Running News Daily

Swiss sportswear company On has officially launched its first professional sprint group, marking a significant expansion of the brand’s growing involvement in elite track and field.

The newly established OAC Sprint Group will be based in Los Angeles and coached by respected sprint coach John “JB” Bolton. The inaugural roster includes American sprinters Max Thomas, Samirah Moody, and Johnny Brackins alongside Ghanaian international Benjamin Azamati.

The move represents On’s first dedicated venture into professional sprinting after building its reputation primarily through distance running and endurance-based training groups. With the creation of the Los Angeles-based program, the company now joins a growing list of athletics brands investing directly in specialized athlete development environments.

Azamati enters the group as one of Africa’s most recognized sprinters, having represented Ghana at major international championships and Olympic competition. Thomas, Moody, and Brackins are among a new wave of American sprint athletes transitioning into the professional ranks.

Bolton will oversee the team’s training and athlete development as preparations begin for the upcoming athletics season.

The announcement adds another notable development to the evolving professional track and field landscape, where global brands continue to expand their investment in athlete-centered performance programs. 

In a major statement of intent for the future of trail running, ASICS has officially unveiled its first-ever Alpine training basecamp — a purpose-built performance hub designed to help elite athletes train, recover, and compete at the highest possible level.

Nestled in the mountain town of Les Houches, at the foot of the iconic Mont Blanc range, the newly launched ASICS Basecamp represents a bold investment into the rapidly growing world of trail and mountain running. The facility has been specifically created to provide athletes with direct access to some of Europe’s most demanding alpine terrain while surrounding them with world-class performance support.

Designed as a dedicated mountain chalet, the basecamp can host up to ten athletes at a time, creating an environment where both established stars and rising talents can fully immerse themselves in high-level preparation. The location itself offers endless opportunities for altitude training, technical climbs, steep descents, and endurance sessions across some of the sport’s most challenging landscapes.

But the project goes far beyond simply providing accommodation in the mountains.

Inside the facility, athletes are supported by a complete high-performance system that includes a fully equipped gym, physiotherapy services, medical staff, recovery resources, and even a dedicated data scientist tasked with analyzing training metrics and optimizing performance. Every aspect of the environment has been carefully designed to help athletes maximize adaptation while minimizing the physical stress that often comes with elite-level trail racing.

What makes the initiative particularly significant is its long-term vision. Rather than focusing only on established champions, ASICS is positioning the basecamp as a platform for athlete development — helping remove many of the financial and logistical barriers that can prevent talented runners from accessing high-altitude training environments and professional support systems.

The launch also reflects the brand’s growing ambition within trail running, a discipline that continues to expand globally in both competitiveness and popularity. By investing directly into athlete infrastructure, ASICS is signaling that it intends to play a much larger role in shaping the future of the sport.

As trail running enters a new era of professionalism and scientific performance preparation, the ASICS Alpine Basecamp could quickly become one of the sport’s most influential training destinations — a place where elite ambitions are built deep in the mountains.

A controversial disqualification at the North Carolina high school state track championships has ignited debate across the running world after Mallard Creek High School’s boys 4x400-meter relay team lost what appeared to be a state title because of a celebration gesture during the finish.

The incident, which has now drawn national attention and triggered an official appeal review, centers around one athlete raising his hand with five fingers extended as he crossed the line.

According to the athlete’s coach, the gesture was not directed at another team and was never intended as taunting. Instead, he says the runner was signaling what would have been the program’s fifth championship victory.

Supporters of the team say the ruling was far too harsh, especially given the emotional nature of the 4x400 relay — one of track and field’s most dramatic events.

Video of the finish quickly spread online, creating intense reaction from athletes, coaches, and fans. Many pointed out that celebration has long been part of the sport at every level, including by some of the greatest athletes in history.

One name repeatedly mentioned in the discussion is Usain Bolt, who often celebrated before crossing finish lines during his legendary career. Bolt’s signature gestures, arm raises, and crowd interaction became part of his global appeal and helped bring personality and excitement to track and field.

Critics of the ruling argue that the Mallard Creek athlete’s raised hand was no different in spirit — a moment of excitement after an extraordinary effort, not an act of disrespect.

Others defend the officials, noting that high school athletics operate under stricter sportsmanship guidelines and that rules regarding celebrations exist to prevent taunting or unsporting behavior.

Still, the punishment itself remains the biggest source of controversy. In a relay, a disqualification impacts the entire team, meaning three other athletes also lost a championship because of one moment during the finish.

An appeals panel appointed by North Carolina’s top education official is now expected to review the case.

The situation has become a broader conversation about modern sports culture and whether emotional expression by athletes should be embraced or restricted — especially in a sport that is constantly trying to attract younger fans and greater visibility.

For Mallard Creek, what should have been remembered as a championship performance has instead become one of the most discussed high school track stories of the year.

The curtain may have fallen on another memorable season of athletics, but ATHLOS NYC is already preparing for an even bigger spectacle in 2026.

The groundbreaking women-only track and field meet will officially return to Icahn Stadium in New York City on October 2nd for a third consecutive year, further cementing its place as one of the sport’s most exciting and progressive events. What began as a bold vision has rapidly evolved into a premier end-of-season showcase, attracting some of the biggest names in global athletics and redefining how women’s track is presented to the world.

Backed by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, ATHLOS NYC has grown into far more than a traditional athletics meeting. The event has become a celebration of elite female performance, star power, and innovation — a platform where Olympic champions and rising talents share the spotlight in front of a passionate global audience.

Over the past editions, fans have witnessed unforgettable performances from some of the sport’s brightest stars, including Keely Hodgkinson, Faith Kipyegon, Gabby Thomas, and Masai Russell — athletes who continue to elevate the profile of women’s athletics on the global stage.

Organizers have also confirmed a major evolution for the ATHLOS series in 2026. In addition to the New York meet, a second competition will be staged in another “major city,” with the location still under wraps. The expansion signals the growing ambition behind the project and its desire to create a wider international footprint for elite women’s track competition.

The competition structure itself will also take on a new dimension. Athletes competing across the seven events will now accumulate points based on their finishing positions throughout the series. At the end of the campaign, the athlete with the highest total in each discipline will receive a $25,000 bonus along with the prestigious Tiffany & Co. crown — a symbol that is quickly becoming one of the sport’s most coveted prizes.

The revised format adds another layer of drama and consistency to the competition, rewarding athletes not only for individual brilliance but also for sustained excellence across the season. It also reflects ATHLOS NYC’s continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of what professional track and field can look like in the modern era.

With its unique atmosphere, elite fields, and athlete-first approach, ATHLOS NYC is no longer just another stop on the calendar. It is becoming a defining destination for women’s athletics — a stage where competition, culture, and entertainment collide.

And with expansion now underway, the movement appears to be only getting started.

Dutch athletics superstar Femke Bol is preparing to launch her outdoor campaign in thrilling fashion after confirming that she will compete in the 800m at the prestigious Golden Spike Ostrava on June 16.

The announcement has immediately generated excitement across the athletics world, with fans eager to see how the reigning global 400m hurdles queen performs over the longer distance outdoors after her sensational indoor breakthrough earlier this year.

Bol, already regarded as one of the most versatile athletes in world athletics, stunned the track community during her indoor 800m debut in Metz back in February. Competing outside her specialist discipline, the Dutch star produced a remarkable 1:59.07 performance, becoming one of the very few elite 400m hurdlers capable of breaking the two-minute barrier in the event.

That performance was not only impressive for a debut — it was historic. Bol shattered the long-standing Dutch indoor 800m record of 2:00.01 previously held by Ester Goossens since 2001, underlining her extraordinary endurance, speed, and tactical maturity.

The decision to open her outdoor season in the two-lap event instead of the 400m hurdles adds another fascinating dimension to her already glittering career. It also signals her continued ambition to expand her range and sharpen her endurance ahead of the major championships later in the season.

Ostrava has long been known for producing fast times and unforgettable performances, and Bol’s presence instantly elevates the anticipation surrounding this year’s meeting. With her confidence soaring and her fitness clearly at an exceptional level, many will now wonder whether the Dutch sensation can push even deeper into world-class territory in the 800m outdoors.

Already a double world champion in the 400m hurdles and one of the most dominant figures in modern athletics, Bol continues to prove that her talent stretches far beyond one event. Her upcoming appearance in Ostrava is no longer just a season opener — it has become one of the most intriguing storylines of the early outdoor campaign.

Marathon icon Eliud Kipchoge has thrown his full support behind Cape Town’s ambitious campaign to become Africa’s first-ever Abbott World Marathon Major, describing the bid as a transformational moment for distance running across the continent. He is set to participate in Sanlam Cape Town marathon on May 24th, 2026.

The two-time Olympic marathon champion arrived in Cape Town as part of his global marathon tour spanning seven continents, but his presence in South Africa carried far deeper significance than a ceremonial visit. For Kipchoge, the possibility of an African city joining the prestigious World Marathon Majors series represents a long-overdue recognition of the continent that has shaped the modern era of distance running.

Speaking passionately about the vision behind the bid, Kipchoge emphasized that Africa has supplied generations of world-class runners, inspired millions through athletics, and consistently dominated the marathon scene, yet has never hosted one of the sport’s most celebrated marathon events.

He believes Cape Town now has the opportunity to change that narrative forever.

The Abbott World Marathon Majors currently features some of the most iconic races in global athletics, including events in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, Sydney and New York City. Cape Town’s inclusion would mark a historic breakthrough, positioning Africa at the center of elite marathon racing while opening new pathways for athletes, tourism, investment, and sporting development across the continent.

Kipchoge described the bid as more than just a race application, calling it a movement capable of inspiring an entirely new generation of African runners. According to the Kenyan legend, bringing a Major marathon to African soil would give young athletes tangible proof that the sport’s biggest stages are no longer distant dreams located overseas, but opportunities that can exist at home.

The marathon great also praised Cape Town’s scenery, culture, and growing international reputation as key strengths in the city’s campaign. With its breathtaking coastal routes, iconic landmarks, and passionate running community, Cape Town has increasingly emerged as one of the world’s most attractive long-distance racing destinations.

For many within global athletics, Kipchoge’s endorsement adds enormous credibility to the bid.

Few voices carry greater influence in marathon running than the Kenyan superstar, whose career has redefined human endurance. Beyond his Olympic triumphs and major marathon victories, Kipchoge became the first man in history to run a marathon in under two hours during the groundbreaking INEOS 1:59 Challenge — a feat that elevated him beyond sport and into global sporting folklore.

His support now places additional international attention on Cape Town’s push to make history.

Should the bid succeed, it would represent a monumental victory not only for South Africa, but for the entire African athletics community. It would finally bring one of marathon running’s highest honors to the continent that has produced countless champions and reshaped the global identity of endurance racing for decades.

As Kipchoge continues his journey across the seven continents, his message from Cape Town remains powerful and unmistakable: Africa’s time on marathon running’s grandest stage may finally have arrived.