Running News Daily

Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele, the third-fastest marathoner in history with a 2:01:41 personal best from Berlin 2019, has officially been added to the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon elite men’s field — setting up yet another thrilling clash with Eliud Kipchoge.

Bekele, now 43, withdrew from April’s London Marathon due to recurring injuries that disrupted his buildup. His most recent marathon finish came at the Paris Olympic Marathon, where he placed 39th in 2:12:24. Despite the setback, Bekele’s experience and resilience continue to make him one of the sport’s most compelling figures.

This year’s New York City Marathon will mark Bekele’s sixth career race against Kipchoge, the reigning Olympic champion and former world record holder. Bekele’s only “victory” in that rivalry came at the Paris Olympics, when Kipchoge dropped out mid-race.

Bekele’s addition brings new intrigue to a field already rich in talent and storylines. While New York’s undulating course rarely produces record times, it remains one of the most prestigious and unpredictable races on the global marathon calendar — a true test of strategy and mental strength.

Notably absent from the 2025 lineup is Evans Chebet, the 2022 NYC Marathon champion and last year’s runner-up. Chebet has withdrawn from this year’s race after failing to finish at the Boston Marathon in April.

As the countdown begins, all eyes turn to Central Park, where two of the greatest marathoners of all time — Bekele and Kipchoge — are set to renew their rivalry on one of the world’s toughest stages.

Will Bekele’s comeback write a new chapter in marathon history, or will Kipchoge’s consistency once again define the day? On November 2, New York will have its answer.

Kenyan distance runners produced a commanding performance at the 2026 Hyundai Meia Maratona do Porto in Portugal, taking all three men’s podium places and securing a one-two finish in the women’s race. The 21-kilometre contest combined speed, endurance and excitement, with athletes battling through the streets of Porto and Gaia before a memorable finish beside the Douro River.

Owen Korir Kapkama claimed the men’s title in 1:01:58, delivering a polished performance to lead the field across the finish line. His compatriot Cyrus Kipkemoi Kimayo mounted a strong challenge and finished only five seconds behind, stopping the clock at 1:02:03 to take second place.

The battle for third also remained firmly in Kenyan hands, with Timothy Kibet Misoi completing the podium in 1:03:22. His result confirmed Kenya’s complete control of the men’s top three, as the country’s runners combined tactical discipline with the sustained pace required over the demanding half-marathon distance.

In the women’s race, Naomi Chepngeno delivered a winning performance to secure the title in 1:10:35. She held off fellow Kenyan Margaret Murinjo Monicah, who crossed the line in 1:10:57, finishing just 22 seconds behind the champion.

Hiwot Mehari Beza of Ethiopia claimed third place in 1:12:07, completing a competitive women’s podium and adding an international dimension to an event otherwise dominated by Kenyan athletes.

The race unfolded against a striking Portuguese backdrop, with Porto and Gaia providing a scenic yet demanding stage for the competitors. From the opening kilometres to the final push toward the finish, the athletes brought intensity and determination to a course that rewarded both speed and endurance.

The closing stretch offered a particularly memorable setting, as runners approached the Douro River with the iconic Ponte Luís I serving as a dramatic backdrop. The historic bridge and riverside scenery added a touch of grandeur to the final moments of a race defined by athletic excellence.

Along the route, thousands of spectators gathered to encourage the competitors, creating an energetic atmosphere that carried the runners through the streets. Their cheers, combined with the rhythm of racing feet and the determination of the athletes, helped transform the event into a celebration of running.

The 19th edition of the Hyundai Meia Maratona do Porto concluded with Kenya dominating the men’s podium and securing the top two positions in the women’s race. With its competitive racing, iconic riverside finish and enthusiastic crowds, the event once again showcased the enduring appeal of road running in Porto and Gaia.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden has once again demonstrated why she is becoming one of the defining forces in women’s sprinting, delivering a breathtaking performance to win the 200m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

The American powered to victory in 21.47 seconds, producing one of the fastest performances in history despite facing a 0.6m/s headwind. She finished well clear of Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, who clocked 21.77, while Kayla White secured third place in 21.93.

But Jefferson-Wooden’s latest triumph was about far more than another championship title. It was a performance that placed her among the fastest women ever to compete over the distance.

Her 21.47 seconds moved her to No. 3 on the all-time women’s 200m list, behind only legendary American sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner, whose world record of 21.34 has stood since 1988, and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who ran 21.41 in 2023.

The result also pushed several celebrated names further down the rankings. Julien Alfred’s 21.51 from 2026 now sits fourth, while Elaine Thompson-Herah’s 21.53 from 2021 ranks fifth.

The significance of Jefferson-Wooden’s achievement becomes even greater when the conditions are considered. Running into a headwind makes a sprint performance more difficult, yet she still produced the third-fastest 200m ever recorded, underlining the extraordinary speed and execution behind her victory.

A Sensational Sprint Double

The Budapest triumph also completed a remarkable 100m and 200m double.

Just one night earlier, Jefferson-Wooden stormed to the 100m title in 10.62 seconds. She returned to the track with the same confidence and determination, once again delivering when the pressure was greatest.

The double adds another major achievement to a championship career that has rapidly gathered momentum. Jefferson-Wooden arrived in Budapest as the reigning world champion in both the 100m and 200m after completing the sprint double at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Now, she has added the inaugural Ultimate Championship double to her growing collection of major victories.

$300,000 Reward For Budapest Dominance

Jefferson-Wooden’s extraordinary weekend also comes with a substantial financial reward. With $150,000 awarded to each individual event winner, her victories in the 100m and 200m earn her a total of $300,000 from the championship.

Yet the money is almost secondary to what she has achieved on the track.

In an era filled with Olympic champions, world champions and record-setting talents, Jefferson-Wooden is separating herself through consistency, championship composure and an extraordinary ability to deliver on the biggest stages.

Her latest 21.47 seconds does more than add another title to her résumé. It places her directly among the fastest women the sport has ever seen over 200m.

Florence Griffith-Joyner remains at the summit. Shericka Jackson sits second. But Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is now firmly at No. 3—and judging by the extraordinary trajectory of her career, the American may not be finished climbing.

From Tokyo to Budapest, Jefferson-Wooden is no longer simply chasing sprinting history.

She is becoming part of it. 

Likina Amebaw has written her name into the history books in Budapest, producing a commanding performance to win the women’s 5000m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship and claim the first global title of her career.

The Ethiopian world leader delivered when it mattered most, stopping the clock at 14:30.36 to secure the Ultimate Championship crown and cap a remarkable breakthrough season with a major international triumph.

Amebaw did not leave the title to a final-lap sprint. As the race entered its decisive stages, the Ethiopian gradually separated herself from the chasing pack, moving clear at the front before steadily stretching her advantage with every lap.

Once she established daylight between herself and her rivals, Amebaw ran with increasing authority. Her rhythm remained relentless as the pressure shifted entirely onto the chasing group, while the world leader continued to extend her advantage and effectively turned the championship final into a solo pursuit of the finish line.

Behind her, Australia’s Jessica Hull produced a superb performance to secure second place in 14:32.39, a personal best. Hull fought all the way through the closing stages and produced a gutsy final surge toward the line, but Amebaw had already created too much separation for the Australian to challenge for the title.

Hull’s performance nevertheless earned her a deserved second positon and prevented what could have been an Ethiopian clean sweep of the leading positions.

The depth of Ethiopia’s women’s 5000m strength was on full display in Budapest, with four Ethiopian athletes finishing inside the top five. Amebaw led the way, while Fantaye Belayneh finished third in 14:32.62, Freweyni Hailu took fourth in 14:32.76, and Aleshign Baweke completed the Ethiopian presence in the top five with 14:32.86.

The Ethiopian contingent remained heavily represented near the front throughout the race, producing another powerful demonstration of the country’s extraordinary strength over 5000m.

But the night belonged to Amebaw.

After establishing herself as the world leader, she arrived in Budapest carrying the expectations that come with being the athlete to beat. Rather than allowing the pressure to dictate her race, she remained composed, waited for the decisive moment and then made a move that completely changed the complexion of the contest.

Her 14:30.36 was enough to crown her the women’s 5000m Ultimate Champion and transform a season of outstanding performances into a breakthrough global triumph.

For Ethiopia, the result was another emphatic statement of its depth and enduring influence in women’s distance running. Four athletes inside the top five underlined the extraordinary talent available in the country and its ability to dominate the sharp end of championship racing.

For Amebaw, however, the significance is deeply personal. She came to Budapest as the world leader and leaves as a global champion.

The first global title is now in the books. The first major crown has been secured.

Likina Amebaw is the Ultimate Champion.

“I’m not going to lose.” He said it. Then he delivered.

Josh Kerr has conquered Budapest once again, adding another huge title to an extraordinary 2026 season by winning the men’s 1500m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.

The British world mile record-holder produced a superb 3:29.35 to take the Ultimate Championship crown, using a devastating final kick to hold off Australia’s rising star Cameron Myers in the closing stages.

Myers pushed Kerr all the way to the finish, but the British star remained composed under pressure before finding another gear when it mattered most. The Australian crossed the line in 3:29.68 to secure second place, just 0.33 seconds behind the champion.

American Hobbs Kessler completed the podium in 3:30.73, while Olympic champion Cole Hocker finished fourth in 3:30.74, narrowly missing out on a medal by just one hundredth of a second.

For Kerr, the victory carries an added layer of significance because Budapest has already played a defining role in his career.

It was here in 2023 that Kerr produced one of the biggest shocks of that year’s World Championships, stunning Jakob Ingebrigtsen to become the world champion over 1500m. Three years later, he has returned to the same city and conquered it again.

Budapest belongs to Kerr once more.

The British star arrived at the Ultimate Championship after putting together a remarkable 2026 campaign. Among the highlights was his sensational 3:42.66 mile world record in London, where he finally broke a mark that had stood for 27 years.

Kerr also added Commonwealth Games gold to his growing collection of major honours, further establishing himself as one of the dominant middle-distance athletes of his generation.

The Budapest final was expected to provide another chapter in the growing rivalry between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen. However, Ingebrigtsen’s late withdrawal meant the much-anticipated rematch never materialised.

Even without the Norwegian superstar, Kerr had no shortage of formidable opposition. The field featured Olympic champion Cole Hocker, world champion Isaac Nader and Yared Nuguse, while Myers arrived as one of the most exciting young talents in international middle-distance running.

The unique Ultimate Championship format also raised the stakes. With no heats and no second chances, every athlete had only one opportunity to deliver on the biggest stage.

Kerr appeared to embrace that pressure.

Rather than allowing the quality of the field to dictate the race, he stayed patient and waited for the decisive moment. As the final metres approached, the British star unleashed the finishing speed that has become one of his greatest weapons.

Myers fought desperately to stay with him, but Kerr had done enough.

The 3:29.35 winning time was not simply another fast performance. It was another demonstration of Kerr’s championship instincts and his ability to produce when everything is on the line.

For Myers, the silver medal represents another major breakthrough and a strong statement from the young Australian. His 3:29.68 shows that he is increasingly capable of challenging the established stars of the 1500m.

Kessler’s bronze added another impressive result to his career, while Hocker’s fourth-place finish underlined just how competitive the final was, with less than a second separating him from the champion.

Yet the night ultimately belonged to one man.

From the streets of Budapest in 2023 to the Ultimate Championship final three years later, Kerr has once again made the Hungarian capital his stage.

Another big race. Another Josh Kerr victory.

He arrived saying, “I’m not going to lose.”

Then he delivered.

Josh Kerr is the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship 1500m champion — and Budapest belongs to him again.

Alison dos Santos has finished his season in spectacular fashion, adding the World Athletics Ultimate Championship title to an extraordinary run of form that has seen the Brazilian repeatedly produce performances at the highest level.

The world record holder stormed to victory in the men's 400m hurdles in Budapest, clocking a stunning 45.98 seconds to secure the ultimate crown and cap a memorable campaign in style.

Dos Santos entered the championship full of confidence after winning the Diamond League Trophy last weekend. His latest triumph came only a few weeks after his historic 45.80 world record in Zürich, making his Budapest performance another remarkable sub-46-second run.

The Brazilian once again displayed his trademark combination of speed, rhythm and control between the barriers. Although he could not quite reproduce his world-record time, his 45.98 was more than enough to defeat two of the biggest names in the event.

Rai Benjamin pushed hard throughout the race and finished second in 46.40 seconds, while Norwegian superstar Karsten Warholm secured third place in 46.78. The result once again highlighted the extraordinary depth and quality of a 400m hurdles event that has been dominated by these three giants in recent years.

For Dos Santos, however, the night belonged entirely to him. He not only walked away with the Ultimate Championship gold medal but also became the first man to record two sub-46-second performances over the 400m hurdles, underlining just how exceptional his current form has been.

His 45.80 world record in Zürich had already sent shockwaves through athletics, but returning a few weeks later to run 45.98 against Benjamin and Warholm shows that his record-breaking performance was no one-off.

Instead, Dos Santos has established a level of consistency rarely seen in the event. He has combined championship pressure with extraordinary speed, finishing his season as the Diamond League champion and now the Ultimate champion.

The Brazilian's latest victory is a fitting conclusion to a season in which he has continued to strengthen his reputation as one of the greatest 400m hurdlers of his generation.

From the world record in Zürich to the Diamond League Trophy and now the Ultimate Championship crown, Dos Santos has delivered a season-ending statement that will be difficult for his rivals to ignore.

What a way for the world record holder to finish the season — roaring across the line in 45.98 seconds and leaving Budapest with another major title to his name.