2024 U.S. Paralympic Trials for track and field will be held from July 18-20 at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, and Paralympic stars Nick Mayhugh, Brittni Mason, Breanna Clark, Ezra Frech, and Tatyana McFadden are all expected to compete.

In 2021 at the Tokyo Paralympics, Mayhugh set two new world records en route to winning the 100 meters (10.95) and 200 meters (21.91) in the T-37 category, and also took the silver medal in the 400 meters (50.26) and helped the U.S. win gold and set a world record in the mixed 4×100-meter relay (45.52). Clark returns to defend her Paralympic gold in the T-20 400 meters, while McFadden, a 20-time Paralympic medalist who also competed on the winning U.S. mixed relay, is expected to compete in the T-54 5,000 meters (bronze medal in 2021).

Livestream coverage of the U.S. Paralympic Trials for track and field will be available on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, and the NBC/NBC Sports app, with TV coverage on CNBC on July 20 (live) and July 21 (tape-delayed).

At 67, Canadian runner Pete Benson is preparing to take on one of the most extraordinary endurance challenges in marathon running: completing seven marathons across seven continents in just seven days while raising money for a cause that reaches far beyond the finish line.

Hailing from Grand Manan, New Brunswick, Benson is set to participate in the Great World Race, an ambitious event that combines the physical demands of marathon running with a demanding journey around the globe. The challenge will require him to complete seven full marathons, each covering 42.195 kilometres, while travelling between continents on a tightly scheduled itinerary.

The challenge is scheduled to begin on November 15, 2026, with pre-event activities expected to start around November 12. Benson's adventure will begin in Antarctica, where the icy terrain and harsh conditions will provide a formidable introduction to the week ahead.

The opening marathon is scheduled for Wolf's Fang in Antarctica, where Benson will face the unfamiliar and potentially unforgiving conditions of the frozen landscape. Reflecting on the prospect of running through the ice and snow, he admitted that the experience is intimidating.

"That's pretty, pretty scary in itself," he said. "Through the ice and snow."

From Antarctica, Benson will travel to Cape Town, South Africa, for his second marathon on November 16. The journey will then continue to Perth, Australia, on November 17, followed by Singapore on November 18. On November 19, he is scheduled to race in the Algarve, Portugal, before heading to Cartagena, Colombia, on November 20. The challenge will conclude in Miami, United States, on November 21.

The demanding itinerary will leave little time for conventional recovery. After each marathon, Benson will need to travel to the next destination, navigate changing time zones and prepare for another 42.195 kilometres. Managing fatigue, nutrition, hydration and sleep will be essential as he attempts to complete the seven races within a single week.

Benson described the unusual routine that awaits him, highlighting the relentless cycle of running and travelling that defines the challenge.

"We run the race, get back on the bus, back on the plane, head to the next one and away we go around the world," Benson said. "That plane becomes our hotel and restaurant for the week, pretty much."

Beyond the physical demands, Benson recognises that taking part in such an ambitious international adventure comes at a considerable financial cost. He describes running as a personal investment, one that has provided him with valuable experiences and opportunities to discover more about himself.

"It's certainly a want, not a need," he said. "Some people go on river cruises and other things that they spend their money on and I spend my money on running and I've learned a lot from it."

Despite the expense, Benson believes the experience is worth the investment.

"So I think the investment is worth it, but it is extravagant," he said.

However, his motivation extends beyond personal achievement. Benson is also using the challenge to raise money for a nonprofit organisation that funds clean-water projects in countries around the world. The fundraising initiative is voluntary and is not a requirement for participating in the event.

By connecting his running adventure to a cause with a tangible impact on communities, Benson hopes to give every kilometre a greater purpose. His effort demonstrates how an individual sporting challenge can also become an opportunity to support work that improves lives.

"I'm happy that there's a purpose behind every mile that I run," he said.

That purpose adds another dimension to Benson's ambitious undertaking. While the seven marathons will test his physical strength, mental resilience and ability to recover between races, his fundraising mission will allow him to contribute to efforts aimed at improving access to clean water around the world.

As November 15 approaches, Benson is preparing for a demanding week that will take him from the ice and snow of Antarctica to the streets of Miami, with five other destinations in between. Each marathon will bring a new test, requiring careful preparation, determination and the ability to keep moving forward despite accumulating fatigue.

At 67, Benson is setting out to complete an extraordinary endurance challenge while supporting a cause beyond himself. Seven marathons, seven continents and seven days will test his limits, but his journey will carry a purpose that extends far beyond the finish line.

Kenyan twins Caroline and Purity Gitonga delivered outstanding performances at the 2026 Valencia Half Marathon in Spain, with both athletes setting new personal bests in a memorable display of endurance, determination, and sibling excellence.

Caroline led the way, clocking an impressive 1:04:59 to finish sixth in the women's race. The performance marked a significant breakthrough for the talented Kenyan, who improved her previous personal best of 1:06:26 by 1 minute and 27 seconds, underlining her continued progress among the world's leading half-marathon runners.

Her twin sister, Purity, was equally impressive, crossing the finish line in 1:05:56 to secure 11th place. She shaved 1 minute and 35 seconds off her previous personal best of 1:07:31, completing a remarkable day for the sisters as they both reached new milestones in their athletic careers.

Their performances highlighted the strength of Kenya's distance-running tradition while showcasing the individual talent and shared determination that have made the Gitonga twins athletes to watch. Competing on one of the world's fastest half-marathon courses, Caroline and Purity demonstrated their ability to translate hard training into significant improvements on the international stage.

Having a twin sister who understands the demands of elite athletics can provide a unique source of motivation. From the discipline required during training to the challenges of competing against the world's best, the sisters share a journey that extends beyond the finish line. Their latest achievements in Valencia offer another inspiring example of how ambition, perseverance, and mutual encouragement can drive athletes toward new heights.

For Caroline, finishing sixth in 1:04:59 represents another important step in her development, while Purity's 1:05:56 performance confirms her own impressive progress. Although they finished several places apart, their achievements tell the same powerful story: two athletes pushing their limits and continuing to improve against a highly competitive international field.

Valencia once again provided a stage for exceptional distance-running performances, and the Gitonga twins made the most of the opportunity. Their personal bests are not only a testament to their hard work but also an encouraging sign of what they could accomplish as they continue to gain experience and pursue even greater ambitions.

Two sisters, two personal bests, and one unforgettable day on the roads of Valencia. Caroline and Purity Gitonga have given Kenyan athletics another reason to celebrate, and their latest performances will undoubtedly strengthen interest in what the talented twins can achieve in the seasons ahead.

Australian endurance athlete Mick Marshall has achieved an extraordinary milestone at the 2026 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., setting a world record for the fastest marathon completed on crutches after crossing the finish line in an incredible 5:35:50.

Representing Altra as an elite athlete, Marshall demonstrated remarkable determination and perseverance throughout the 26.2-mile (42.195-kilometre) race, turning one of the world's most celebrated marathon events into a stage for an inspiring display of human resilience.

Completing a marathon is a demanding physical challenge for any athlete, requiring months of preparation, mental strength and the ability to push through fatigue. Covering the same distance on crutches presents a different set of challenges, placing considerable demands on the upper body, coordination and endurance. Marshall's achievement highlights the dedication required to overcome obstacles and pursue goals that many might consider beyond reach.

The Marine Corps Marathon, renowned for its patriotic atmosphere, enthusiastic spectators and scenic course through the nation's capital, provided a memorable setting for the record-breaking performance. As thousands of runners pursued their own finish-line goals, Marshall carved out a special place in the event's history with his remarkable effort.

Beyond the record itself, Marshall's achievement carries a message that resonates far beyond the running community. Every movement toward the finish line required determination, patience and an unwavering commitment to the challenge before him. His performance is a reminder that greatness is not measured solely by how quickly someone reaches a destination, but also by the courage it takes to pursue a goal despite the difficulties along the way. For aspiring athletes and anyone facing personal challenges, his accomplishment offers a powerful lesson in perseverance, self-belief and the importance of refusing to give up when the journey becomes difficult.

His performance also serves as a reminder that marathon running is about far more than finishing times and podium positions. It is a test of courage, commitment and the willingness to redefine personal limits. Marshall's accomplishment demonstrates that the spirit of distance running extends beyond conventional expectations, inspiring athletes and spectators alike to reconsider what is possible through determination and hard work.

Marshall's remarkable run also reinforces the inclusive spirit of distance running, where the finish line belongs to everyone willing to take on the challenge. Whether competing for a championship, chasing a personal best or simply striving to complete the distance, every runner has a story worth celebrating. By setting a world record on crutches at one of America's prominent marathon events, Marshall has added an unforgettable chapter to that story, encouraging others to look beyond perceived limitations and pursue their ambitions with renewed confidence.

For Marshall, the 5:35:50 finish represents more than a time on the clock. It marks an extraordinary personal achievement and a moment that celebrates perseverance, resilience and the determination to keep moving forward. His performance has brought renewed attention to the remarkable possibilities within endurance sport and the many different ways athletes can challenge expectations.

Marshall's achievement at the Marine Corps Marathon stands as a powerful testament to the human spirit, demonstrating that success is not always about having the easiest path, but about finding the strength to keep going. His 5:35:50 performance is a reminder that the finish line can represent much more than the completion of a race: it can symbolise courage, possibility and the extraordinary things people can accomplish when they refuse to give up.

The 23rd edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon delivered a spectacular celebration of endurance, determination and competitive excellence on Sunday, October 25, 2026, as Abraham Kiptum and Mercy Kandie Rotich claimed the men's and women's 42km titles in a memorable showcase of Kenyan road-running talent.

With thousands of runners taking to Nairobi's Southern Bypass, the full marathon provided a compelling test of physical strength, tactical discipline and mental resilience. For the elite athletes at the front, every kilometre presented an opportunity to gain an advantage, while the demanding distance required unwavering concentration from the starting gun to the finish line at Uhuru Gardens.

In the men's race, Kiptum produced an impressive performance to secure victory in 2:10:35, narrowly missing the course record by just 23 seconds. The 37-year-old Kenyan demonstrated his experience and endurance throughout the contest, ultimately establishing himself as the strongest performer over the 42.195-kilometre distance.

Kiptum's victory was particularly significant given his recent return to competitive marathon running. The athlete from Kapsabet had continued rebuilding his career and arrived in Nairobi following victory at the CRDB International Marathon in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in August. His latest triumph provided another encouraging chapter in his return to the forefront of distance running.

The men's contest produced an exceptionally close battle for the remaining podium positions. Fellow Kenyan Amos Kipkemoi Cheruiyot finished second in 2:10:37, just two seconds behind the champion, while Mark Kibiwott secured third place in 2:11:05.

Dismas Kiplimo finished fourth in 2:11:15, followed by Henry Kiprono Togom, who completed the top five in 2:11:55. The depth of the leading performances underlined the quality of competition on a morning when the front-runners pushed each other towards impressive finishing times.

Kiptum's performance also highlighted the importance of consistency and preparation in marathon running. Having invested months in training, the experienced Kenyan delivered when it mattered most, navigating the course with the composure required to emerge victorious against a competitive field.

The women's 42km race was equally captivating, with Mercy Kandie Rotich claiming the championship in 2:31:25 after a determined performance over the challenging distance.

Rotich demonstrated resilience and composure as the race unfolded, maintaining her challenge through the later stages before securing the victory. Her performance earned her a place among the latest champions of one of Kenya's prominent annual road-running events.

The battle for the women's title was decided by the narrowest of margins. Peris Jerono finished second in 2:31:27, only two seconds behind Rotich, while Ruth Wakabu completed the podium in 2:31:36. The three leading women finished within just 11 seconds of one another, providing a dramatic conclusion to the contest.

Shyline Jepkorir placed fourth in 2:34:55, while Dorothy Kipkilach finished fifth in 2:36:38, rounding out the leading performers in the women's division.

The narrow margins between the leading athletes reflected the unpredictable nature of marathon racing, where pacing, endurance and the ability to respond under pressure can determine the outcome after more than 42 kilometres of competition.

Beyond the podium battles, the full marathon represented a celebration of the determination that defines long-distance running. Every athlete who took on the distance faced the challenge of managing energy, overcoming fatigue and maintaining the mental strength necessary to reach the finish line.

The Southern Bypass provided the setting for these performances, with the runners navigating the Nairobi course before completing their challenge at Uhuru Gardens. The event brought together elite competitors and recreational athletes, united by the ambition to test their limits over the classic marathon distance.

The 2026 edition once again demonstrated the enduring appeal of road racing in Kenya, a country internationally recognised for producing exceptional distance runners. It also offered a platform for athletes to pursue personal ambitions, compete for prestigious honours and showcase the depth of talent within Kenyan athletics.

For Kiptum and Rotich, however, the day belonged to the pursuit of victory. Their respective performances secured them the coveted men's and women's marathon crowns, while the fiercely contested podium finishes ensured that the 42km races delivered the drama and excitement expected of a major road-running championship.

As the 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon concluded, the achievements of the two champions stood out as the defining moments of the full-marathon competition, celebrating not only speed and endurance but also the preparation, perseverance and competitive spirit required to conquer 42.195 kilometres.

The true spirit of marathon running was beautifully displayed at the 2026 Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, where the celebration extended far beyond the elite athletes who crossed the finish line first. In a heartwarming tradition, the race's men's and women's champions waited inside the historic Festhalle Frankfurt to welcome the final finisher, reminding the world that every marathon journey deserves recognition.

As the final runner entered the magnificent venue, the atmosphere transformed into an unforgettable celebration. Confetti filled the air as music, dazzling lights and a red-carpet welcome created a moment usually associated with the sport's biggest stars. Standing alongside the champions, the last finisher received a hero's reception, demonstrating that the achievement of completing a marathon deserves to be celebrated regardless of finishing position.

Ethiopia's Jirata Lelisa Dinki, who won the men's race in an impressive 2:05:26, and compatriot Zeineba Yimer Worku, the women's champion in 2:19:45, were among those celebrating the final runner's remarkable achievement.

Their presence sent a powerful message about the values that make marathon running special. While elite athletes push the limits of human performance in pursuit of victory and fast times, thousands of other runners take on the same 42.195-kilometre challenge for deeply personal reasons. For some, the goal is to achieve a personal best; for others, it is to overcome adversity, fulfil a lifelong ambition or simply reach the finish line.

The final finisher's journey may have taken longer than that of the champions, but the determination required to keep moving forward deserves equal admiration. Every kilometre represents effort, sacrifice and perseverance, and crossing the finish line marks the successful completion of a challenge that demands both physical endurance and mental strength.

Frankfurt's special welcome captured an essential truth about distance running: a marathon is not only a race against the clock but also a personal battle against exhaustion, doubt and the temptation to give up. By waiting for the final runner, the champions helped ensure that the day's celebrations included someone whose achievement might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

In a sport often defined by world records, course records and podium finishes, this touching tradition offers a refreshing reminder that the value of a marathon cannot be measured by time alone. The fastest runners may make headlines for their performances, but every finisher has a story worth telling.

At the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, the champions had already conquered their own challenges. Yet their decision to welcome the last runner created another memorable moment, showing that greatness in sport is measured not only by what athletes accomplish but also by the respect they show others.

Because when the final runner receives the same warmth, applause and celebration as the champions, the message is unmistakable: every runner matters, every finish line represents an achievement, and nobody should be left behind when it is time to celebrate.