Running News Daily

Susan Bergeman pushes her brother Jeffrey in a chair during every race, but their results don’t count.

Siblings Susan and Jeffrey Bergeman, both freshman at Chippewa Falls Senior High School in Wisconsin, run every cross-country race together.

With Susan pushing Jeffrey in a modified racing chair, they start behind everyone else, and they are technically not allowed to pass anyone who isn’t walking. And when they cross the finish line, their time isn’t included in the results.

It’s a unique situation, but one thing keeps them going—they both love to run.

“I like running. Jeffrey likes running. Running is more fun to do together than on your own,” Susan, 15, told Runner’s World. “This was a way that both Jeffrey and I could be involved in a school sport and it was something we could do together.”

When Jeffrey, now 15, was 22 months old, he suffered sudden cardiac arrest. His brain was deprived of oxygen for 20 minutes, leaving Jeffrey with severe brain damage. He would be diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Unable to compete on his own in athletic endeavors, Jeffrey joined his parents, Jess and Jordan, in a modified racing chair at races they did, ranging anywhere from 5Ks to marathons and triathlons. Susan also loved to run, and, inspired by her parents, she decided wanted to run with Jeffery, too.

Susan and Jeffrey, who are 10 months apart in age, ran their first 5K together at 9 years old in June 2016. A couple of years later, they joined their middle school cross-country team. Since then, with a few exceptions, Susan and Jeffrey have run every practice and every course together, and have participated in preseason runs, summer training, and team-bonding activities together.

To their coach, teammates, other teams, and spectators, they are just part of the team. Yet despite finishing every race, they have not once been declared finishers.

When Susan and Jeffrey started running in middle school, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) didn’t have an established division for runners with disabilities who wanted to race. So the WIAA created a classification called a ‘duo team,’ the first and only in the state, for Susan and Jeffrey, and established guidelines that they had to follow, citing safety concerns because of the chair. These guidelines state that they can only pass participants who are walking or injured, and even if they do pass them, they must wait just before the finish line until all other runners finish before they can cross. They also cannot be included in the final results.

“The rule isn’t fair because I should be able to run my race safely and at the pace that I can run without having to slow down just because someone in front of me is a slower runner,” Susan said. “That isn’t what racing is about. I would never try to pass someone if there wasn’t enough space to safely do so.”

The Bergemans understand having guidelines put in place, but, as Susan puts it, “the rules should make sense and be fair.”

“We’re just out there running like everyone else,” Susan said. “Yes, my brother needs a wheelchair to make that happen, but other than the wheels and an accessible bus to get to meets, there really aren’t any other special accommodations that we need.”

The Bergemans’ parents hoped these guidelines would be adjusted after their children proved in middle school that they could compete safely together alongside other runners. But the rules haven’t changed, which means their efforts to advocate for them—and any other duo teams that come in the future—hasn’t stopped. They want to create a pathway for other runners like them who want to compete but are facing bureaucratic hurdles in the state of Wisconsin.

“Our son, who lives his life everyday with disabilities, does not want to be viewed as an ‘exhibit’,” Jess told Runner’s World. “He wants to be viewed as a Wisconsin student athlete, like any other student without disabilities in the state.”

Susan and Jeffrey, who ran a two-minute 5K PR of at the last race of the season, do admit to going around the rules a bit, too. They pass other runners and crossed the line ahead of others. This wasn’t to break the rules for breaking the rules sake; it was to prove a point that they could safely race, and they should be included as official finishers.

“[Susan and Jeffrey] have spent the last few years trying to break down barriers of ‘fear,’ ‘misunderstanding,’ and myths that this ‘might not be safe,’” Jess said. “There was a time when female athletes were not allowed to compete in cross country meets. It was wrong. It took time for society and the sport to grow, but growth and change were necessary and happened ... and it’s time for the WIAA and athletic associations nationwide to work on changing this.”

The Bergemans have the support of their school, their district, and even other teams in the area. In fact, the family is currently working with the local community and boosters to fund equipment needed for students with disabilities to compete, such as racing chairs, for the school to own that any student in the future can use. The Bergemans own the chair the family uses.

“The work of inclusion is not finished until the day when a student with disabilities joining a school team or club is as simple as a decision to make as, ‘Where do I sign up?’” Jess said.

So, Susan and Jeffrey continue to run together, helping each other to the finish line. Susan does that by pushing Jeffrey in the chair, and Jeffrey, despite being nonverbal, does that by vocalizing messages of encouragement via his way of communicating with Susan when she is struggling.

“It’s kinda cool to think that we might be leaving a legacy from what we are doing,” Susan said. “We hope that anyone that might come after us is able to compete without having as many obstacles or barriers to overcome. That they experience a welcoming team like we have, and that they get to have the experience and joy of racing together as equals. It would be fantastic to have more students try out duo team running before we graduate, so that we can race them.”

Most Olympic marathoners spend their youth focused on running. They join track clubs, compete in national championships, and pursue the sport from an early age.

Julia Mayer’s journey was very different.

Today, Mayer is Austria’s marathon record holder, a multiple national record holder on the roads, and an Olympian. Yet for much of her athletic life, running was not her primary sport.

For 16 years, she played soccer.

Then she discovered something that would change her life.

“I noticed that I was really fast in the fun runs and that it was really, really fun,” Mayer said when reflecting on her transition from soccer to distance running.

What began as curiosity quickly became a passion. She eventually made the bold decision to leave soccer behind and focus entirely on running. It was a move that surprised many people around her, but Mayer believed she had found her true athletic calling.

The decision proved to be the right one.

Within a few years, Mayer developed into one of Europe’s top marathon runners. Her steady improvement carried her from local races to the international stage, where she began rewriting Austria’s record books.

She now holds Austrian records in the marathon, half marathon, and road 10K. Her marathon best of 2:26:08 established her as the fastest female marathoner in Austrian history. Her performances in the half marathon and 10K have further cemented her place among the country’s all-time great distance runners.

Her rise culminated with qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Competing in the Olympic marathon represented the realization of a dream. On one of the most challenging marathon courses ever used for the Olympics, Mayer ran courageously against the strongest field in the world and finished 55th in her Olympic debut.

Behind the scenes, success has come through extraordinary dedication. During marathon preparation, Mayer trains twice a day and covers approximately 200 kilometers, or 124 miles, each week. The workload demands discipline, patience, and a deep commitment to continuous improvement. 

What makes her story especially inspiring is not simply the records or the Olympic appearance.

It is the fact that she found her greatest talent later than many elite runners.

In a sport where athletes are often identified at a young age, Mayer’s journey serves as a reminder that potential does not always reveal itself early. Sometimes it takes years of experience, a willingness to try something new, and the courage to follow a different path. 

The former soccer player who once chased a ball across a field is now chasing history on the roads of Europe.

And according to those closest to her, her best performances may still be ahead.

For runners of every age and ability, Julia Mayer’s story delivers a powerful lesson: it is never too late to discover what you are capable of.

From soccer player to Olympian, her journey proves that remarkable achievements can begin when least expected.

Megan Keith produced the performance of her career in Oslo on Thursday night, shattering one of Scotland’s longest-standing distance running records and cementing her place among Britain’s greatest female 3000m runners.

The 24-year-old clocked a sensational 8:28.35 over 3000m, breaking the Scottish outdoor record that had stood for nearly four decades. In doing so, Keith eclipsed the previous mark of 8:29.02, set by Scottish legend Yvonne Murray back in 1988, ending a record reign that had lasted 38 years.

Keith’s breakthrough run was more than just a national record. The performance also propelled her to third on the UK outdoor all-time list, placing her behind only two of Britain’s most celebrated distance runners — Paula Radcliffe, who leads the rankings with 8:22.20, and Laura Weightman, whose 8:26.07 remains the second-fastest outdoor mark by a British woman.

The significance of Keith’s achievement is amplified by the calibre of athletes she now joins in the record books. For decades, Murray’s mark stood as one of Scottish athletics’ most untouchable records, surviving generations of elite competitors. Keith has now succeeded where many outstanding runners have fallen short, announcing herself as one of the leading distance talents in British athletics.

Her time also compares favourably with the best performances produced indoors. Olympic medallist Laura Muir ran 8:26.41 indoors in Karlsruhe in 2017, underlining just how exceptional Keith’s outdoor effort in Oslo truly was.

The run continues a remarkable rise for the Scottish star, whose progression over recent seasons has transformed her from a promising prospect into a genuine force on the international stage. Running with confidence and composure against elite competition, Keith demonstrated both the speed and endurance required to challenge the very best in Europe and beyond.

With the World Championship season gathering momentum, Keith’s record-breaking display sends a powerful message. Not only has she etched her name into Scottish athletics history, but she has also established herself as a serious contender in one of the sport’s most competitive events.

In Oslo, Megan Keith did far more than break a record. She ended a 38-year wait, climbed into the upper echelon of British distance running, and delivered a performance that may prove to be a defining moment in her career.

British middle-distance talent Phoebe Gill took another significant step forward in her return to top form, producing a determined victory over 800 metres at the Meeting de Marseille in France on Wednesday.

Competing in challenging, wind-affected conditions, the 19-year-old demonstrated both resilience and composure as she held off a late charge from Switzerland's Veronica Vancardo to secure the win in 2:00.81. Vancardo finished just three hundredths of a second behind in 2:00.84, underlining the fiercely contested nature of the race.

While the margin of victory was narrow, the result represented another encouraging milestone for Gill as she continues to rebuild momentum following her injury setback. The young Briton showed impressive race awareness and strength in the closing stages, maintaining her advantage despite the difficult conditions that made fast running a challenge throughout the evening.

The Marseille triumph adds to a growing body of evidence that Gill is steadily progressing toward her best form. Earlier in her comeback campaign, she clocked 2:01.50 for 800m in Bydgoszcz before demonstrating her versatility with a strong 4:05.53 performance over 1500 metres at the BMC Grand Prix meeting in Trafford.

Those performances have highlighted not only her improving fitness but also her ability to compete across multiple distances as she carefully builds her season. The Marseille victory now provides further confirmation that the European junior star is moving in the right direction.

Gill emerged as one of Britain's most exciting middle-distance prospects through a series of breakthrough performances as a teenager, earning widespread recognition for her fearless racing style and remarkable maturity. Injury temporarily interrupted that upward trajectory, but her recent results suggest she is steadily rediscovering the form that made her one of the sport's brightest young talents.

With each race, the signs of progress become increasingly evident. Winning in difficult conditions and under pressure from a quality field is often a stronger indicator than a fast time alone, and Gill's latest success demonstrated exactly those qualities.

As the summer season gathers pace, the Marseille victory offers another confidence boost for the British teenager, whose return continues to gain momentum. If her recent progression is any indication, Gill could soon find herself back among the leading names on the European middle-distance circuit. 

The NCAA Track and Field Championships delivered a moment few could have predicted as Ja’Kobe Tharp produced one of the most astonishing performances in the history of sprint hurdling, rewriting the record books in spectacular fashion.

Competing in the opening round of the men’s 110-meter hurdles, the Auburn star stunned the athletics world by clocking an incredible 12.75 seconds, becoming the first athlete ever to break the 12.80-second barrier. In doing so, he eclipsed the long-standing world record of 12.80 set by Aries Merritt in 2012, a mark that had stood as one of the sport’s most revered achievements for more than a decade.

What makes Tharp’s breakthrough even more remarkable is the scale of his improvement. Entering the championships, the defending NCAA and U.S. champion had recorded a season-best of 13.05 seconds. Yet under the brightest spotlight, he unleashed a performance that exceeded every expectation, slicing an extraordinary 0.26 seconds from his personal best in a race that instantly became one of the greatest ever run.

The achievement sent shockwaves throughout the track and field community. While Tharp arrived in Eugene as one of the leading contenders for the NCAA title, few envisioned a performance capable of redefining the limits of the event. Instead, the American hurdler delivered a race for the ages, combining flawless technique, explosive speed, and impeccable rhythm from the first hurdle to the finish line.

The historic run not only secured his place in athletics history but also transformed the outlook of the championship. With the world record now in his possession, Tharp advances to the final as the overwhelming favorite, carrying momentum that could make an already unforgettable weekend even more extraordinary.

For years, the 12.80 barrier appeared untouchable. On a stunning day at the NCAA Championships, Ja’Kobe Tharp proved otherwise, producing the kind of performance that reminds fans why sport remains so unpredictable. In a matter of seconds, he turned a routine qualifying round into a landmark moment that will be remembered for generations.

The world record no one saw coming is now a reality—and Ja’Kobe Tharp is the man who changed history.

A new chapter in middle-distance running may have begun in Oslo after American teenager Cooper Lutkenhaus produced one of the most remarkable performances of the season, narrowly defeating reigning Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi in a thrilling men's 800m contest at the Diamond League meeting.

The 17-year-old sensation shocked a world-class field by crossing the finish line first in a race that came down to the smallest of margins. After an intense battle over the final metres, Lutkenhaus held off Wanyonyi by just one hundredth of a second, producing a dramatic finish that left the packed stadium in disbelief.

From the opening lap, the pace was relentless as the leading contenders positioned themselves for a fierce showdown. As the athletes entered the home straight, Wanyonyi appeared poised to unleash his trademark finishing kick. However, Lutkenhaus refused to be intimidated, matching the Olympic champion stride for stride before producing a perfectly timed lean at the line to secure a historic victory.

The result marks a breakthrough moment for the young American, who continues to establish himself as one of the brightest talents in global athletics. Defeating an Olympic champion at a Diamond League event is a feat many athletes spend entire careers pursuing, yet Lutkenhaus achieved it before reaching adulthood.

For Wanyonyi, the narrow defeat does little to diminish his status as one of the world's premier 800m runners. The Kenyan once again demonstrated his exceptional class and competitiveness, pushing the race to a world-class standard and forcing his young rival to deliver the performance of a lifetime.

Beyond the result itself, the race offered a glimpse into what could become one of the sport's most exciting rivalries in the years ahead. With established stars and emerging talents now pushing each other to new heights, the men's 800m continues to evolve into one of athletics' most captivating events.

On a memorable night in Oslo, the spotlight belonged to Cooper Lutkenhaus. At just 17 years old, he stood toe-to-toe with an Olympic champion and emerged victorious, announcing himself to the athletics world in spectacular fashion.