Running News Daily

Sonia O’Sullivan has agreed to take up a new assistant coaching role with a Nike training group based in Portland, Oregon beginning this week, initially in the run up to and including the Tokyo Olympics.

It will see O’Sullivan move from her current home in Melbourne to the US on Thursday, her new role as assistant coach to Pete Julian affording her the chance to work with some of the best distance runners in the world.

Describing the role as “exciting and challenging”, O’Sullivan is also looking forward to the chance to “have some purpose again in big time athletics”.

The move, only confirmed in recent weeks, will also bring O’Sullivan closer to her daughter Sophie, currently in her first year at the University of Washington on scholarship.

“It all evolved quite quickly, and once we started talking, it felt like an instinctual decision for me, something I felt I’d like to do,” says O’Sullivan. “I won’t know what it’s fully about until I’m out there, but to be a part of a fully professional set-up, with a good budget behind them, to get the best possible out of the athletes, is something I’m excited about.

“There are currently 10 athletes in the group, Pete Julian as head coach, they also have a strength and conditioning coach, and his athletes range from 800m up to the marathon, so there’s a lot of diversity there, they don’t all train together, on different days and in different places, so he can’t always be there. And this was the perfect opportunity to go and do something that I’ve not really had a chance to do, ever.

“It’s a way for me to travel again in an Olympic year, even though it’s very nice here in Melbourne with no Covid restrictions, it feels very far from the action. Every year I’ve had events in Ireland that I work with and the main athletics championships to look forward to, this past year has been so unpredictable my normal schedule has been put on hold.

“It also definitely helped that it’s pretty close to where Sophie is going to college, two and a half hours away, so that swayed things a bit too, because of the times we’re in, it’s so difficult to get back in or out of Australia, and it’s still unknown when she can next get back to Australia.”

Julian was previously an assistant coach with the Nike Oregon Project, run out of the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon but which was disbanded in 2019 in the immediate aftermath of a four-year ban handed down to then head coach Alberto Salazar for doping offences. With that Julian, in no way implicated in any of those offences, started up his own training group with some of the athletes already under his guidance, including top US 800m runner and Tokyo gold medal favourite Donavan Brazier.

For O’Sullivan, the 2000 Olympic silver medallist over 5,000 metres who won 13 major championships medals in all, the initial three-month agreement would see her through to the Tokyo Olympics. Also in the group are two international women athletes from Australia in Jessica Hull, and Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen, Japanese Tokyo Olympic athlete Suguru Osaka, the remaining seven being American.

“The main target for the American athletes will be the US Olympic Trials, and then after that there is a small circuit of American meetings, so that they don’t have to travel to Europe. ”

O’Sullivan’s first chance to see some of the athletes in action will likely come this weekend at the USATF Grand Prix from Hayward Field in Eugene, the newly renovated venue for the 2022 World Athletics Championships, and the first stop on the 2021 World Athletics Continental Tour (which is also being broadcast on TG4).

Jake Wightman has been forced to withdraw from the men's 800m at this weekend's London Diamond League after admitting his body has taken longer than expected to recover from his demanding outing in Monaco.

The 2022 World 1500m champion had been scheduled to race in front of a home crowd, but has opted to put his long-term goals ahead of a single appearance, choosing not to risk his fitness with two major championships still to come later this season.

Wightman's decision follows an outstanding performance at the Monaco Diamond League, where he stepped up to the rarely contested 1000m and produced a lifetime best of 2:12.77. The British middle-distance star finished second behind Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who delivered a sensational 2:11.83 to break the long-standing world record in one of the finest races of the season.

Despite the confidence gained from that performance, Wightman revealed that the physical demands of the race have required a longer recovery period than anticipated, making it impossible to compete at his best in London.

"I don't want to compromise the two home championships we have coming up this season," Wightman explained.

"I always love racing in London, so it's a real shame, but I hope I can make it up to British fans in the coming weeks."

His withdrawal is another setback for the London Diamond League, which has already seen several high-profile athletes pull out because of illness or fitness concerns. Nevertheless, Wightman's decision reflects a measured approach as he focuses on arriving in peak condition for the championship races that matter most.

While British fans will miss the opportunity to cheer on one of their most accomplished middle-distance runners this weekend, Wightman's priority remains clear: protecting his health now in pursuit of success on the biggest stages later this season.

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has reached another landmark in her remarkable career, this time beyond the track, with the launch of her first-ever signature Nike Running collection. The highly anticipated range celebrates the British middle-distance star's rise to the pinnacle of world athletics while reflecting the personality, determination, and elegance that have defined her journey.

Designed in close collaboration with Nike, the collection showcases a premium lineup of performance footwear and apparel inspired by Hodgkinson's achievements and her unmistakable sense of style. The footwear range includes the Nike Vomero Plus, Pegasus 42, Vaporfly 4, and Victory 2 spike, offering options for everyday runners, elite racers, and track specialists alike.

Complementing the shoes is a selection of AeroSwift and Nike Pro Sculpt apparel, engineered to deliver elite-level performance while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic.

The collection is distinguished by its striking black and metallic gold colour palette—a combination chosen to represent excellence, confidence, and championship success. Adding a personal touch are detachable "KH" charms and Hodgkinson's signature tornado logo, symbolic of the explosive speed and relentless drive that have made her one of the world's premier middle-distance runners.

Rather than simply lending her name to the project, Hodgkinson played an active role throughout the creative process, working alongside Nike's design team to ensure every detail reflected her identity both as an athlete and as an individual. From the styling to the performance features, the collection has been shaped by her vision, making it a genuine extension of her career and personality.

The launch marks another significant milestone for the Olympic champion, joining an exclusive group of athletes whose accomplishments have earned them a signature collection with one of the world's leading sportswear brands. It also underscores her growing influence beyond competition, inspiring the next generation of runners through innovation, style, and performance.

The Keely Hodgkinson x Nike Running Collection is available worldwide from July 16, giving fans and athletes across the globe the opportunity to experience a range designed by one of track and field's brightest stars.

Some moments transcend sport, reminding fans that greatness recognizes greatness.

That was the scene during the FIFA World Cup semifinal between Spain and France, where American sprint star Noah Lyles and Jamaican icon Usain Bolt delighted fans with a memorable courtside encounter. Lyles seized the opportunity to snap a selfie with the fastest man in history, creating a picture that instantly resonated across the sporting world.

While football commanded the spotlight on the pitch, two of track and field's biggest names stole a memorable moment off it. The photograph brought together two athletes whose careers have helped shape different eras of sprinting—Bolt, the undisputed legend who redefined speed with his eight Olympic gold medals and world records in the 100m and 200m, and Lyles, the world record holder in 150m and modern-day sprint sensation carrying the sport into a new generation.

For Lyles, the selfie represented more than a simple photograph. It symbolized respect for the man who inspired countless young sprinters around the globe, including many of today's elite athletes. Bolt's dominance transformed athletics, while Lyles has emerged as one of the sport's biggest personalities, combining world-class performances with charisma and confidence.

The meeting served as a powerful reminder of the bond that exists among champions. Although they belong to different competitive eras, both have become global ambassadors for athletics, drawing new audiences to the sport through their achievements and larger-than-life presence.

As Spain and France battled for a place in the World Cup final, fans were equally captivated by the sight of sprinting royalty sharing a light-hearted moment. It was a celebration of excellence, mutual admiration, and the enduring legacy of athletics.

When legends meet, the result is more than just a selfie—it becomes a timeless image that connects generations of greatness.

Just days before becoming a mother, Kylie Mantz delivered one final athletic statement that has captured the admiration of the running world.

At 38 weeks pregnant, Mantz stepped onto the track in Provo, Utah, for an all-out mile effort, proving that pregnancy and elite-level determination can coexist when guided by experience, careful preparation, and medical awareness.

With pacemakers setting the rhythm and a film crew documenting the remarkable occasion, Mantz covered the mile in an impressive 5:26.2 at an altitude of 1,402 metres (4,600 feet). Adjusted for elevation, the performance is roughly equivalent to 5:22 at sea level—an extraordinary achievement for an athlete just days away from giving birth.

Watching proudly from the sidelines was her husband, Conner Mantz, the North American marathon record holder, whose own career has made him one of the continent's premier distance runners. Together, the couple has shared an unforgettable chapter that has blended family life with athletic excellence.

Reflecting on the moment, Kylie wrote on Instagram:

"We started this pregnancy with a marathon, we're ending it with a mile."

The statement is far more than a poetic caption—it tells the remarkable story of her pregnancy.

Last November, Kylie made her marathon debut at the Two Cities Marathon in Fresno, California, where she claimed victory in 2:43:49. Only after crossing the finish line did she discover that she had unknowingly completed the entire race while pregnant, making the triumph even more memorable.

Her rise in competitive running has been equally inspiring. Although she had always been active, Kylie only began training seriously after marrying Conner in 2022. Her rapid improvement saw her earn a place as a walk-on athlete with the BYU track and cross-country programme in the spring of 2025.

She quickly established herself with standout performances, recording 34:57 for the 10,000 metres and 16:49 for the 5,000 metres, signalling her emergence as one of the sport's promising distance runners.

Pregnancy, however, did not bring her athletic ambitions to a halt. Under careful supervision, she continued training while listening closely to her body, ultimately deciding to celebrate the final weeks before motherhood with a memorable mile on the track.

After crossing the finish line, Mantz reflected on the experience with her characteristic positivity.

"I stuck with the girls, I was very aware and I took every lap as a win. One thing I did wrong? I should have done it last week."

Her comments perfectly captured the mindset behind the effort—not chasing records, but embracing every stride as a celebration of strength, resilience, and the incredible capabilities of the human body.

Now, with her due date only hours or days away, the next milestone awaiting Kylie Mantz is no longer on the track but in the delivery room.

Her unforgettable 5:26 mile at 38 weeks pregnant stands as a powerful reminder that every athlete's journey is unique. Combining elite fitness, careful decision-making, and unwavering determination, Mantz has created a moment that will be remembered as one of the most remarkable stories of the year in distance running.

British middle-distance star Georgia Hunter Bell has withdrawn from Saturday's London Diamond League after being struck by an acute illness in the final days leading up to one of the season's most anticipated meetings.

The Olympic bronze medallist had been set to line up in the women's 800m, a race expected to showcase some of the world's finest middle-distance talent. Her withdrawal comes as a significant setback for both the athlete and the home crowd, who were eagerly looking forward to seeing one of Britain's biggest stars compete in front of a passionate London audience.

Describing the decision as an incredibly difficult one, Hunter Bell admitted that missing the London meeting is particularly painful because of the special place it holds in her career.

"London is my hometown and this is my favourite race of the whole year. I've been in great shape and the atmosphere is unmatched," she said.

Although she arrived at this stage of the season in excellent form, the British star acknowledged that putting her health first was the only responsible choice.

"I am deeply disappointed, but I need to get healthy before I line up to race again," she added.

Her absence leaves a noticeable void in one of the meeting's marquee events, with fans now having to wait a little longer before seeing the British middle-distance ace back on the track. The athletics community has already rallied behind Hunter Bell with messages of support, wishing her a full and speedy recovery as she focuses on returning to competition at full strength.

The withdrawal reshapes the women's 800m field at the London Diamond League and delays the return of one of Britain's most exciting middle-distance athletes, whose next appearance will now depend on her recovery.