Running News Daily

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 silver medal 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.

Ruben Querinjean has added another remarkable chapter to his breakthrough 2026 season, setting a new Luxembourg national record over the road mile at the LËTZ MILE – Luxembourg City Road Mile.

Querinjean stopped the clock at an impressive 4:03.03, producing another standout performance only a few weeks after setting a national record in the 3,000m steeplechase.

The Luxembourg star has been enjoying an outstanding season, establishing himself as one of the country's leading distance runners while continuing to push the national record books into new territory.

His latest achievement also highlights his versatility. Best known for his performances over the steeplechase barriers, Querinjean has shown that his speed and endurance translate exceptionally well to the roads, with the mile requiring a combination of strength, pace and finishing speed.

The 4:03.03 performance gives Querinjean another national mark to celebrate during a season that has already delivered several major milestones. His continued progression has made him an increasingly prominent figure on the European distance-running scene.

For Luxembourg athletics, performances like this represent an exciting period for the sport. Querinjean's ability to challenge national records across different disciplines is a strong indication of the depth of his talent and the level he is reaching.

With another national record now secured, Querinjean can look ahead with even greater confidence as he continues his impressive 2026 campaign.

Another record. Another milestone. Another unforgettable chapter in Ruben Querinjean's remarkable season.

Busang Collen Kebinatshipi has delivered another sensational performance, storming to victory in the men’s 400m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

The reigning world champion stopped the clock at an astonishing 43.39 seconds, smashing his own Botswana national record and moving to fifth on the world all-time list.

Kebinatshipi produced a commanding finish to pull away from his rivals and secure the Ultimate Championship title. American star Rai Benjamin finished second in 44.15, while Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago completed the podium in 44.23.

 Men’s 400m

1. Busang Collen Kebinatshipi — 43.39 NR

2. Rai Benjamin — 44.15

3. Jereem Richards — 44.23

The performance is even more remarkable considering that Kebinatshipi had already rewritten the Botswana record just one week ago in Brussels, where he ran 43.40. In Budapest, he lowered that mark by another 0.01 seconds to establish a new national record of 43.39.

That improvement has also propelled the 22-year-old into rare territory. His latest time now ranks him fifth fastest in history over 400m, placing him among an extraordinary group of athletes who have broken the 43.40 barrier.

Kebinatshipi's victory also caps an extraordinary season for the Botswana star. After establishing himself as a global champion, he has continued to demonstrate that he belongs among the very best one-lap runners in the world.

And there is a major reward for his historic night in Budapest: Kebinatshipi walks away as the Ultimate Champion and $150,000 richer.

From another national record to a place among the five fastest 400m runners ever, Kebinatshipi has turned an already remarkable season into something truly special.

Botswana has its latest sprinting superstar — and Kebinatshipi is showing that his ceiling may be even higher than anyone imagined. 

Jakob Ingebrigtsen has made a major decision regarding the remainder of his World Athletics Ultimate Championship campaign, confirming that he will withdraw from the men’s 1500m in Budapest despite producing a sensational performance to win the 5,000m title.

The Norwegian superstar stormed to victory in the inaugural Ultimate Championship 5,000m on Friday night, clocking a season-best 12:59.24 and delivering a devastating finishing kick to defeat Olympic 5,000m champion Cole Hocker and American Parker Wolfe.

Ingebrigtsen’s final 100 metres was arguably the defining moment of the race. The Olympic champion produced a remarkable 12.60-second closing 100m, powering away from the field to secure the $150,000 winner’s prize and underline just how far his fitness has progressed since returning from Achilles surgery.

The victory was particularly significant after what has been an extremely difficult period for the 25-year-old. Earlier in the season, Ingebrigtsen faced serious uncertainty over whether he would even be able to compete at the highest level again. His return has gradually gathered momentum, and his performance in Budapest offered perhaps the clearest indication yet that the Norwegian is rediscovering his formidable racing ability.

But rather than risk pushing his recovering body further, Ingebrigtsen has now opted to step away from the 1500m.

The decision means the highly anticipated showdown with British rival Josh Kerr will not take place in Budapest after all. The two stars had been expected to renew one of the biggest rivalries in modern middle-distance running in the 1500m final.

Instead, Ingebrigtsen is looking beyond the immediate opportunity and towards the bigger picture.

“I’m thinking about 2027… Fitness cannot be faked,” the Norwegian said, signalling that protecting his long-term condition has become more important than chasing another major victory only days after his return to peak-level competition.

The decision comes just one week after an emotionally charged Diamond League Final in Brussels, where Ingebrigtsen finished fourth in the 1500m behind Australia’s Cameron Myers, Kenya’s Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech and American Ethan Strand.

After that race, Ingebrigtsen delivered a fiery assessment of his rivals and questioned the tactics surrounding the pacemaking, particularly involving Hocker. He later acknowledged that there had been “a little too much adrenaline and emotion” when microphones were placed in front of him immediately after the race.

Yet his latest decision shows that beneath the emotion and competitive intensity lies a longer-term strategy.

Ingebrigtsen has already demonstrated that he can compete at an elite level again. His 12:59.24 in Budapest was not simply a victory — it was a statement that the Norwegian remains capable of producing a world-class finish even after months of injury rehabilitation.

Now, however, he is choosing not to gamble with that progress.

For a runner who has spent much of the year fighting his way back from injury, another 1500m race could have offered enormous rewards but also carried unnecessary risk. By withdrawing, Ingebrigtsen is effectively prioritising longevity over one more opportunity for immediate glory.

His message is clear: the comeback is underway, but it will not be rushed.

The 5,000m victory has given Ingebrigtsen confidence, momentum and perhaps, most importantly, proof that his body can once again handle elite competition.

Now comes the harder part — knowing when to stop.

With 2027 already firmly in his sights, the Norwegian has chosen recovery over risk. And after everything he has endured, that could ultimately prove to be one of the most important decisions of his comeback.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen is not walking away from the sport. He is protecting his future in it.

Kenya produced a remarkable double victory at the 2026 Swedbank Tallinn Marathon Half Marathon in Estonia, with Vincent Kiptoo and Regina Wambui Ndungu claiming the men’s and women’s titles in record-breaking fashion.

Kiptoo delivered the headline performance of the morning, storming to victory in 59:48 to become the first athlete to run a half marathon in under one hour on Estonian soil. His performance also established a new Tallinn Half Marathon course record, marking a historic milestone for both the Kenyan and the race.

The Kenyan’s victory was backed by an impressive display of depth from his compatriots. Johana Erot finished second in 1:00:51, recording a personal best, while Enos Kipruto Saat completed the podium in 1:01:22. Kenya therefore swept all three men’s podium positions.

The fastest Estonian in the men’s race was Leonid Latsepov, who finished in 1:04:20, giving the home crowd another performance to celebrate despite the dominance of the Kenyan contingent.

The women’s race provided another Kenyan triumph, with Regina Wambui Ndungu producing a superb 1:07:35 to take the title and set a new Tallinn Half Marathon course record. Her performance completed a memorable Kenyan double on a morning when both winners rewrote the course records.

Winsam Jerono secured second place in 1:10:29, also improving her personal best, while Morocco’s Soukaina Atanane took third in 1:11:24. The fastest Estonian woman was Pille Hinn, who crossed the line in 1:23:02.

The men’s result was particularly striking, with Kenya occupying every place on the podium. Kiptoo’s historic sub-hour run was followed by Erot’s personal-best performance and Kipruto Saat’s strong third-place finish, underlining the depth of Kenyan talent over the half-marathon distance.

For Kiptoo, the 59:48 performance represents more than a race victory. Breaking the one-hour barrier in Estonia places his name in the history of the Tallinn Half Marathon and gives him a course record that will now become the benchmark for future editions of the race.

Ndungu’s victory added another layer to the Kenyan success. Her 1:07:35 not only secured the women’s title but also lowered the course record, meaning both elite races produced new standards on the same morning.

The scale of the event added to the occasion, with more than 5,000 runners taking on the 21.1-kilometre challenge. The streets of Tallinn were filled with runners of different levels, creating a vibrant backdrop for a morning that produced two Kenyan victories and two new course records.

The half marathon was only one part of a packed Tallinn running weekend. The 10K Tallinn Autumn Run was scheduled to follow at 14:00, with the Nike Youth Run later in the evening at 18:30, keeping the Estonian capital at the centre of the running action throughout Saturday.

The weekend will then reach its grand finale on Sunday morning with the Tallinn Marathon, scheduled for a 09:00 start. With thousands of runners continuing to take to the streets, the city’s celebration of distance running is set to continue.

For Kenya, however, the defining moment of the half marathon will remain Kiptoo’s historic 59:48. Alongside Ndungu’s course-record victory, it gave the country a spectacular start to the Tallinn Marathon weekend and etched another memorable chapter into Kenya’s remarkable road-running story.

Eleven months away from racing. Achilles surgery. Just six weeks of serious training.

Now, Jakob Ingebrigtsen is an Ultimate Champion.

The Norwegian star delivered a stunning performance in Budapest, winning the men’s 5000m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in 12:59.24.

It was a race that demanded patience, tactical intelligence and a perfectly timed finish—qualities Ingebrigtsen has repeatedly demonstrated throughout his career.

Rather than forcing the pace from the front, Ingebrigtsen stayed towards the back of the field and waited as the race unfolded. He remained composed while the leading group battled for position, conserving his energy for the moment that mattered most.

That moment came in the final straight.

Ingebrigtsen unleashed his trademark finishing speed, powering past his rivals and holding off a determined challenge from American star Cole Hocker to secure the gold medal.

Hocker finished second in 13:00.05, while fellow American Parker Wolfe took third in 13:00.13. The result gave Ingebrigtsen another major title in a season that began with serious questions about how quickly he could return to his best.

His comeback has been extraordinary.

After nearly 11 months away from competition and a spell on the sidelines following Achilles surgery, Ingebrigtsen returned to racing with limited preparation. Just six weeks of serious training stood between him and his return to the highest level.

Yet he has already transformed that uncertainty into success.

The victory in Budapest also adds another fascinating chapter to his rivalry with Hocker. The American, who has established himself among the world's leading middle-distance runners, will get another opportunity to challenge Ingebrigtsen when the pair meet again in the 1500m later this weekend.

The 5000m may belong to Norway, but the rivalry is far from over.

For Ingebrigtsen, the message from Budapest is clear: the long road back has not weakened his competitive instincts. If anything, it has made his return even more impressive.

He waited. He watched. He chose his moment.

And when it was time to strike, Jakob Ingebrigtsen did what Jakob Ingebrigtsen does best—he finished the job.

Kenyan steeplechase star Doris Lemngole has officially turned professional after signing a contract with Swiss sportswear brand On, marking the beginning of a new chapter for one of the most accomplished young distance runners in the sport.

On announced the move on Thursday, September 10, confirming that the 24-year-old has been elevated from the NIL partnership she signed with the brand in August 2025 to its professional athlete roster. 

The decision comes after Lemngole completed a spectacular collegiate career at the University of Alabama, where she established herself as one of the most dominant distance runners in NCAA history. She leaves Tuscaloosa as a five-time NCAA champion, a collegiate record-holder and the winner of The Bowerman, the highest individual honor in American collegiate track and field.

Her breakthrough came in the 3,000m steeplechase, an event in which she repeatedly pushed the boundaries of collegiate running. In 2025, she clocked 8:58.15 to become the first woman in NCAA history to break the nine-minute barrier in the event. She also captured consecutive NCAA outdoor steeplechase titles in 2024 and 2025.

Lemngole was equally impressive over cross country. At the 2025 NCAA Championships in Missouri, she defended her national title in 18:25.4, producing the fastest winning performance in NCAA championship history by a considerable margin. Her consistency and dominance across disciplines ultimately helped her secure The Bowerman in December 2025, making her the first Alabama athlete and first Kenyan to receive the prestigious award. 

Her transition from collegiate standout to international contender has been remarkably rapid. Still competing as an Alabama athlete, Lemngole won her Diamond League debut in the 3,000m steeplechase at Athletissima in Lausanne in August 2025 before going on to represent Kenya at the World Championships in Tokyo, where she finished fifth. 

Now, just days before her professional announcement, Lemngole produced perhaps the strongest performance of her career. At the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 4, she stormed to a massive personal best of 8:52.86 for second place in the 3,000m steeplechase. Only five women in history had previously run faster, underlining just how extraordinary the performance was. Faith Cherotich won in a meeting-record 8:51.61, while Olympic champion Winfred Yavi finished third in 8:53.54. 

That performance provided a fitting bridge between Lemngole's collegiate dominance and her professional future. She is no longer simply one of the NCAA's brightest talents; she has now established herself firmly among the world's leading steeplechasers.

For On, the decision represents a natural continuation of a relationship that began when Lemngole joined its NIL roster in 2025. The Swiss brand said her ability to dominate at the collegiate level while immediately challenging the world's best made the move to its professional roster a natural progression.

For Lemngole, the signing is about much more than a new contract. It represents the next stage of a journey that has taken her from NCAA champion and record-breaker to Bowerman winner and international title contender.

With her collegiate chapter now complete and a sub-8:53 performance already on the record, the Kenyan has made her intentions clear: **the next challenge is to see just how far she can take her extraordinary talent on the global stage.**

Team USA delivered a remarkable display of depth in the men’s 5,000m at the World Ultimate Championships, placing five athletes among the top seven in a tightly contested race.

Cole Hocker led the American charge, finishing second in 13:00.05. The Olympic champion was followed closely by Parker Wolfe, who crossed the line third in 13:00.13, just eight hundredths of a second behind his compatriot.

Nico Young added another strong performance in fifth, clocking 13:00.26, while Grant Fisher finished sixth in 13:00.34. Graham Blanks completed the remarkable American showing, taking seventh in 13:00.40.

The closeness of the finish made the American performance even more impressive. The five Team USA athletes were separated by just 0.35 seconds, underlining the extraordinary level of competition within the American distance-running ranks.

It was also a striking combination of established experience and emerging talent. Hocker and Fisher have already established themselves among the leading American distance runners, while Wolfe, Young and Blanks represent the strength of the next generation pushing their way onto the global stage.

Although Team USA did not sweep the medals, having five runners inside the top seven was a powerful statement of collective strength. It demonstrated that American distance running possesses not only individual stars but also remarkable depth capable of challenging at the highest international level.

For Hocker, Wolfe, Young, Fisher and Blanks, the result adds another significant chapter to their seasons and provides a glimpse of the growing competitiveness of the United States in the 5,000m. With such a tightly packed group performing at the front of a major championship race, American distance running has plenty of reason for optimism.

Athletics has a remarkable way of connecting generations.

Sometimes, decades apart, two athletes emerge with a rare combination of speed, endurance and fearlessness that makes the extraordinary appear almost effortless. Kenya’s Daniel Komen and Australia’s Cameron Myers are separated by an era and a continent, but their careers share one fascinating thread — an exceptional ability to run incredibly fast over middle and long distances.

Daniel Komen — the Kenyan phenomenon

During the 1990s, Daniel Komen was one of the most feared distance runners on the planet.

At just 20 years old, Komen produced a performance that would become one of the defining moments of his career, running 7:20.67 for 3000m in Rieti, Italy, in 1996. The world record remained untouched for nearly 28 years before Jakob Ingebrigtsen finally broke it in 2024.

Komen followed that achievement with another performance that remains etched in distance-running history. In 1997, he ran 7:58.61 for two miles in Hengelo, becoming the first man to break the eight-minute barrier over the distance.

His brilliance was not limited to one event.

Komen possessed an extraordinary range, becoming only the second man after Algeria’s Saïd Aouita to break 3:30 for 1500m, 7:30 for 3000m and 13 minutes for 5000m.

Those performances established Komen as one of the most versatile and naturally gifted distance runners of his generation.

Cameron Myers — Australia's rising star

Almost three decades later, another young runner is beginning to capture the imagination of the athletics world.

Cameron Myers first made headlines as a teenager when, at 16, he ran 3:55.44 for the mile. The performance made him the second-youngest athlete ever to break four minutes for the distance and confirmed that Australia had a remarkable middle-distance talent on its hands.

But Myers has not allowed the hype surrounding his teenage achievements to define him.

Now 20, he is increasingly proving himself against the world's best senior athletes.

His breakthrough continued in 2026 when he produced a spectacular 3:28.00 personal best for 1500m in Paris, firmly establishing himself among the world's elite over the distance.

Then came Brussels.

At the Diamond League Final on September 4, Myers delivered perhaps the biggest statement of his young career, winning the 1500m in 3:30.14 against a world-class field. The victory came in a race featuring some of the biggest names in the event, including Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Olympic champion Cole Hocker.

For Myers, it was another important step from promising prodigy to established senior star.

He is no longer simply the talented teenager everyone was waiting to see develop.

Cameron Myers has arrived.

Different eras, remarkable similarities

Comparing athletes from different generations is always difficult. The competition, training methods, technology and circumstances change, and every great athlete deserves to be judged within the context of their own era.

But the similarities between Komen and Myers are still fascinating.

Komen showed the world in the 1990s that extraordinary speed could be combined with exceptional endurance. Myers is now demonstrating that same fearless approach as he takes on the strongest 1500m fields in the world.

Komen has already secured his place in athletics history.

Myers is only beginning to write his.

The Australian still has many years ahead of him, and whether he can eventually build a legacy comparable to Komen's remains impossible to predict. What is certain, however, is that his progression has already been remarkable.

From a teenager breaking four minutes for the mile to a 20-year-old running 3:28.00 and winning a Diamond League Final, Myers has moved through the ranks at extraordinary speed.

Daniel Komen was one of the athletes who made the impossible look normal. Cameron Myers now has an opportunity to create his own version of that magic.

Different generations. Different countries. Different journeys.

But one extraordinary gift — the ability to run very, very fast. 

Leonard Langat arrived in Toronto for last year’s TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon largely unheralded. But after winning this World Athletics Elite Label race he left with both the respect of his competitors and the $25,000 CDN first place prize money to his credit.

The 30-year-old Kenyan will defend his title on October 18. 

A year ago his winning time of 2:08:04 had been hampered by uncharacteristically strong winds coming off Lake Ontario but the fact he beat athletes with much faster personal best times was an indication of his potential. Indeed, at the 2026 Cape Town Marathon this May he finished 4th in a new personal best of 2:05:26.

“About last year, I was happy because I ran well. I am happy to come back to Toronto,” he says while sitting alongside his coach, Josphat Bett, following a training session. “I loved the city of Toronto. I loved the beauty and the people I met there.

“I want to improve my time and try to win the race again. I will try to defend my title because the training (this year), we have improved, and increased the mileage.”

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon course record of 2:05:00 was set in 2019 by his countryman Philemon Rono. It seems natural to draw a line between his personal best and that record. Could he beat Rono’s time on the streets of Canada’s biggest city?

“If the weather is good that day I will try to improve my personal best,” is all he will allow - apparently not wanting get ahead of himself.

Langat is represented by Volare Sports Management, a Dutch based firm specializing in distance running. He trains with a group of about twenty athletes under coach Josphat Bett’s program in the town of Keringet. Another large Volare group which includes athletes such as Fanny Kiprotich (who will also run this year’s Toronto Waterfront), the 2026 Vienna Marathon winner, is based in Iten the ‘Home of Champions’ three and a half hours away.

Bett was himself a world class runner with a personal best of 26:48.99 for the 10,000m and also took home the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medal in that event. He remembers being approached by Langat when the latter keenly observed Bett and his training partners running past his village. 

“I am a runner and he was interested in running,” Bett remembers with a smile. “He loved the way we were training and he asked ‘How can I start to run?’. So I gave him a training program to start. Now it has been about ten years.”

With money earned from running Langat has begun preparing for life after his running career comes to an end. He and his wife, Sharon Chesang, have two children, 4-year-old Emmanuel Kipkoech and a 2-year-old daughter Dorcas Chebet. Although Volare has a camp where many of the athletes live during the week he prefers to go home after training sessions.

“I want to be a farmer for cattle, a dairy farmer,” he explains. “I bought five acres of land and I have five cows.”

A successful title defence would mean increased financial stability for his family’s future. There is also a bonus of $10,000 CDN for breaking the course record. Although he seems hesitant to talk about the record he’d be a good bet to dip below 2:05:00 under the right conditions.

"In Cape Town after 40km, after taking water, I lost the steps of the leading group,” he admits.

Clearly the race video supports his contention as he slowed to grab a bottle while the other three contenders opened up a gap. Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa won that race in 2:04:55 with the 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront champion, Yihunilign Adane, second in 2:04:59. What might have been is not something he dwells upon.

Defending a title is never easy. Langat can no longer slip under the radar as his performances have been watched around the world. His TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon victory, alone, had 140,000+ views last year in 75 countries. And he will face a strong field including his compatriot Noah Kipkemboi who finished in second place just 24 seconds behind him last year.

But Langat’s confidence will be high making for compelling battle along the streets of Toronto.

Megan Eckert arrived in Hungary with an ambitious mission: to leave with two records. By the final morning of the EMU-GOMU 6-Day World Championships in Balatonfüred, she had achieved both—and then pushed herself into territory no woman had ever reached before.

The American ultrarunner covered an astonishing 636.482 miles (1,024.3 kilometres) over six days, producing one of the greatest performances in the history of multi-day ultrarunning.

Her extraordinary total came after completing 1,140 laps of the 898.2-metre circuit, plus another 371 metres. Most remarkably, Eckert became the first woman in history to surpass 1,000 kilometres during a six-day race.

To put the magnitude of her achievement into perspective, Eckert averaged 4.42 miles per hour for the entire 144 hours of competition. That average included everything—not only her running, but also every minute spent walking, resting, eating and sleeping.

The first major milestone fell on Wednesday morning.

At 135 hours and 38 minutes, Eckert moved beyond her own previous record of 603.155 miles, set in France last year. Just 32 minutes later, she added another historic achievement by surpassing the overall American six-day record that had been held by Joe Fejes since 2015.

But Eckert was not finished.

With nearly eight hours remaining on the clock, she turned her attention to the magical 1,000-kilometre barrier. At 139:55:46, she crossed it, becoming the first woman ever to achieve the feat in a six-day race.

Her dominance was equally remarkable when measured against the rest of the field. Norway's Simen Holvik, who finished second, was almost 84 kilometres behind—a staggering margin that was even greater than the gap separating second and third place.

What makes Eckert's rise even more extraordinary is how recently she entered this demanding discipline. A mathematics and special education teacher at a middle school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she has been competing in six-day races for only two years.

Yet in Hungary, experience was no barrier.

Over six days and six nights, Eckert combined extraordinary endurance, patience and mental strength to rewrite the American record books and establish a new standard for women's multi-day ultrarunning.

Two records. More than 636 miles. More than 1,000 kilometres. And a performance that has taken Megan Eckert into a completely new chapter of ultrarunning history.

The Copenhagen Half Marathon is the latest major road race to abandon the traditional first-come, first-served entry system, with the hugely popular event set to allocate places for its 2027 edition through a lottery.

Registration will be free and will open on Tuesday, September 16, before closing on September 30. Crucially, runners will have exactly the same chance of securing a place whether they register on the first day or in the final minutes before the deadline.

A record 45,000 runners are expected to take to the streets of Copenhagen in 2027, underlining the extraordinary growth and demand surrounding one of Europe's biggest half marathons.

The move comes after the race's previous editions demonstrated just how difficult it had become to secure an entry. The 2025 Copenhagen Half Marathon sold out in just two and a half hours, while the 2026 edition—which will also serve as the World Athletics Half Marathon Championship this Sunday—had already moved to a ballot system when entries opened in March 2025.

Sparta Athletics, the organisation behind both the Copenhagen Marathon and Copenhagen Half Marathon, has now firmly embraced the lottery approach for its major events. The 2027 Copenhagen Marathon ballot attracted an astonishing 80,937 applications for only 35,000 available places, highlighting the enormous gap between demand and capacity.

Copenhagen is far from alone. Prague introduced a similar system in August, while Berlin and Lisbon also used ballots for their 2026 races, reflecting a major shift in the way Europe's most sought-after road races are managing unprecedented demand.

There will also be no official resale platform for Copenhagen's 2027 half marathon. Entries will remain strictly personal and non-transferable, meaning anyone attempting to buy a bib from another runner risks arriving at the start line with an entry that cannot be used.

For runners, the message is becoming increasingly clear: the days of simply logging on and buying a place in one of Europe's biggest road races are disappearing.

As participation in distance running continues to surge, the Copenhagen Half Marathon's decision is another powerful sign of a changing era. The biggest races are no longer asking whether they will sell out—but how they can fairly decide who gets to stand on the start line.

Distance running has witnessed extraordinary seasons before, but 2026 is producing something that feels almost unprecedented.

Records that had survived for decades, marks that appeared untouchable and performances that had defined entire generations of athletes are falling at a remarkable rate. In the space of just four months, four historic world records were rewritten, creating one of the most astonishing stretches the sport has ever seen.

And with four months still remaining in 2026, the question is no longer whether this has been an exceptional year.

It is just how much further the boundaries can be pushed.

The extraordinary sequence began on April 26 at the London Marathon, where Sabastian Sawe delivered one of the defining performances in the history of the event. The Kenyan crossed the finish line in a breathtaking 1:59:30, becoming the first athlete to run a marathon under two hours in officially recognised, record-eligible conditions.

Eliud Kipchoge had famously broken the two-hour barrier in Vienna in 2019, proving that such a performance was humanly possible, but the specially organised conditions—including rotating pacemakers and a pace car—meant the time could not be recognised as an official world record.

Sawe's performance was different.

His 1:59:30 came in a conventional elite marathon race, and the historic morning became even more extraordinary as Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha finished in 1:59:41, while Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo clocked 2:00:28. In one astonishing race, three athletes went faster than the previous world-record standard.

Then came Monaco.

On July 10, Emmanuel Wanyonyi stepped into completely unfamiliar territory when he lined up for his first-ever 1000m race. What followed was nothing short of spectacular. The Kenyan middle-distance star stormed to 2:11.83, smashing a world record that had belonged to Noah Ngeny since 1999.

The previous mark had stood for 27 years, having been set four years before Wanyonyi was even born. Yet on his debut over the distance, Wanyonyi made history look effortless, while Britain's Jake Wightman also produced a superb performance to move into fifth place on the all-time list.

Just eight days later, London delivered another historic moment.

Josh Kerr had spoken openly about his ambitious mission, calling it “Project 222.” On the track, however, ambition turned into reality. The British star produced a stunning 3:42.66 for the mile, finally surpassing Hicham El Guerrouj's legendary 3:43.13 world record.

For decades, El Guerrouj's mark had stood as one of athletics' most iconic standards—a performance that appeared almost immune to the passing of time. Kerr changed that, producing a run that instantly secured its place among the greatest mile performances ever witnessed.

And then, in Buenos Aires on August 23, Yomif Kejelcha returned to the centre of the distance-running world.

Having already played a major role in London's historic marathon, the Ethiopian produced another extraordinary performance, this time over the half marathon. Kejelcha clocked 56:51, becoming the first man in history to break 57 minutes for the distance under valid record conditions.

What made the performance even more remarkable was the manner in which it unfolded. Kejelcha was running alone from around the 7km mark, with no rival beside him and no dramatic sprint finish required. He simply continued driving forward, producing one of the most dominant record-breaking performances ever seen on the roads.

Four historic records.

Four months.

A marathon barrier that had long been considered impossible in official competition. A 1000m record that had survived for 27 years. A mile record that had belonged to one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history. And a half-marathon performance that carried the event into completely new territory.

Distance running is living through a year unlike almost anything the sport has experienced before.

The most remarkable part?

2026 is not over yet.

With four months still remaining, the athletes of this extraordinary era may not be finished rewriting history.

Jimmy Gressier is preparing to take on one of the most intriguing challenges of the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen — competing in both the men’s 5km and half-marathon, with less than a day separating the two races.

The French star is listed for the 5km on September 19 at 2:40 p.m., before returning to action for the half-marathon at 9:45 a.m. the following morning. That gives him just 19 hours and five minutes between races.

It is a remarkable contrast. One race is expected to last less than 13 minutes for Gressier; the other could keep him racing for around an hour. His personal bests tell the same story: 12:51 for 5km, equivalent to roughly 4:08 per mile, and 59:45 for the half-marathon, or about 4:33 per mile.

And the difference in his standing on the two start lists is striking.

In the 5km, Gressier enters as the fastest man in the field of 63 athletes. His sensational 12:51 in Lille in April made him the European record-holder and moved him to within just two seconds of the world record. Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune is the only other athlete entered with a faster mark than 13 minutes, having run 12:54, while no other competitor has broken 13:06 this year.

The half-marathon presents a completely different challenge.

Gressier’s 59:45 personal best places him 13th on the entry list, with 12 athletes boasting faster lifetime performances. Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir leads that group with 58:08, while Sweden’s Andreas Almgren arrives with the European record of 58:41. Gideon Kipkertich Rono has run 58:38, Tadese Worku 58:47, while the field also includes major names such as Joshua Cheptegei, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, Yemaneberhan Crippa and Conner Mantz.

Adding another layer of intrigue, Gressier has not raced a half-marathon in 2026.

Yet this is far from unfamiliar territory for the Frenchman.

Gressier has already demonstrated that he can excel over 21.1 kilometres. His 59:45 came when he won the European half-marathon title in Brussels-Leuven in April 2025, defeating Norway’s Awet Nftalem Kibrab by 1:23. He also finished fifth at the 2023 World Half Marathon Championships in Riga, clocking 59:46.

That makes Copenhagen’s unusual schedule particularly important.

When the inaugural World Road Running Championships were held in Riga three years ago, the elite races were compressed into a single afternoon, making a 5km-and-half-marathon double far more difficult to contemplate. Copenhagen has instead spread the competitions across the weekend, creating a window that allows athletes such as Gressier to attempt something far more ambitious.

He will not be alone. Ten athletes on the final entry lists have entered two races, but Gressier’s combination is arguably among the most demanding because of the intensity with which he attacks both distances.

There is also a powerful reminder of what Gressier can produce when the stakes are highest.

At last year’s World Championships in Tokyo, he produced a breathtaking finish to claim the 10,000m world title, edging Yomif Kejelcha by just 0.06 seconds. His own description of that dramatic finish captured his competitive instinct perfectly: he had targeted a medal, moved into third on the home straight, then surged through second before taking gold.

Now, Gressier is preparing for another test of versatility.

First comes the explosive 5km, where he arrives as the fastest man on paper and one of the biggest threats to the world’s best. Then, barely 19 hours later, comes the half-marathon — a race filled with established road-running specialists and several athletes with considerably faster credentials.

Two races. Two very different challenges. One extraordinary weekend.

In Copenhagen, Jimmy Gressier will find out just how far his remarkable range can take him. 

Freweyni Hailu produced a magnificent display of tactical intelligence and raw finishing speed in Brussels, unleashing a devastating late kick to win the women’s 5000m Diamond League title in 14:35.20.

The Ethiopian star executed the perfect sit-and-kick strategy. Rather than committing herself to the pace early, Hailu remained patiently positioned among the leading group, conserving her energy while waiting for the race to reach its decisive stages.

When the moment finally arrived, she was ready.

Hailu accelerated ferociously over the closing 200 metres, suddenly opening a gap on the field and turning a tightly contested race into a commanding victory. Her rivals simply could not match the change of pace as she powered relentlessly toward the finish line.

Her 14:35.20 was enough to secure the Diamond Trophy and headline an extraordinary Ethiopian clean sweep of the podium. Hailu was followed home by compatriots Amedework Amebaw, who ran 14:36.31, and Freweyni Getachew, who clocked 14:37.09.

The strength of the Ethiopian contingent was further demonstrated by Hirut Meshesha, who finished fifth in 14:37.84. Meshesha narrowly finished ahead of Australia’s Georgia Griffith, who stopped the clock at 14:38.69, with both athletes producing strong performances in a fiercely competitive field.

Meshesha’s fifth-place finish carried an additional reward. She secured the final qualifying spot for the World Ultimate Championships, having been the highest individual in the field who had not already qualified through the World Ranking Quota.

Australia’s Sarah Davies finished fourth in 14:37.47, a season’s best, while the Netherlands’ Maureen Koster was seventh in 14:39.38. Ethiopia’s Tsige Eisa followed in eighth with 14:39.40, while compatriot Frehiwot Alemayo placed ninth in 14:40.27. Australia’s Rose Davies Hall completed the top 10 in 14:40.62, a personal best.

For Hailu, the victory added another impressive chapter to an already distinguished career. The two-time World Indoor Champion has established herself as one of Ethiopia’s leading middle- and long-distance runners, possessing the rare combination of endurance, tactical awareness and explosive finishing speed.

She arrived in Brussels with a formidable 14:18.94 personal best, the second-fastest mark among the competitors. But she did not need to rely on chasing that standard. Instead, she trusted her race instincts, stayed composed and waited until the final moments to unleash the weapon that ultimately decided the contest.

The final 200 metres belonged entirely to Hailu. What had been a battle of patience and positioning suddenly became a demonstration of pure speed, with the Ethiopian pulling away decisively as the finish approached.

Brussels therefore witnessed more than another Diamond League victory. It was a statement from Hailu and a powerful showcase of Ethiopia’s extraordinary depth in women’s distance running.

She sat, she waited, and then she struck. Nobody could live with that kick. 

On 4 September 1972, Kenya once again announced its growing authority on the Olympic athletics stage as the country produced a spectacular one-two finish in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at the Munich Olympic Games.

Kipchoge Keino delivered a commanding performance to capture the gold medal in 8:23.64, setting a new Olympic record in the process. His compatriot Benjamin Jipcho was equally impressive, crossing the line in 8:24.62 to take silver, while Finland’s Tapio Kantanen secured bronze in 8:24.66.

The final brought together a remarkable group of athletes, including Kenya’s defending Olympic champion Amos Biwott. Keino and Jipcho, however, proved too strong when the decisive moments arrived. As the race entered its closing stages, the leading group began to separate, with Keino positioning himself perfectly for the final charge.

Keino then unleashed his finishing speed, pulling clear in the closing metres to secure another Olympic title. Jipcho fought his way into second, completing a memorable Kenyan one-two, while Kantanen held on for third. Biwott finished sixth in 8:33.48, giving Kenya three athletes among the top six finishers.

For Keino, the triumph added another remarkable chapter to an already extraordinary Olympic career. Four years earlier in Mexico City, he had won the 1,500m gold medal and taken silver in the 5,000m. In Munich, he demonstrated his versatility once again by conquering the demanding steeplechase, an event requiring not only endurance and speed but also exceptional rhythm and technique over the barriers and water jump.

Jipcho’s silver medal was equally significant. His performance confirmed that Kenya’s success in the steeplechase was no longer the achievement of a single exceptional athlete. A new generation of Kenyan runners was emerging, capable of challenging the very best on the world’s biggest stage.

The Munich final also carried a sense of continuity for Kenya. Biwott had won the Olympic steeplechase title at the 1968 Mexico City Games, and four years later his compatriots Keino and Jipcho ensured that the gold medal remained in Kenyan hands. It was becoming increasingly clear that the country had discovered a formidable formula for producing world-class steeplechasers.

Beyond the medals, the race helped strengthen Kenya’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in distance running. The combination of natural endurance, disciplined training and extraordinary competitive courage would continue to produce generations of Kenyan steeplechase champions, turning the event into one of the country's most celebrated Olympic disciplines.

The complete Munich 1972 final standings were:

1. Kipchoge Keino — Kenya — 8:23.64 — Olympic Record

2. Benjamin Jipcho — Kenya — 8:24.62

3. Tapio Kantanen — Finland — 8:24.66

4. Bronisław Malinowski — Poland — 8:27.92

5. Dušan Moravčík — Czechoslovakia — 8:29.06

6. Amos Biwott — Kenya — 8:33.48

7. Romualdas Bitė — Soviet Union — 8:34.64

8. Pekka Päivärinta — Finland — 8:37.17

9. Takaharu Koyama — Japan — 8:37.66

10. Mikko Ala-Leppilampi — Finland — 8:41.03

11. Jean-Paul Villain — France — 8:46.72

12. Mikhail Zhelev — Bulgaria — 9:02.59

More than five decades later, the Munich steeplechase remains a landmark moment in Kenyan athletics history. Keino’s golden run, Jipcho’s brilliant silver and Biwott’s determined sixth-place finish combined to create a performance that captured the depth of Kenya’s emerging distance-running strength.

It was not simply a victory for one athlete. It was a statement from a nation — and another unforgettable chapter in Kenya’s extraordinary Olympic athletics legacy.

Faith Cherotich produced a spectacular display of speed and determination in Brussels, storming to victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase and securing her place among the event’s elite with another Diamond League triumph.

The Kenyan star saved her most devastating weapon for the closing stages, unleashing a breathtaking final kick over the last 100 metres to pull decisively away from Winfred Yavi. Cherotich surged clear when it mattered most, crossing the finish line in a superb 8:51.61 to set a new meeting record.

It was a performance built on patience, tactical intelligence and extraordinary finishing speed. Cherotich remained composed through the barriers and water jump before producing a remarkable acceleration in the final straight that left her rivals struggling to respond.

The victory was particularly significant as it made Cherotich a three-time Diamond Trophy champion, adding another prestigious achievement to an already impressive career. Her ability to repeatedly deliver on the biggest Diamond League stage demonstrates the consistency and competitive strength that have made her one of Kenya’s outstanding steeplechase stars.

Behind her, Kenya completed a magnificent 1-2 finish as Doris Lemngole produced a brilliant closing surge of her own. Lemngole powered past Yavi in the final stages to secure second place in a superb personal best of 8:52.86, ensuring that the Kenyan flag flew proudly at the top two positions on the podium.

The result turned the Brussels steeplechase into a celebration of Kenyan strength, with Cherotich and Lemngole occupying first and second, while Yavi was forced to settle for third after being overtaken by the fast-finishing Lemngole.

For Cherotich, however, the spotlight belonged entirely to her. Her meeting-record 8:51.61 was the culmination of a perfectly executed race, capped by a finishing burst that showcased the raw speed and confidence required to dominate one of athletics’ most demanding events.

The Brussels triumph also sends a powerful message ahead of the next major challenges. Cherotich has once again demonstrated that she possesses not only the endurance to survive the gruelling barriers and water jump but also the finishing speed to destroy the opposition in the final metres.

With another Diamond Trophy secured and a meeting record added to her résumé, Faith Cherotich continues to strengthen her reputation as one of the most formidable names in women’s steeplechase.

The history of the men’s half marathon world record is a remarkable journey through more than six decades of distance running, tracing the sport’s transformation from club-level competition to an era of extraordinary professional speed.

The story began in the spring of 1960 in Romford, Essex, where British club runner Brian Hill-Cottingham ran 21.0975 kilometres in 1:07:01, setting the fastest officially recorded time at the distance at the time.

For years, the record progressed slowly. British and American runners dominated much of the early history, with improvements often measured in seconds rather than dramatic leaps. Ron Hill lowered the mark to 1:05:44 in 1965, while Derek Clayton took it down to 1:03:22 in 1967. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the barrier continued to fall as athletes from different nations gradually pushed the limits of what was possible over 21.1 kilometres.

Then came the breakthrough that changed the character of the event.

In 1993, Kenya’s Moses Tanui became the first man to break the one-hour barrier, running 59:47 in Milan. It was a landmark moment for road running. The half marathon was no longer simply another distance on the racing calendar; it had become an event worthy of specialised preparation and elite-level ambition.

Kenya subsequently established a remarkable presence in the record progression. Paul Tergat lowered the record to 59:17 in 1998 before eventually pushing it below 59 minutes with a 59:06 mark later that year. Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese and Kenya’s Sammy Wanjiru continued the progression in the 2000s, with Wanjiru taking the record to 58:33 in 2007.

Tadese reclaimed the record in 2010 with 58:23, but the most dramatic developments were still to come.

In 2018, Kenya’s Abraham Kiptum ran 58:18, only for countryman Geoffrey Kamworor to lower the standard to 58:01 in 2019. A year later, another Kenyan, Kibiwott Kandie, produced one of the greatest breakthroughs in the event’s history, becoming the first man to break 58 minutes with 57:32 in Valencia.

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo then entered the record books, running 57:31 in Lisbon in 2021. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha lowered it by another second to 57:30 in Valencia in 2024.

And then, in 2026, the record progression became a breathtaking battle between two of the finest distance runners of their generation.

Kiplimo reclaimed the world record in Lisbon with 57:20, taking 10 seconds from Kejelcha’s mark. But Kejelcha responded with an extraordinary performance in Buenos Aires on 23 August 2026, stopping the clock at 56:51.

The improvement was staggering—29 seconds faster than Kiplimo’s previous record.

Kejelcha’s 56:51 means he averaged approximately 2:42 per kilometre for the entire 21.0975-kilometre distance, a pace that would have seemed almost unimaginable when Hill-Cottingham first established the record at 1:07:01 in 1960.

From 1:07:01 to 56:51, the progression tells the story of an event that has undergone a remarkable transformation. Training has become more sophisticated, competition has intensified, courses have become faster, and generations of athletes have continued to challenge the boundaries of human endurance and speed.

What began as a record set by a British club runner on a spring day in Essex has evolved into one of the most fiercely contested records in modern distance running.

And with Kiplimo and Kejelcha pushing each other to unprecedented heights, the question is no longer whether the half marathon can go faster.

The question is: how low can the world record ultimately go?

In a race filled with younger runners dressed in tracksuits and equipped with modern racing shoes, 47-year-old Ramabai Ranveer arrived at the starting line in a sari and a pair of simple slippers. What followed was a remarkable display of determination, courage and a mother’s unwavering commitment to her children.

Ranveer, from Ambajogai in Maharashtra’s Beed district, lined up for the three-kilometre Amrit Daud with one clear motivation: to compete for the ₹3,000 first prize and use the money to support her daughters’ education.

The race, organised by a local organisation as part of celebrations marking a milestone for an educational complex in Ambajogai, brought together runners of different ages. The short course stretched from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to Bhagyanagar Chowk, creating an unexpected stage for Ranveer’s extraordinary performance.

Not long after the start, her slippers began slipping from her feet. Rather than stopping, she made a quick decision. She removed them, carried them in her hand and continued running barefoot.

Over the cold road and loose stones, Ranveer kept moving, lifting her sari clear of her legs and steadily overtaking runners around her. With every step, she moved closer to the front until she found herself leading the race.

By the time she reached the finish line, the woman who had started the race in ordinary slippers had become its winner—barefoot, determined and cheered on by spectators who had witnessed an unforgettable effort.

But for Ranveer, the race was about far more than winning.

Her husband died in an accident in Mumbai, leaving her to raise their two daughters. She supported the family through farm work before taking a job as a cook at the academy where her elder daughter studies. Her daily life revolves around the kitchen, household responsibilities and helping her daughters prepare for their examinations.

Her elder daughter, Pooja, who encouraged her mother to enter the race, finished second. Even Pooja did not expect her mother to beat the younger field and claim victory.

Pooja is preparing for police recruitment, while her sister Arti is studying for banking examinations. The academy’s director has also waived Pooja’s fees after witnessing her dedication to her studies.

As Ranveer ran, she said, she could picture her daughters’ future ahead of her. Every painful step became part of a larger purpose: giving her children opportunities she had worked tirelessly to create for them.

And the reward at the finish line became even more meaningful.

Instead of the advertised ₹3,000 first prize, Ranveer received ₹5,000. She immediately knew where the money belonged.

“I’m so happy they gave me ₹5,000 instead of ₹3,000. I bought notebooks and pens for my daughter Pooja. The remaining money is for Arti,” she told The Times of India.

The notebooks and pens have already been bought, turning the prize money into something far more valuable than a race victory.

Ramabai Ranveer may have crossed the finish line first, but her greatest victory was never really about the race. It was about two daughters, two dreams and a mother willing to run barefoot over stones to help them reach their future.

Sometimes, the most powerful running shoes are determination, sacrifice and a mother’s love.

Three extraordinary performances that captivated the athletics world have now been officially ratified by World Athletics, with Jacob Kiplimo, Ja’Kobe Tharp and Emmanuel Wanyonyi securing their places in the history books with remarkable world-record performances.

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo delivered a breathtaking 57:20 at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon on 8 March 2026, producing what was then a spectacular world record. His performance underlined his exceptional ability over the half-marathon distance and further strengthened his status as one of the finest road runners of his generation.

American hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp created his own piece of history in Eugene on 10 June 2026, storming to 12.75 seconds in the 110m hurdles. The sensational performance came with a legal +1.0m/s following wind and established Tharp as the new world record-holder, marking a remarkable breakthrough on the global stage.

Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi completed the trio with a sensational 2:11.83 world record in the 1000m. The Olympic champion produced the performance in Monaco, lowering Noah Ngeny’s long-standing 2:11.96 world record from 1999. It was another extraordinary demonstration of Wanyonyi’s speed, strength and versatility beyond his specialist 800m distance.

What makes the three records particularly special is the variety of disciplines involved. Kiplimo conquered the demanding half marathon, Tharp mastered the technical challenge of sprint hurdling, while Wanyonyi extended his middle-distance brilliance over 1000m. Each performance showcased a different form of athletic excellence, yet all three athletes reached the same extraordinary destination: the world-record books.

Accuracy Note: Kiplimo’s 57:20 has since been surpassed by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who ran 56:51 at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires on 23 August 2026, taking 29 seconds off Kiplimo’s mark. The newer performance was still listed as pending ratification, meaning Kiplimo’s mark had been overtaken on the clock even as his record was among those formally ratified.

The ratification of the Kiplimo, Tharp and Wanyonyi performances nevertheless gives official recognition to three spectacular moments that will remain significant chapters in the 2026 athletics season.

Three athletes. Three extraordinary performances. Three officially ratified world records. From Lisbon to Eugene and Monaco, Kiplimo, Tharp and Wanyonyi have added another unforgettable chapter to the story of athletics

Uganda’s rapidly rising distance-running star Harbert Kibet has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) over the alleged presence and use of prohibited substances.

The 21-year-old is facing allegations involving triamcinolone acetonide and exogenous steroids, with the substances reportedly confirmed through Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) analysis. The development brings an abrupt halt to what had appeared to be the emergence of one of Uganda’s most promising young distance-running talents.

Kibet had enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough in February when he made his road 10-kilometre debut at the 10K Facsa Castellón in Spain. He produced a stunning performance to win in a world-leading 26:39, a time that placed him at No. 4 on the all-time road 10K list at the time and immediately elevated his status in international distance running.

His rapid rise had already earned him opportunities to represent Uganda on the global stage. Kibet competed for his country at the World Championships in Tokyo last year, although he did not progress beyond the heats.

His most recent competition came in May at the Xiamen Diamond League, where he finished 15th in the men's 5000 metres in 13:46.45. He has not competed since that race.

The provisional suspension now casts uncertainty over the immediate future of an athlete whose spectacular 10K performance earlier this year had generated enormous excitement. However, it is important to stress that a provisional suspension is not a final finding of an anti-doping rule violation.

The case will now continue through the appropriate anti-doping process, during which the evidence and circumstances surrounding the allegations will be considered before any final decision is reached.

For Kibet, the development represents a dramatic and unexpected turn in a season that had begun with one of the most remarkable performances in the history of road distance running. The athletics world will now await further developments as the AIU process moves forward.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The Diamond Trophy will be the ultimate prize when three of the world’s leading 3,000m steeplechase stars collide in a highly anticipated showdown at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels.

Kenya’s Faith Cherotich, Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai and Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi headline a competitive field on the opening day of the two-day season finale, with all three targeting a strong finish to their Diamond League campaigns.

With the prestigious Diamond Trophy at stake, the race is expected to provide another compelling chapter in the rivalry between three athletes who have established themselves among the leading figures in women’s steeplechase.

Cherotich will be among the athletes carrying significant expectations into the final. The Kenyan has continued to establish herself at the highest level of the event and will be looking to convert her season-long consistency into a victory on one of the biggest stages of the Diamond League.

She will face a major challenge from Peruth Chemutai, the Olympic champion from Uganda. Known for her championship experience and ability to perform under pressure, Chemutai has the pedigree to remain in contention when the race reaches its decisive stages.

Winfred Yavi will also be central to the contest. The Bahrain representative possesses the speed and strength required to change the complexion of a steeplechase in the closing stages and will be among the leading contenders for the Diamond Trophy.

However, the race is not limited to the three headline names.

Kenya’s Doris Lemngole will look to challenge the established order and push herself into the podium conversation. Her presence adds another dimension to a field in which several athletes could influence the outcome.

Germany’s Olivia Gürth and Lea Meyer, Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani, the United States’ Lexy Halladay and Gabrielle Jennings, Great Britain’s Elise Thorner, and Ethiopia’s Kena Tufa complete the 11-athlete field.

The race could ultimately be decided by positioning, rhythm and the ability to negotiate the barriers efficiently before the final lap. With the Diamond Trophy on the line, every tactical decision is likely to carry added significance.

Full Start List

 1. Marwa Bouzayani — Tunisia

 2. Peruth Chemutai — Uganda

 3. Faith Cherotich — Kenya

 4. Olivia Gürth — Germany

 5. Lexy Halladay — United States

 6. Gabrielle Jennings — United States

 7. Doris Lemngole — Kenya

 8. Lea Meyer — Germany

 9. Elise Thorner — Great Britain

 10. Kena Tufa — Ethiopia

 11. Winfred Yavi — Bahrain

Ultimately, the Brussels final promises to be a closely contested race in which tactics, positioning and the ability to handle the pressure of a high-stakes finish could prove decisive. With several athletes capable of challenging for the podium, the outcome is difficult to predict, setting the stage for an intriguing conclusion to the Diamond League steeplechase season.

Ali Anderson produced one of the most remarkable performances of the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, becoming one of the rare women to break three hours for the marathon while 32 weeks into pregnancy.

The 29-year-old American from Oklahoma crossed the finish line in 2:59:43, completing the 26.2-mile journey from North Sydney to the Sydney Opera House with just 17 seconds to spare under the three-hour barrier. Her performance came as part of a record field of around 40,000 runners and marked her seventh marathon, as well as her fourth World Marathon Major.

Anderson had entered the Sydney Marathon before discovering she was pregnant. Rather than withdraw, she decided to continue preparing for the race after consulting her doctor, who told her there was no medical reason to stop her normal training, provided she was no longer pursuing a personal-best effort.

The Sydney performance was particularly striking when compared with her previous marathon earlier in the year. At the Boston Marathon in April, Anderson was just 13 weeks pregnant when she clocked a spectacular 2:41:58, establishing her personal best. Nineteen weeks later in Sydney, the physical demands of late pregnancy were naturally reflected in her pace, but she still managed to produce a sub-three-hour performance.

Her Boston average pace was approximately 6:11 per mile, compared with around 6:52 per mile in Sydney — a difference of roughly 41 seconds per mile. Yet despite the slower pace and the additional demands of carrying a pregnancy into the third trimester, Anderson maintained enough control to finish inside three hours.

Speaking after the race, Anderson acknowledged that the hills felt considerably tougher because of her increased weight, but said she felt good throughout the marathon and was careful not to push herself beyond her limits.

“I'm obviously heavier, so the hills were a little bit more intense. But I felt really good, and I wasn't pushing too hard,” she said.

There was also another challenge that required careful planning: bathroom stops. With pregnancy adding an extra logistical consideration to an already demanding marathon, Anderson had to manage her race differently from a conventional marathon preparation and execution.

Her decision to race came after seeking medical advice. Anderson said her doctor reassured her that she could continue running, while making it clear that the objective should not be chasing another personal best.

Her performance also comes against a growing body of evidence suggesting that exercise during pregnancy can be safe for many women when appropriately managed. Research has generally found reassuring outcomes for continued physical activity during pregnancy, although evidence specifically examining competitive marathon racing in late pregnancy remains much more limited. Individual medical circumstances can vary significantly, making professional medical guidance essential.

Anderson also had the option of postponing her Sydney Marathon entry. The event's rules allowed pregnant runners to defer their places to 2027, 2028 or 2029 with a doctor's letter. She chose not to take that route.

The Sydney Marathon was therefore more than another race on Anderson's résumé. It became a test of how she could adapt her ambitions to an extraordinary stage of her life — maintaining her passion for distance running while putting performance goals into perspective.

Her original plans extended beyond Sydney. She had another marathon scheduled for December and had hoped to pursue the 2:37:00 qualifying standard for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Her Boston personal best of 2:41:58 currently leaves her 4 minutes and 58 seconds outside that mark.

For now, however, Anderson's achievement in Sydney stands on its own.

A 2:59:43 marathon is impressive under any circumstances. Doing it at 32 weeks pregnant makes Anderson's Sydney Marathon one of the most extraordinary distance-running stories of the year.

At 46, Priscah Cherono showed that age is no barrier to racing with the world’s best.

The Kenyan veteran produced a remarkable performance at the Sydney Marathon, taking the race by the horns from the early stages and, for a remarkable stretch, leading the entire professional women’s field.

Cherono moved into the lead before 5km and by 10km had opened a gap of around 16 seconds on her closest challengers. Rather than settling into the pack, she continued to dictate the pace, remaining at the front until close to the 28km mark.

Then came the most eye-catching moment of her race.

Cherono reached halfway in 67:59, an extraordinary split that works out to roughly 5:11 per mile. It was around 36 seconds faster than her previous standalone half-marathon best, underlining just how aggressively she had approached the opening half of the race.

Her halfway split was also just seven seconds outside the masters world record for the half marathon.

Inevitably, such a demanding opening came at a cost. Cherono struggled to maintain the same rhythm after halfway, covering the second half in approximately 75:50. She eventually slipped down the standings but refused to give up, crossing the finish line in 2:23:49 for sixth place.

And that finish was historic.

Cherono’s time established a new marathon world best for women aged 46 and over, improving on the previous mark of 2:25:07, set by fellow Kenyan Edna Kiplagat last year.

But Cherono’s Sydney story is about far more than one record.

Her athletics journey stretches back three decades. In 1996, at just 16 years old, she won the Kenyan junior 5000m title. That same year, she travelled to Sydney for the World Junior Championships and finished eighth in the 5000m.

Thirty years later, she returned to the same city — this time as a 46-year-old marathoner — and found herself leading a major international marathon against a field filled with younger elite athletes.

That is what makes her performance so remarkable.

Cherono did not simply run a fast marathon for her age. She went to the front, took control of the race, attacked the pace and dared to challenge the clock before eventually paying the price for her ambition.

She may have faded in the closing kilometres, but her boldness produced something far more valuable than a conservative finish: a place in the history books.

From a teenage athlete competing in Sydney in 1996 to a record-breaking masters marathoner dominating the opening half of the Sydney Marathon three decades later, Cherono’s career has come full circle in extraordinary fashion.

The question is simple: if you were 46 and leading a major marathon at halfway on record-setting pace, would you keep pushing for greatness — or back off and protect the finish?

Cristhian Pacheco arrived at the Mexico City Marathon with a remarkably simple piece of equipment on his wrist — and left with one of the biggest victories of his career.

The Peruvian Olympian won the 43rd edition of the Mexico City Marathon on August 30 in 2:10:03, defeating Ethiopia’s Anbesa Lencho Tefaye by more than a minute. Balew Yihunie Derseh completed the men’s podium in 2:11:58.

But it was not only Pacheco’s victory that caught attention.

Photographs from the race appeared to show the 33-year-old wearing a Casio F-91W, one of the most basic digital watches on the market. The inexpensive watch is a striking contrast to the sophisticated GPS devices commonly seen on the wrists of elite marathoners.

There was no GPS route, no live pace screen, no heart-rate monitor and no collection of advanced running metrics. The watch essentially provides the basics: timekeeping, an alarm, a backlight and a stopwatch.

And even that stopwatch is hardly designed with a two-hour marathon in mind.

Its stopwatch function runs for less than an hour before resetting — meaning Pacheco’s winning marathon lasted more than twice as long as the watch’s maximum stopwatch display.

Yet none of that mattered.

Pacheco relied on something considerably more valuable than technology: preparation, experience and an understanding of the demanding Mexico City course.

He remained with the leading group through roughly 25 kilometres before making his decisive move. The altitude and undulating terrain eventually began to take their toll, particularly during the closing stages.

Pacheco later explained that the section beyond 32 kilometres was especially difficult, with the combination of slopes and altitude leaving his legs increasingly heavy. His training, however, had prepared him for precisely that moment.

He held his form when others began to fade and powered clear to claim the victory in 2:10:03.

The performance was also significant because Pacheco is no ordinary marathoner. The Huancayo-born athlete is a three-time Olympian and owns a personal best of 2:07:38. He also holds the Pan American marathon record of 2:09:31, set in Lima in 2019, and won Pan American Games marathon gold in Santiago in 2023.

His Mexico City victory added another major title to an already distinguished career.

The race itself attracted around 30,000 runners, with the 42.195-kilometre course taking competitors from the Ciudad Universitaria area through some of the Mexican capital’s most recognisable avenues before finishing at the Zócalo.

Pacheco’s winning time was not fast enough to threaten the course record of 2:08:23, set by Bolivia’s Héctor Garibay in 2023, but the victory was never really about chasing a record. It was about executing a difficult race at altitude and outlasting a strong international field.

And then came the irony.

For winning the race, Pacheco was awarded $50,000 along with a Garmin smartwatch — a sophisticated piece of technology capable of providing exactly the kind of data his humble Casio does not.

So, on a day when elite running technology was everywhere, the marathon champion apparently needed little more than a simple digital watch and years of hard training.

The Casio may not have told Pacheco his pace, heart rate or position on the course.

It did not need to.

Pacheco already knew how to run.

Some moments in athletics become unforgettable not because of a stopwatch, a medal or a world record, but because they capture the beginning of something much bigger.

More than three decades ago, Liz McColgan returned home to Arbroath carrying one of the greatest achievements of her career. It was 1991, and the Scottish distance-running star had just become a world champion after winning the 10,000m title at the World Championships in Tokyo.

Waiting for her at home was her young daughter, Eilish McColgan. 

A now-iconic photograph from that period shows Liz lifting Eilish in her arms — a simple family moment that, with the benefit of hindsight, looks almost symbolic. The mother had conquered the world stage. Her daughter was still a child, with no way of knowing that one day she would follow the same path and begin rewriting the very records her mother had established.

Liz's Tokyo triumph was accompanied by a Scottish record of 30:57.07 for 10,000m, a remarkable mark that remained untouched for 31 years.

Then, in 2022, history came full circle.

In Hengelo, the daughter finally caught up with the mother.

Eilish McColgan produced a stunning 30:19.02 to smash Liz's Scottish 10,000m record, taking more than 37 seconds off a mark that had survived for three decades. It was more than a fast race; it was one of those rare moments when athletics becomes a family story spanning generations.

But Eilish was not finished.

Later that summer, she lined up for the 10,000m at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with her mother's legacy firmly in view. In front of a home crowd and with Liz watching proudly from the stands, Eilish delivered another extraordinary performance.

She won Commonwealth gold — and in doing so, broke the Commonwealth Games record that had previously belonged to her mother.

The symbolism was extraordinary.

The woman who had once lifted her daughter in celebration was now watching that same daughter stand on the highest step of the podium, wearing gold and surpassing records that had defined her own career.

Mother and daughter had effectively exchanged roles.

Liz had been the record holder.

Eilish became the record breaker.

And what began with a photograph in Arbroath had evolved into one of the most remarkable mother-daughter stories in modern distance running.

Eilish has continued to build on that legacy, pushing the family name to even greater heights and adding major records to her résumé, including reclaiming the European 10km record.

Yet perhaps the most powerful part of the story is not the numbers.

It is Liz's perspective.

“My daughter’s success is 100 times better than my own,” she once said.

That sentence captures something a stopwatch never can.

For an athlete, records eventually fall. Medals are eventually won by someone else. Times that once seemed untouchable become targets for the next generation.

But when the person breaking your records is your own daughter, the story takes on an entirely different meaning.

Liz did not simply leave behind a record for Eilish to chase. She left behind an example.

And Eilish did not simply break her mother's records. She carried the family story forward and created a legacy of her own.

From a mother lifting her young daughter in 1991 to a daughter standing on a Commonwealth podium more than 30 years later, the McColgan story is a beautiful reminder that athletics can connect generations in ways no statistic can fully describe.

Some records are measured in seconds.

Some victories are measured in medals.

But the greatest legacies are measured in generations. 

Jakob Ingebrigtsen is heading to Brussels — and the Norwegian superstar arrives with something to prove.

The two-time Olympic champion has been confirmed for the men’s 1500m at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme on September 4, the opening night of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League Final. With Brussels bringing together the world’s elite for the final battle of the Diamond League season, Ingebrigtsen’s presence immediately adds another layer of intrigue to an already spectacular meeting.

For Ingebrigtsen, however, this is about much more than another Diamond League appearance. It is another important step in a comeback that began under some of the most difficult circumstances of his career.

The Norwegian spent almost 11 months away from competition after an Achilles injury required surgery earlier this year. When he finally returned at the European Championships in Birmingham, there were legitimate questions about how quickly he could rediscover the form that had made him one of the most feared middle-distance runners in the world.

He answered them emphatically.

In his first race of 2026, Ingebrigtsen produced a trademark finishing burst to win the European 5000m title in 13:15.29, securing an extraordinary fourth consecutive European crown in the event. The victory also extended his record as the most successful male athlete in European Athletics Championships history.

But the 1500m has presented a very different challenge.

Ingebrigtsen returned to Diamond League competition over 1500m in Silesia on August 23, finishing fourth in 3:31.19. Four days later in Zürich, he was fifth in 3:32.16. Those performances were far from disastrous for an athlete still rebuilding his racing sharpness, but they also revealed that the explosive rhythm that once made him almost untouchable over 1500m is still being recovered.

Now comes Brussels.

The Belgian capital provides Ingebrigtsen with his third Diamond League 1500m race of the season and perhaps his most intriguing opportunity yet to show how far his comeback has progressed.

There is history here, too. In 2024, Ingebrigtsen won the Brussels Diamond League 1500m in 3:30.37, beating Timothy Cheruiyot and Cole Hocker in a world-class field.

Two years later, he returns to the same stage under completely different circumstances.

This time, he is not arriving as the untouchable favourite who has dominated every major 1500m challenge. He is arriving as a champion rebuilding himself — race by race, lap by lap, and with his body still demanding patience after a serious Achilles setback.

That is precisely what makes Friday night so compelling.

Brussels is the opening night of a two-day Diamond League Final, with the Allianz Memorial Van Damme serving as the season-ending championship meeting for the series.  For Ingebrigtsen, it represents another opportunity to turn encouraging signs into a definitive statement.

Can he rediscover the speed?

Can he unleash the devastating final 300 metres that has become his trademark?

And, most importantly, can he once again look like the Jakob Ingebrigtsen who has ruled the 1500m and 5000m on the biggest stages?

There is another chapter waiting beyond Brussels.

The World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, scheduled for September 11–13, promises another major showdown, with Ingebrigtsen expected to face fierce opposition including Britain’s Josh Kerr. The rivalry between the two has already produced some of the most compelling middle-distance battles of recent years.

But before Budapest, there is Brussels.

One race. One final Diamond League stage. One more opportunity for Ingebrigtsen to remind the athletics world that his comeback is not simply about returning to competition — it is about returning to the very top.

The Norwegian has already shown that the championship instinct remains intact.

Now, he needs the 1500m speed to come back.

And if Jakob Ingebrigtsen finds that missing gear in Brussels, the rest of the middle-distance world may have a serious problem.

One Kenyan. Eight Ethiopians. One enormous challenge.

Agnes Jebet Ngetich is set for one of the most intriguing tests of her 2026 season when she lines up in the women’s 5000m at the Brussels Diamond League Final, facing an Ethiopian contingent that has dominated the qualification standings.

Ngetich has earned her place in the prestigious final with 8 points, placing 10th among the automatic qualifiers. But when the gun fires at Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium, she will find herself surrounded by an extraordinary Ethiopian presence — eight Ethiopians among the 10 automatic qualifiers.

One against eight.

That is the kind of matchup that makes distance running impossible to ignore.

Ethiopia has controlled the qualification battle from the top of the standings, led by Aleshign Baweke, who enters the final with 26 points. Freweyni Hailu follows closely on 25, while Likina Amebaw has 23. Senayet Getachew has 20, with Marta Alemayo completing the top five on 16 points.

Australia’s Rose Davies, on 14 points, is the only non-Ethiopian athlete inside the top six before the Ethiopian charge resumes with Medina Eisa on 13, Hirut Meshesha on 10 and Hawi Abera on nine.

Then comes Ngetich.

The Kenyan arrives with eight points, but her position on the qualification table does not tell the whole story. She has established herself as a formidable force over the longer track distances, and she will have no intention of allowing the Ethiopian numbers to dictate the outcome before the race even begins.

For Ngetich, Brussels is not simply another Diamond League appearance. It is an opportunity to stand alone against overwhelming opposition and attempt to disrupt an Ethiopian celebration.

The field will also feature Belgian wildcard Jana Van Lent, giving the home crowd an additional reason to get behind the race. But the central storyline is unmistakable: Kenya versus Ethiopia, with Ngetich carrying the Kenyan challenge almost single-handedly.

The 2026 Brussels Diamond League Final will take place on September 4–5 at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, bringing together some of the finest athletes from across the season.

Women’s 5000m Qualified Runners

  1. Aleshign Baweke — Ethiopia — 26 points

  2. Freweyni Hailu — Ethiopia — 25 points

  3. Likina Amebaw — Ethiopia — 23 points

  4. Senayet Getachew — Ethiopia — 20 points

  5. Marta Alemayo — Ethiopia — 16 points

  6. Rose Davies — Australia — 14 points

  7. Medina Eisa — Ethiopia — 13 points

  8. Hirut Meshesha — Ethiopia — 10 points

  9. Hawi Abera — Ethiopia — 9 points

  10. Agnes Jebet Ngetich — Kenya — 8 points

  11. Jana Van Lent — Belgium — Wild Card

The numbers make the challenge look almost impossible: eight Ethiopians against one Kenyan. But championship races are not won on qualification tables. They are decided when the athletes step onto the track, the pace rises and every tactical decision begins to matter.

Ngetich will therefore enter Brussels with a simple mission — break through the Ethiopian wall and spoil the party on Kenyan terms.

Can she turn the loneliest lane into the most unforgettable one?

One against eight. Kenya against Ethiopia. Brussels awaits.

At an age when many athletes have long since stepped away from competition, Joan Benoit Samuelson continues to remind the running world that the finish line is never defined by a number.

On Sunday in Lima, Peru, the pioneering American distance runner lined up for the 10K at the 117th KIA Media Maratón de Lima & 10K, and at 69 years old, she crossed the finish line in an impressive 47:49 — averaging approximately 7:43 per mile.

It was another chapter in a remarkable running life that has stretched across more than four decades, taking Samuelson from the roads of New England to Olympic history and, now, to the streets of Lima.

The first Olympic women's marathon champion, Samuelson was in Peru as part of a Nike-backed trip, experiencing a race course that links Lima's historic heart with its modern districts. The event attracted around 21,000 runners, creating a spectacular celebration of running in one of South America's most historic cities.

The half marathon accompanying the 10K carries an extraordinary legacy of its own. First staged in 1909, the race is billed as the world's oldest half marathon, adding another layer of history to Samuelson's appearance.

But Samuelson herself needs little introduction when it comes to the history of women's distance running.

Her career helped redefine what was possible for women on the marathon course. She won the Boston Marathon in 1979 and again in 1983, then produced a stunning American record of 2:22:43 in her marathon debut that same year.

A year later, she reached the summit of the sport.

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Samuelson captured gold in the inaugural women's Olympic marathon, running 2:24:52 and finishing 1 minute 26 seconds ahead of legendary Norwegian Grete Waitz. It was a victory that became one of the defining moments in the history of women's athletics.

And she was far from finished.

In 1985, Samuelson won the Chicago Marathon in 2:21:21, setting another American record that remained untouched for 18 years. Her achievements became part of the foundation upon which the modern era of women's distance running was built.

Yet perhaps the most remarkable part of her story is not what she accomplished four decades ago, but the fact that she is still curious, still competing and still eager to learn from the sport.

Before Sunday's race, Samuelson praised the growing strength of Peruvian distance running, telling local media: “Runners from Peru are starting to show up on the world stage, and they are doing it very well.”

Those words capture something that has defined her journey for generations: a belief that running is not simply about records, medals or victories. It is about discovery, connection and the endless possibility of seeing how far the human spirit can go.

Four decades after making history in Los Angeles, Samuelson is still answering the starting gun.

At 69, the Olympic champion is no longer chasing the clock she once conquered. She is chasing something far more enduring — the joy of running itself.

And in Lima, thousands of runners had the privilege of watching a living legend continue to do what she has always done best: inspire people to keep moving forward.

Budapest is preparing for a sprinting spectacle unlike any other as Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and American superstar Noah Lyles prepare to renew one of the most intriguing rivalries in men’s 100m on the biggest stage of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, set for September 11–13, 2026.

This is more than another race. It is a collision between two global champions who have already established themselves among the leading figures of the modern sprinting era. Seville enters the showdown as the reigning world champion, while Lyles arrives with the credentials of an Olympic champion, setting up a mouthwatering battle for supremacy over athletics’ blue-riband distance.

Both sprinters have earned automatic places in Budapest as designated “Ultimate Stars”, a reward for their previous global gold-medal success. That means they will not need to navigate the qualification route like many of their rivals. Instead, the spotlight will immediately fall on the two superstars when they step onto the track in Budapest.

For Seville, the championship represents another opportunity to demonstrate that his rise to the top of the 100m was no coincidence. The Jamaican has developed into a formidable championship sprinter, combining explosive acceleration with the composure required to deliver when the pressure is at its highest. Now, he faces perhaps his most glamorous challenge yet against one of the most decorated sprinters of his generation.

Lyles, meanwhile, brings a résumé built on championship success, confidence and an ability to thrive under the brightest lights. The American has become one of the sport’s biggest personalities, but his ambitions extend far beyond the spotlight. In Budapest, he will be chasing another major victory and the chance to add the Ultimate Championship crown to his growing collection of global honours.

And there is plenty more at stake than bragging rights.

The three-night Budapest finale will bring together the world’s elite athletes, with the winner of each event set to receive a massive US$150,000 prize and, more importantly, the distinction of becoming an Ultimate Champion.

That combination of prestige and prize money should make the 100m one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the entire championship. With Seville representing Jamaica and Lyles carrying American hopes, every fraction of a second could decide who walks away as the ultimate sprint king.

The rivalry now moves to a new stage, with two champions arriving in Budapest carrying different strengths, different personalities and the same burning ambition: to be the man standing when the fastest race of the night is over.

Seville or Lyles? Jamaica’s reigning world champion or America’s Olympic champion?

When the blocks are set and the gun fires in Budapest, who will have the speed, composure and finishing power to claim the Ultimate 100m crown — Oblique Seville or Noah Lyles? The debate starts now. 

Twenty-six years ago, a 17-year-old Vivian Cheruiyot arrived in Sydney carrying the dreams of a young Kenyan athlete and the promise of a remarkable future.

Today, she returns to the same Australian city as something far greater — an Olympic champion, four-time world champion, world cross-country champion, London Marathon winner, Laureus Sportswoman of the Year and one of Kenya’s most accomplished distance runners.

At 42, Cheruiyot will line up for the TCS Sydney Marathon on Sunday, August 30, completing an extraordinary full circle in a career that has stretched across more than two decades and transformed her from a teenage Olympian into one of the defining figures of her generation.

When Cheruiyot first competed in Sydney at the 2000 Olympic Games, few could have imagined the heights she would eventually reach. Still only 17, she advanced to the 5000m final and finished 14th — an experience that became the first chapter of an Olympic journey that would eventually span four Games.

The years that followed brought an extraordinary collection of victories.

Cheruiyot became world 5000m champion in 2009, then produced one of the greatest championship performances of her career in Daegu in 2011, winning both the 5000m and 10,000m titles while also claiming World Cross Country gold earlier that year. She added another world 10,000m title in Beijing in 2015, taking her tally to four senior world championships.

But the Olympic gold medal remained the one prize missing from her collection.

That changed dramatically in Rio in 2016.

After winning silver in the 10,000m, Cheruiyot returned to the track for the 5000m final and delivered a masterclass in championship racing. She surged away from Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana in the closing stages to win Olympic gold in 14:26.17, finally completing the collection of major titles she had chased for so many years.

“I said I want to win,” Cheruiyot recalled after that historic victory. “This was my fourth Olympics and I’ve been dreaming about this since the very start.”

Her brilliance was not confined to the track.

After moving into marathon running, Cheruiyot established herself among the world’s best over 42.195km. She finished fourth in her London Marathon debut in 2017 before returning the following year to produce a stunning victory in 2:18:31 — a performance that placed her fourth on the world all-time list at the time and remains her marathon personal best.

She also finished runner-up in the New York City Marathon in 2018 and second in London in 2019, further demonstrating that her extraordinary competitive instinct had successfully followed her from the track to the roads.

Away from competition, Cheruiyot’s story has also evolved with her life. She became a mother, welcomed her daughter Arielle in 2021 and returned to competitive racing in 2023. In 2024, she claimed third place at the New York City Marathon, followed by fifth at the 2025 London Marathon.

Now Sydney offers her another opportunity to write her name into the city’s sporting history.

“I look back on my career with pride. I was able to win almost everything and have been at the top for a long time,” Cheruiyot said ahead of her return.

She also remembers the extraordinary generation in which she competed — an era that included global icons such as Usain Bolt, Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar.

“I was running in a great era and had a close-up view of athletes like Usain Bolt setting the world alight,” she reflected.

Yet perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Cheruiyot’s return is not simply the passage of time, but her willingness to keep challenging herself.

She arrives in Sydney having put considerable work into rebuilding her fitness, knowing that the marathon demands something entirely different from the explosive championship races that defined her track career.

“I am very excited to go back to Sydney,” she said. “It has been 26 years since I was there, and a lot has changed in my life since then. I hope to have a good run — I have put in a lot of work to regain fitness and hope my body will stand up to the 42km.”

Twenty-six years ago, Sydney introduced the world to a fearless Kenyan teenager chasing an Olympic dream.

Now, the same city welcomes back a woman who went on to conquer the track, cross country and marathon — and to leave an indelible mark on Kenyan athletics.

From teenage Olympian to Olympic champion. From world champion to marathon winner. From rising talent to mother and enduring icon.

Vivian Cheruiyot has come full circle — and Sydney is once again the stage. 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — August 30, 2026

Sydney is preparing for a spectacular morning of marathon racing as reigning world champions Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya and Alphonce Simbu of Tanzania headline a world-class elite field at the TCS Sydney Marathon on Sunday, August 30.

The race is set to provide another defining moment for Australian distance running, with more than 40,000 participants expected to take on the streets of Sydney and a remarkable collection of elite athletes competing for victory on one of the world's newest Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Jepchirchir and Simbu will bring an added layer of prestige to the occasion as the reigning women's and men's world marathon champions. Their presence ensures that the spotlight will be firmly fixed on Sydney as some of the world's finest distance runners battle for one of the most coveted titles on the international marathon calendar.

There will also be records in the crosshairs. The men's course record stands at 2:06:06, while the women's benchmark is 2:18:22, meaning the quality of the field has created genuine anticipation that both marks could come under threat.

In the men's race, Simbu arrives with considerable confidence and an ambitious target. The Tanzanian produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, holding off Germany's Amanal Petros to claim the world title. With a personal best of 2:02:47, Simbu has the speed, championship experience and belief to challenge the very best, and he has made no secret of his desire to attack Sydney's course record.

However, standing in his way is an elite group led by Ethiopia's Sisay Lemma, whose outstanding 2:01:48 personal best makes him the fastest entrant in the field. A former London and Boston Marathon champion, Lemma brings a wealth of experience at the highest level and will be one of the principal threats to Simbu's ambitions.

Kenya will also have a strong presence, with Timothy Kiplagat and Vincent Ngetich adding further firepower to an already formidable men's lineup.

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline, however, belongs to Ethiopian track star Hagos Gebrhiwet, who is set to make his highly anticipated marathon debut. A former Olympic 5,000m medallist and one of the world's fastest track distance runners, Gebrhiwet has already shown extraordinary endurance over shorter distances, including a 57:41 half-marathon personal best. His transition to the marathon will be closely watched, with fans eager to discover whether his world-class track speed can be converted into success over 42.195 kilometres.

The depth of the men's field is remarkable. No fewer than 25 athletes have broken 2:10, while 19 have already recorded times faster than Sydney's existing course record, setting the stage for a race that could develop into a battle of extraordinary pace and tactics.

The women's contest promises just as much drama, with Jepchirchir leading the way. The Kenyan superstar arrives in Sydney as the reigning world champion and Olympic champion, carrying a 2:14:43 personal best, the fastest among the women entered.

Yet victory will not come easily. Jepchirchir faces a powerful Kenyan challenge from Irine Cheptai, who owns a 2:17:51 personal best and has already established herself as a major force on the international marathon circuit.

Tanzania's Magdalena Shauri, the country's national record holder with a personal best of 2:18:03, will provide another serious threat, while the experienced Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya adds further championship pedigree to an already impressive women's field.

Ethiopian stars Shure Demise and Haven Hailu, alongside Uganda's Stella Chesang, will also be looking to make their mark as the race unfolds through Sydney's iconic streets.

The setting could hardly be more spectacular. Starting in North Sydney, the marathon takes runners across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge before heading towards the unforgettable finish at the Sydney Opera House. With the city providing a breathtaking backdrop, the race has all the ingredients for another historic chapter in its rapid rise on the global marathon scene.

For the elite athletes, however, the beauty of Sydney will quickly become secondary once the gun goes off.

The champions will be chasing victory. The record hunters will be chasing history. And for Gebrhiwet, an entirely new chapter of his career will begin.

Two reigning world champions. Multiple sub-2:05 contenders. A world-class women's field. A highly anticipated marathon debut. And course records that could be under serious threat.

Everything is in place for an unforgettable Sunday in Sydney.

Will Alphonce Simbu turn his ambition into a new course record?

 Can Sisay Lemma's 2:01:48 experience carry him to victory?

Will Hagos Gebrhiwet announce himself as a future marathon superstar?

 And can Peres Jepchirchir add the Sydney Marathon crown to her already extraordinary list of achievements?

Sydney is ready.

The champions have arrived. The records are waiting. The stage is set for a spectacular showdown.

Two Canadian distance running stalwarts will make their marathon debuts at the 2026 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon October 18. Both make their homes in the London area of southwestern Ontario.

The event is a World Athletics Elite Label race and also serves as the official Athletics Canada Canadian Marathon Championships.

Connor Black and Jeremy Coughler are former training partners and Canadian championship medalists over 10,000m and cross country. They have followed different paths since the retirement of their coach, Dave Mills, although they occasionally meet for long runs while preparing for Toronto.

Coughler still follows a program designed by Mills—a special exception made by his former coach—while Black has worked with two-time Canadian Olympic marathoner Reid Coolsaet for the past two years. Their approaches to the Toronto race could hardly be more different.

Black, who lives in London—known as “The Forest City”—sees his marathon debut as an important step toward a possible challenge for Canada’s 2028 Olympic team.

“I am 30 years old and I am not making money in the sport, but I still have goals,” Black declares. “My final goal would be to try and make an Olympic team, and I don’t think it’s feasible as an unsponsored track runner targeting the 5K or 10K.

“The marathon is a more even playing field. I can get into any marathon I want, within reason. There are 80 spots in the Olympics. So, if I am going to give it one last shot, it has to be in the marathon.”

At the 2025 Project 13.1 Half Marathon in Congers, New York, Black ran a personal best of 1:03:34 in his first race at the distance. Until then, he had competed primarily over 5,000m and 10,000m. In 2022, he won the Canadian Cross Country Championships.

Black is a secondary school teacher but remains classified as “Long Term Occasional,” meaning he moves from school to school wherever there is an opening.

“Last year I was at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute, which, funnily enough, was where Dave taught for 10 or 15 years,” Black says. “I taught phys ed and math. I can also teach English as a Second Language and biology. I am kind of a Swiss Army knife.”

As he increases his training load for Toronto, completing most of the work by himself, he admits he has reservations about returning to work.

“I am quite nervous to resume teaching,” he reveals. “Recently, my mileage has gone up. When you are starting your build, you are tired. It has been nice having the summer off and being able to focus on training.

“I used to believe you could train like a professional and have a full-time job. I think it’s possible, but if you want to run 200 kilometres a week for the marathon, it is definitely easier and probably better for your performance if you don’t have to work full time.”

Meanwhile, Coughler and his wife, Emma, are chiropractors and partners in Re-Charge Health and Wellness in London’s east end. They are also the parents of a young son, Otto, which means managing their time carefully.

“My wife and I split the work schedule,” Coughler, 30, explains during a day off. “I work Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so I try to do workouts on my days at home—Mondays and Wednesdays.

“If I have something first thing at 7 or 8 a.m., I do a run and then a shakeout between patients or after work. It’s not too bad.”

Running remains important to Coughler, but it is now one of several priorities. He estimates he is running up to 110 kilometres a week, similar to the volume he maintained when finishing third at both the 2023 and 2024 Canadian 10K Championships in Ottawa. He also won the Canada Running Series’ Beneva Spring Run-Off 8K four consecutive years between 2022 and 2025.

Although that mileage is well below what many elite marathoners run, Coughler set a half-marathon personal best of 1:04:33 earlier this year at the Project 13.1 Half Marathon in New York State. The performance earned him eighth place in a strong field. He admits his attitude toward running has changed.

“It’s a shift mentally because I have so much other stuff going on,” he explains. “I am trying to view running as something I do because I love it rather than because it’s my whole life.

“When I was at Indiana University, running was everything. When you run well, it’s great, but when you are not running well, it starts eating you alive.”

With the support and encouragement of Mills, they have mapped out a plan they hope will see Coughler finish his debut in the 2:14 to 2:16 range. He also intends to run more marathons in the future.

“It’s nice knowing there will be a bunch of other Canadian guys who can run around the same time, and that will make it deeper,” he says. “At the front, there are always good Kenyans and Ethiopians running fast. Even if there are a bunch of guys running between 2:12 and 2:20, it would be great.”

The race’s proximity to his home in Thamesford—15 minutes from his practice and about a two-hour drive from Toronto—means Emma, Otto and his parents can accompany him on race weekend. It is one reason he chose the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon for his debut.

Coughler is also familiar with the first half of the course, having finished third in the Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon a year ago. Runners in both events follow the same route until the 20-kilometre mark.

Between now and race day, there are many kilometres to be covered. Subject to their schedules and traffic conditions, the two London-area runners will reunite for some workouts.

If all goes well, they will arrive at the starting line ready to join the long list of Canadians who have successfully made the move to the classic marathon distance.

KATA had assembled 30 running camps and planned to double that number. Its model used repayable, interest-free startup financing and potato farming to create a self-sustaining national network—but the expected repayments never materialized.

By Robert Kibet

Could a network of 60 self-supporting training camps have transformed life for 1,800 promising Kenyan runners?

That was the vision behind the Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) programme created by Bob and Catherine Anderson.

KATA had assembled 30 running camps and planned to expand to at least 60. At 30 athletes per camp, the completed network could have provided accommodation, food and high-level training for approximately 1,800 runners at one time.

The objective was not simply to produce champions. KATA sought to improve daily living and training conditions for developing athletes while strengthening grassroots coaching.

The programme was ambitious, but it was not intended to depend permanently upon money from the Andersons.

(These eight photographs were among more than 5,000 images sent to KATA founder Bob Anderson and his team as evidence of how the programme was progressing.

The photographs showed why individual coaches and camp operators believed they should receive interest-free loans and become part of the KATA family. Others documented the development of the camps, potato farming activities and the required 10-kilometre time trials held every two months.

In September 2025, athletes from most of the 30 KATA camps travelled to Thika to compete in the KATA Double Road Race, where KSh100,000 in prize money was awarded. At that point, the programme appeared to be working as planned.

The situation changed shortly afterward. Potato harvests were completed and crops were sold, but despite repeated explanations and delays, very little of the money collected was returned to KATA.)

How a camp was supposed to become self-supporting

KATA’s financial model began with two interest-free loans.

The first supplied the capital required to open a running camp. An approved operator could receive as much as KSh500,000 for rent, beds, mattresses, furniture, food and other startup needs.

That money remained a debt to KATA. It was not a gift, grant or donation.

A second interest-free loan financed potato cultivation at a projected cost of approximately KSh100,000 per acre.

The plan called for the harvest revenue to retire both debts—the farming advance and the camp-establishment advance—before the remaining proceeds were used locally.

Potatoes were chosen because they are Kenya’s second-most important food crop after maize and form an industry worth an estimated US$400 million to US$500 million annually.

KATA’s working projection placed gross sales from a successful acre at about KSh400,000. This was a programme estimate rather than a guaranteed or national average result. Actual returns depended upon production, disease, weather and selling prices.

The projected economics of three acres illustrate the plan:

Estimated cultivation loan: KSh300,000;

Projected gross sales: KSh1.2 million;

Repayment of cultivation financing: KSh300,000;

Repayment of camp startup financing: up to KSh500,000; and

Potential balance for athletes and the next season: approximately KSh400,000.

Under this model, one strong three-acre harvest could potentially clear the money advanced to establish the camp and grow the crop. The following season could then help pay for food, housing and training while keeping the farm productive.

“We did not give away startup money,” Anderson said. “We provided interest-free loans that had to be repaid. The potatoes were the engine intended to repay both loans and create continuing income for the athletes.”

From 30 camps to a potential 60

Bob and Catherine Anderson say they invested more than KSh42 million in the wider programme.

Approximately KSh36 million was provided as interest-free financing, with more than KSh6 million spent on Kenyan independent contractors and related operational expenses.

The Andersons did not form a Kenyan company. Their California-based operation directed the programme and retained independent contractors in Kenya for coordination and monitoring.

If 75 percent of participating coaches, farmers and operators had repaid their loans, Anderson believes KATA would have had enough revolving capital to strengthen the 30 camps and expand to 60.

“The money was supposed to keep moving,” he said. “A repayment from one harvest could help establish or strengthen another camp. We would not have needed to start again with new outside money every season.”

A 60-camp network supporting 1,800 runners could also have developed a significant voice within Kenyan athletics.

“KATA was not created to oppose Athletics Kenya,” Anderson said. “But an independent programme improving conditions for 1,800 athletes would naturally have carried influence.”

Anderson has wondered whether that potential might have concerned people who wanted to control opportunities within the sport. He emphasizes that he has no evidence Athletics Kenya attempted to undermine KATA.

Charles Ngeno and claims of high-level access

While developing two proposed KATA camps, coach Charles Ng’eno repeatedly portrayed himself to Anderson as closely connected to leading figures in Kenyan athletics.

On July 22, 2025, Ng’eno wrote:

“I need to brief you tomorrow about good news we discussed with AK PRESIDENT about KATA.”

The message did not explain the “good news,” and no response from the Athletics Kenya president has been provided to confirm that discussion.

Ng’eno also sent photographs appearing to show him attending Athletics Kenya functions, including one in which he sat behind an Athletics Kenya nameplate and another showing him addressing a gathering.

The photographs indicate attendance at athletics-related events. They do not prove that AK supported KATA or authorized Ng’eno to speak on its behalf.

Ng’eno also supplied Anderson with messages addressed to senior athletics official Barnabas Korir.

In one, Ng’eno told Korir:

“You expressed happiness with KATA.”

He further attributed to Korir statements about protecting KATA because of its importance in empowering young people.

The screenshots do not show Korir confirming the statements. It remains unclear whether all the communications were sent, received or answered.

Prominent athletes and coaches

Ng’eno strengthened the appearance of influence by invoking other respected names.

In June 2025, he sent Anderson a message addressed to Faith Kipyegon in which he described himself as her “grassroots coach.” The screenshot contains no response from Kipyegon and does not independently establish the extent of Ng’eno’s early coaching role.

Ng’eno later said prominent coach Bernard Rono had consulted him about KATA and joined the programme.

“We are glad to have him with us at KATA,” Anderson replied. “We have a strong group of operators!”

Anderson says the combined effect of the messages and AK photographs was significant.

“Charles made it appear that he was plugged into the highest levels of Kenyan athletics,” Anderson said. “That gave me confidence that he could build successful camps and bring respected people into the KATA network.”

Whether Ng’eno accurately described those relationships remains unconfirmed.

Two camps appeared to be taking shape

Ng’eno supported his requests for money with budgets, reports, photographs and videos.

After confirming receipt of KSh40,000 in June 2025, he sent a photograph of a truck at a residential property and said he was installing items at the camp.

He later requested financing for nearby land, reported renting a house in Nakuru and sought money for beds and mattresses.

On August 3, Ng’eno submitted figures for the proposed Olenguruone and Nakuru camps. His presentation referred to a combined KSh1.3 million budget and reported KSh531,400 used for farming and camp expenses.

The KSh1.3 million was the proposed allocation—not the amount Anderson ultimately transferred.

Anderson says Ng’eno actually received KSh1,077,500. The funding was intended to establish two camps and cultivate six acres.

A video Ng’eno sent on August 5 appeared to show young athletes training indoors.

“These are the real stars,” he wrote, predicting they could reach the next World Cross Country Championships.

The material led Anderson to believe the camps were progressing.

“I could see athletes training and equipment apparently arriving,” he said. “It looked as though the programme was creating exactly what we intended. 

Red flags halted further funding

Ng’eno continued presenting expansion plans, but promised repayments did not arrive.

In November 2025, he told Anderson nearly KSh600,000 would be paid before the end of December, followed by another KSh200,000 in January or February.

Ng’eno also referred to a plot of land allegedly worth KSh1.5 million that could be sold to clear the debt.

At the same time, he continued seeking additional money. When an account was restricted because no repayment had arrived, Ng’eno suggested that funds be sent through his wife’s M-Pesa number or another person.

Anderson refused to bypass the restriction.

In January 2026, Ng’eno made another commitment:

“Yes Bob, I need to start with 400,000 ksh.”

He said he was responsible and “must do payments.” He also attributed the delay to money spent constructing a residential building that would become a KATA camp.

Anderson says the KSh400,000 was not paid.

Ng’eno later attempted to persuade him to finance another six acres with approximately KSh600,000 in additional interest-free funding.

Anderson declined.

“I probably would have sent more if the promised repayments had started,” he said. “Fortunately, each missed date raised another red flag. I stopped after KSh1,077,500.”

What is known—and what remains unverified

The available communications show that Ng’eno:

Claimed to have discussed KATA with the Athletics Kenya president;

Attributed favorable statements about KATA to Barnabas Korir;

Presented himself as connected to leading athletes and coaches;

Supplied budgets and reports for two camps;

Sent images appearing to show camp development and athletes training;

Continued seeking new funding; and

Made several substantial repayment promises.

They do not establish whether Athletics Kenya endorsed or opposed KATA, whether the named officials made the statements attributed to them or how all the money was ultimately used.

There is no current evidence that Athletics Kenya developed or participated in a plan to stop KATA.

There is evidence that Ng’eno’s representations increased Anderson’s confidence in the camps and the wider programme.

Questions for Ng’eno and Athletics Kenya

Ng’eno should be asked:

What did he discuss with the Athletics Kenya president?

Did Barnabas Korir make the statements attributed to him?

What official athletics positions did Ng’eno hold?

How many athletes lived and trained at the two camps?

Was the residential building completed and operated as a KATA camp?

How was the KSh1,077,500 used?

What income was produced by the six acres?

Why were the promised repayments not made?

Did he own the reported KSh1.5 million property?

Athletics Kenya and the officials named in Ng’eno’s messages should have an opportunity to clarify what they knew about KATA and whether their positions were represented accurately.

Grand—but not impossible

KATA’s vision was undeniably large: 60 camps capable of supporting 1,800 runners.

Its financial premise was that repaid loans would become revolving capital. Each successful camp and harvest would help finance the next cycle of athlete support.

“The vision may have been grand, but it was not impossible,” Anderson said. “We already had 30 camps. What failed was the repayment system and our reliance on reports that were not independently verified.”

Whether Ng’eno truthfully described his Athletics Kenya discussions remains unanswered. Whether AK understood KATA’s potential scale is also unclear.

What is clear is that the programme was not offering free startup money. Every camp and agricultural advance was an interest-free loan that had to be returned.

Without those repayments, the revolving system stopped—and the planned network of 60 camps has never became a reality.  If only most of the KATA operators had paid back their loan! "When they do things could still get back on track," says Bob Anderson. 

The Sydney Marathon was meant to celebrate one of Australia’s most iconic cities. Instead, its 2026 finisher’s medal has unexpectedly brought a little piece of Munich into the spotlight.

The back of the medal features a collection of landmarks designed to represent Sydney and the 42.2-kilometre journey runners will take through the city, including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. But alongside those unmistakably Australian symbols is a rather surprising addition: Munich’s Allianz Arena.

The stadium was supposed to represent Sydney’s Allianz Stadium in Moore Park. Instead, the medal designers somehow used the distinctive home of Bayern Munich in Germany.

The mistake was spotted shortly after the medal was unveiled and quickly spread across social media before attracting international media attention. With the race now just days away, there is no time to redesign and replace the medals already produced for the event.

Organisers have acknowledged the mistake, describing it as an “unfortunate error” and making clear that the medals will still be presented to runners on race day.

Rather than attempting to hide the blunder, Sydney Marathon has chosen to embrace the unexpected twist, saying the medal is now “a little more unique.” Their response ended on a light-hearted note: “You noticed. We noticed. We’re human.”

And while the incorrect stadium may have created an embarrassing moment for the organisers, it has also given the 2026 medal something no previous Sydney Marathon medal has had — a story of its own.

That story will be carried around the necks of approximately 40,000 runners when the Sydney Marathon takes place on Sunday, August 30.

The timing could hardly be more significant for the race. Sydney is only in its second year as an Abbott World Marathon Major, having joined the prestigious series in 2024 alongside Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. The event has rapidly established itself as one of the world’s most sought-after marathons, with more than 123,000 runners entering the ballot for the 2026 race, a 56 percent increase from the previous year.

For those 40,000 successful entrants, the medal will ultimately represent something far more important than a design mistake. Behind every medal is months of preparation, early mornings, long training runs, sacrifices and the determination required to cover 42.2 kilometres.

And when the runners finally reach the finish line at the Sydney Opera House, they will receive a medal that was intended to tell the story of Sydney — but accidentally tells a small story about Munich too.

What began as an embarrassing design error may now become one of the most memorable quirks in Sydney Marathon history. Years from now, runners may look back at their 2026 medals not simply as souvenirs of finishing one of the world’s major marathons, but as unusual collector’s pieces from the year Sydney accidentally put Munich on its medal.

A Sydney marathon. A Munich stadium. One unforgettable medal.

The World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, have brought together thousands of athletes from around the world, but few have captured the imagination quite like Thailand’s Sawang Janpram.

At 106 years old, Janpram is the oldest competitor at the 2026 championships, where more than 11,000 participants from 106 countries have gathered for a celebration of athletics across generations.

Yet Janpram’s remarkable story is not simply about longevity. It is about a decision he made late in life — one that transformed his health, his outlook and ultimately made him an international masters athlete.

A former school principal and teacher, Janpram did not spend his retirement preparing for athletics competitions. He only began exercising regularly at the age of 80, after seeing people around him become increasingly inactive and bedridden as they grew older. His daughter, Siripan, who is now 74 and continues to accompany him as a training partner, also played an important role in encouraging an active lifestyle.

What began as a way of protecting his health eventually became something far greater.

Janpram started competing in athletics at 97, proving that there is no universally prescribed age at which a new chapter has to end. Since then, he has travelled internationally to compete and has accumulated 78 medals, according to reports ahead of the Daegu championships.

His training is remarkably simple. He walks, runs short distances and practises throwing events including the javelin, discus and shot put. His routine is not built around sophisticated facilities or elaborate technology. It is built around consistency.

That consistency produced one of his most memorable performances last year.

At the 2025 World Masters Games in Taiwan, Janpram competed at 105 and won gold in four events in the 100-plus age category. He completed the 100 metres in 38.55 seconds and also won gold in the shot put, discus and javelin. He was the only competitor entered in his age group, but he still had to step onto the track and complete each event.

Now, at 106, he has returned to the international stage once again.

In Daegu, Janpram is competing in the discus and javelin. Ahead of his first event, he was seen at Daegu Stadium walking and jogging alongside his daughter despite temperatures exceeding 36°C. Asked about his condition, he simply indicated that he had slept well and felt ready for competition.

His presence is a powerful reminder of what masters athletics represents. The championships are not solely about records, medals or finishing times. They are also about participation, resilience and the freedom to keep challenging yourself long after conventional sporting careers have ended.

Janpram represents the extreme end of that philosophy.

At an age when most people have long since stepped away from organised sport, he is still travelling across borders, warming up on an international championship track and preparing to compete alongside athletes many decades younger than himself.

His story began with a simple fear — the fear of losing mobility and independence in old age. Sixteen years after he first entered competitive athletics, that decision has taken him onto one of the world's biggest masters stages.

Sawang Janpram did not wait for youth to begin his athletic journey.

He began at 80.

He started competing at 97.

And at 106, he is still showing up.

That may be his greatest victory of all.

British athletics is mourning the loss of one of its most accomplished steeplechasers, Maurice Herriott, who has died aged 86 following a short illness.

Herriott leaves behind a remarkable legacy, highlighted by his unforgettable silver-medal performance in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Competing for Great Britain, he clocked 8:32.4 to finish second behind legendary Belgian runner Gaston Roelants, who won in an Olympic record of 8:30.8.

It was a performance that underlined Herriott’s extraordinary determination. He was not a full-time professional athlete. Away from the track, he worked at the Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) motorcycle factory, combining demanding full-time employment with the training required to compete at the highest level of international athletics. Team GB notes that he held down a full-time job on the BSA motorcycle production line while competing at the Olympics.

His Tokyo silver was the defining moment of a career built on consistency and resilience. In the Olympic final, Roelants established a commanding lead, but Herriott produced a powerful finish to move into second and close the gap considerably. He finished only 1.6 seconds behind the Belgian, with Soviet runner Ivan Belyayev taking bronze in 8:33.8.

Herriott had already established himself as a dominant force on the British scene. He won an astonishing eight AAA 3000m steeplechase titles, beginning with his first championship in 1959 and then claiming seven consecutive titles from 1961 through 1967.

His achievements also earned recognition beyond the medal table. In 1963, Herriott became the first British Athletics Writers' Association Male Athlete of the Year, an honour that reflected the esteem in which he was held during the peak of his career. He was also voted the award again in 1965.

His international career extended beyond Tokyo. Herriott had won Commonwealth Games silver in the steeplechase at Perth in 1962 and later represented Great Britain again at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he reached the heats.

Born on 8 October 1939 in Great Wyrley, South Staffordshire, Herriott represented Birmingham-based Sparkhill Harriers and remained closely associated with the club, eventually becoming an honorary lifelong member.

His career is a reminder of an era when elite athletes could combine extraordinary sporting ambition with demanding working lives. Herriott did not simply win medals; he built a legacy through years of discipline, consistency and determination.

The British athletics community now says goodbye to a man who stood among the country's finest steeplechasers and whose silver medal in Tokyo remains one of the memorable achievements of British distance running.

Maurice Herriott — Olympic medallist, eight-time AAA champion and pioneer of British steeplechasing — will be remembered with great respect.

Herriott leaves behind an enduring legacy in British athletics, remembered not only for his Olympic silver medal but also for his remarkable consistency, determination and contribution to steeplechasing. He was 86.

Ugandan long-distance runners have emerged from the shadows of their legendary East African neighbours to earn distinction at the highest level.

Now Stephen Kissa will represent his nation at the 2026 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 18 against a strong contingent of Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes. The event is once again a World Athletics Elite Label race.

Kissa set a Ugandan national record of 2:04:48 when he finished second in his 2022 marathon debut in Hamburg. That record was only broken this year. He was subsequently selected for Uganda’s 2023 World Championships marathon team, finishing fifth on the streets of Budapest.

He has also represented his country twice at the Olympics and competed at the World Cross Country Championships. With such experience, the 37-year-old is intent on challenging for Toronto’s $25,000 Canadian first-place prize.

“When I come to Toronto, I will do my best,” he declares with a broad smile. “I will be really happy if I can run 2:03 or 2:04.

“With training, we have been comparing the past to now, and we have come up with a solution. We do long runs and tempo runs ranging from 25km and 28km to 30km and up to 40km. I am running around 120km a week but will go up closer to 200km.”

Kissa is not the first of his compatriots to compete in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Stephen Kiprotich, the 2012 Olympic champion, finished seventh in the 2018 race. Kiprotich remains a national hero in Uganda, and his success has contributed significantly to the nation’s emergence as a distance-running power.

“I was really inspired a long time ago by Stephen Kiprotich,” Kissa admits. “He did some tremendous work, and I can say he is our mentor. We really respect him.

“He has given me advice. He told me, ‘Our sport is not a one-day journey. It is a long journey that takes a lot of patience and commitment. If you have commitment, patience and work hard, you will go far.’”

Kiprotich has been an occasional and welcome visitor to the training camp in Kapchorwa that Kissa calls home for most of the year. It sits at an altitude of 2,500 metres, or 8,200 feet.

From Monday through Saturday, Kissa trains there with a group that includes two-time Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, 2023 world marathon champion Victor Kiplangat and 2022 Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai.

The centre was built by their management company, Global Sports Communications, with a contribution from Cheptegei. The athletes return home to their families on Saturday evenings.

Kissa lives in Kapchorwa’s town centre, about 14 kilometres away, in an area dominated by Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano estimated to be 24 million years old. He lives there with his wife and two young children.

“Right now they are at school,” he says of his children. “They are about to come home for a holiday. That’s when I will meet them. At school, they concentrate on their studies unless there is a problem. Then they will call me.”

The training camp includes a dormitory, dining room, kitchen and recreation room where the group gathers to watch sports. The recent FIFA World Cup generated great interest, and Kissa admits enjoying the play of Spanish winger Lamine Yamal. When asked what he does to relax, he smiles.

“I can play pool. I like that,” he says, adding with a laugh, “Not for money. We also play cards.

“Sometimes, when I have time, I cook chapati. It is made from wheat flour. We also have potatoes and ugali, which is made from corn.”

The group holds a prayer before each workout. Victor Kiplangat is an assistant pastor at a nearby church called Temple of the Most High God, but the others, including Kissa, also take turns leading prayers.

For more than a decade, the group was coached by Addy Ruiter. After the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Dutchman returned home. He continues coaching the athletes remotely through WhatsApp, with an on-site team led by fellow Dutchman Roy Hoornweg.

“Kapchorwa is a hilly, mountainous area,” Kissa explains. “The tempo runs are done on a plateau where it is flat. Our training differs depending on the location. You can’t do long runs in the hilly area, so we go to the plateau. We also have flatlands where we can do long runs and tempo runs.”

Kissa understands that he is approaching the later stages of his running career and must look toward life beyond competition. Still, he laughs when asked how many more years he can compete.

“Maybe 10 years! I will be happy if I can run 2:03 or 2:04,” he says.

“If Toronto goes really well, I will look to invest in assets in town, build apartments and start a business. I can really say thank you for inviting me to Toronto. If it goes well, I will be very proud.”

Kissa won’t be the only Ugandan presence at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. At the Runner’s Expo on October 16 and 17 at the Better Living Centre, a Uganda Tourism booth will offer information about the Mount Rwenzori Marathon and Great Lakes Safaris.

On the starting line, Kissa can be confident that he has the international experience and talent to compete with anyone. As for his ultimate goals, he is succinct.

“I pray that in the years to come I will stand on the podium at the Olympics or World Championships,” he says. “That is what I am really looking forward to.”

A victory in Toronto would bolster that ambition.

The World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, are only three days old, but the competition has already produced a remarkable display of speed, endurance and longevity, with four world records shattered and another 10 championship records rewritten.

The record-breaking action began on the opening day when the United States’ Richard Lee produced a stunning performance in the M65 2,000m steeplechase. Lee stopped the clock at 7:09.29, winning gold while lowering the existing world record in the age group.

Day two proved even more dramatic, delivering three world records in quick succession.

Great Britain’s John Wright was first to strike, clocking 12.03 seconds to win the M65 100m. In doing so, the veteran sprinter improved his own world record of 12.15, set in 2024, underlining his remarkable consistency at the highest level of masters competition.

Only minutes later, the United States’ Kenton Brown produced another record-breaking run in the M80 100m. Brown crossed the line in 14.16, taking 0.05 seconds off his own previous world record of 14.21, which he established last year.

Thailand then added another name to the growing list of Daegu record-breakers. Somsanga Boonnok won the W70 80m hurdles in 15.61, breaking a world record that had belonged to Austria’s Marianne Maier since 2016.

Four world records in just three days tell only part of the story. Across the championships, 10 championship records have already fallen, highlighting the extraordinary standard being produced by athletes competing across the masters age groups.

Canada has also made its presence felt on the medal podium. Johana Flipsen captured W70 10K race walk gold in 1:04:18, while Vern Christensen won the M85 2,000m steeplechase in 14:48.25.

Canadian athletes have continued to add to the medal tally, with Lynne Wawryk Epp taking bronze in the W70 800m in 3:21.04, while Vanessa Johnson secured silver in the W40 race walk after finishing in 1:05:52.

But one of the most intriguing storylines to watch as the championships continue belongs to Canada’s Wendy Alexis.

At 71 years old, Alexis has arrived in Daegu with a world record firmly within reach. She is just 0.04 seconds away from the W70 100m world record of 14.37 seconds, and after targeting the championship throughout the season, she now has the opportunity to turn that ambition into history.

Alexis will contest her semifinal on Tuesday morning, with the final scheduled for later that evening.

With four world records already gone, 10 championship records broken and some of the world’s finest masters athletes still waiting to take to the track, Daegu is proving that age is no barrier to extraordinary performance.

And if the opening three days are anything to go by, the record books may have plenty more rewriting to come.

Amanda Marie Grefstad has written her name into Norwegian athletics history with a remarkable performance at the Folksam Grand Prix in Gothenburg, where she shattered the national women’s 1000m record in spectacular fashion.

Grefstad stopped the clock at 2:37.19, producing a sensational run that not only delivered a Norwegian record but also brought down a mark that had stood untouched for an astonishing 45 years.

The significance of the performance goes far beyond the numbers. For nearly half a century, the old national record had remained one of the most enduring benchmarks in Norwegian middle-distance running. Now, Grefstad has finally rewritten the record books, replacing a piece of athletics history with her own name.

Her 2:37.19 performance was a powerful demonstration of speed, strength and determination, highlighting the progress she has made and the growing level of Norwegian middle-distance running.

Breaking a record that has survived for 45 years requires something special, and Grefstad delivered exactly that when it mattered most. Her run in Gothenburg marks a defining moment in her career and gives Norwegian athletics another exciting name to watch.

With the record now hers, Grefstad has opened a new chapter in the event’s history. The old mark may have lasted for four and a half decades, but the future now belongs to a new generation.

2:37.19. A new Norwegian record. A historic breakthrough. And a performance that will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Amanda Marie Grefstad has arrived in the record books — and Norwegian athletics has a new 1000m record holder to remember.

Paris, France — August 24, 2003.

The Stade de France witnessed far more than a World Championship 10,000m final that night. It witnessed the beginning of a new era.

For years, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia had stood virtually untouchable at the summit of world distance running. He arrived in Paris as a two-time Olympic champion and four-time World Champion over 10,000m, carrying the reputation of a man who had dominated the track for much of the previous decade.

But waiting in the same race was a 21-year-old Ethiopian whose running style looked remarkably familiar.

His name was Kenenisa Bekele.

The younger Ethiopian had already shown flashes of extraordinary potential, but Paris was where potential became reality.

As the race unfolded, Gebrselassie ran aggressively, repeatedly applying pressure in an attempt to break the field and shake off his young compatriot. One by one, the world's best distance runners were dropped, including a strong Kenyan contingent.

Yet Bekele refused to disappear.

He stayed glued to Gebrselassie's shoulder, matching every surge and every change of pace. Behind them, Sileshi Sihine of Ethiopia remained in contention, setting the stage for what would ultimately become a historic Ethiopian sweep.

Then came the decisive moment.

With only 200 metres remaining, Bekele made his move.

Gebrselassie, famous for his devastating finishing speed, tried to respond. But this time, there was no answer. Bekele powered away down the final straight, creating daylight between himself and his legendary compatriot.

The changing of the guard had arrived.

Bekele crossed the finish line in 26:49.57, becoming the first athlete to break 27 minutes at these World Championships and setting a championship record.

Behind him, Gebrselassie finished second in 26:50.77, while Sihine completed an extraordinary Ethiopian clean sweep with 27:01.44.

It was not simply a victory for Bekele.

It was the moment the young star announced that he was ready to inherit the throne.

Paris 2003 — Men's 10,000m Final

1. Kenenisa Bekele — Ethiopia — 26:49.57 CR

2. Haile Gebrselassie — Ethiopia — 26:50.77

3. Sileshi Sihine — Ethiopia — 27:01.44

4. Ahmad Hassan Abdullah — Qatar — 27:18.28

5.  John Cheruiyot Korir — Kenya — 27:19.94

6. Wilberforce Talel — Kenya — 27:33.60

7.  Charles Kamathi — Kenya — 27:45.05

8.  Kamiel Maase — Netherlands — 27:45.46

9.  Karl Keska — Great Britain — 27:47.89

10. Ismail Sghyr — France — 27:54.87

11. David Galván — Mexico — 27:55.31

12. John Yuda Msuri — Tanzania — 27:56.21

13. Fabiano Joseph Naasi — Tanzania — 28:06.36

14. Alan Culpepper — United States — 28:14.92

15.  Teodoro Vega — Mexico — 28:31.71

16. Mebrahtom Keflezighi — United States — 28:35.08

17. Cathal Lombard — Ireland — 28:36.43

18. Tomoo Tsubota — Japan — 28:37.10

19. Dan Browne — United States — 29:01.60

Bekele's Paris triumph proved to be the beginning of something much bigger. He went on to win Olympic 10,000m gold in Athens the following year and established himself as the dominant track distance runner of his generation.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he completed the extraordinary 5,000m and 10,000m double, cementing his place among the greatest distance runners in history.

Gebrselassie, meanwhile, successfully reinvented himself beyond the track. He turned increasingly toward the 10km, half marathon and marathon, where he continued rewriting the record books and building another extraordinary chapter of his career.

But Paris remains special.

On August 24, 2003, one Ethiopian legend was still fighting to protect his kingdom while another was stepping forward to claim it.

Kenenisa Bekele didn't simply win a World Championship gold medal that night. He announced the arrival of a new era in distance running.

One of the most iconic milestones in the history of ultramarathon running is drawing closer, with entries for the historic 100th edition of the Comrades Marathon set to open on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.

The Comrades Marathon Association has officially announced a detailed entry process for the 2027 race, which will unfold in three stages and give runners around the world the opportunity to secure their place in what promises to be one of the most significant editions ever held of The Ultimate Human Race.

The announcement followed the official launch of the 2027 Comrades Marathon on Wednesday, 19 August, when the centenary campaign, “The Greatest Story Ever Run,” was unveiled alongside a special logo created exclusively for the landmark 100th edition.

The launch also revealed several major highlights for the Centenary Race. The historic event will take place on Sunday, 13 June 2027, and will be a Down Run, with 28,000 places available. The entry process will include a ballot, while the race will offer a record R8.919 million in prize money. Organisers have also set an ambitious goal of raising R10 million for the Amabeadibeadi charities, adding an important charitable dimension to the centenary celebrations. One of the defining moments of the launch was the unveiling of the special Centenary mark, created to commemorate this extraordinary milestone in the history of the race.

The entry process begins on 25 August at 10:00 a.m. SAST, when entries open for Green Number runners, Yellow Number runners and Amabeadibeadi charity entrants.

The next phase follows on 2 September at 10:00 a.m. SAST, when entries open for Comrades Marathon Association members. This window will remain open for 72 hours or until the available entry allocation is filled, with places offered on a strictly first-come, first-served basis.

For general entrants, the process will move to a ballot system. General entries open on 9 September at 10:00 a.m. SAST, with runners able to enter the ballot until it closes on 22 September at 4:30 p.m. SAST. The ballot draw is then scheduled to take place on 23 September.

Several other crucial dates will shape the road to the historic race. The substitution period will run from 15 to 31 March 2027, while 3 May 2027 is the final deadline for runners to submit their qualifying performances, seeding information and other required entry details.

To qualify for the 2027 Comrades Marathon, runners must complete a 42.2km marathon in under five hours between 15 June 2026 and 3 May 2027.

The journey will finally culminate on Sunday, 13 June 2027, when thousands of runners are expected to line up for the historic 100th edition of the Comrades Marathon.

The 2027 race will represent a remarkable moment for the legendary South African ultramarathon. For more than a century, the Comrades Marathon has captured the imagination of runners and spectators with its extraordinary test of endurance, determination and human spirit. Its centenary edition will celebrate the generations of athletes who have faced its demanding roads, conquered its challenges and helped build one of the world's most respected endurance events.

For runners dreaming of becoming part of this historic occasion, the road to Comrades 2027 is now clearly marked. From the opening of entries in August 2026 to race day in June 2027, every deadline will matter.

The Greatest Story Ever Run is preparing for its most historic chapter yet.

KATA founder Bob Anderson says coach Charles Ngeno received KSh1.077 million in repayable, interest-free financing for two running camps and six acres of potatoes, repeatedly discussed repayment and later sought additional funding.

A programme in which Bob and Catherine Anderson say they committed more than KSh42 million to support Kenyan runners is now at the centre of a dispute over money advanced to coach Charles Ng’eno.

Anderson, founder of My Best Runs, the Kenyan Athletics Training Academy and Runners World, says Ng’eno received KSh1,077,500 in interest free loans to establish two KATA running camps and cultivate six acres of potatoes.

Anderson says none of the money has been repaid.

Ng’eno should be given a full opportunity to respond to the allegations and provide his own financial records, contracts, harvest records and explanation of the transactions before publication.

Anderson founded Runner’s World as a teenager and says his motivation for developing KATA came from decades spent in athletics and from seeing the conditions faced by some aspiring Kenyan runners.

“This was never simply a potato farming project,” Anderson said. “The purpose was to establish camps where talented athletes could receive accommodation, food and world-class training. Every shilling provided to establish the camps and grow the potatoes was an interest-free loan that had to be repaid.”

Two loans supporting one objective

According to Anderson, the KATA model combined two forms of repayable financing.

Camp operators could receive interest-free startup loans to cover expenses including rent, beds, mattresses, furniture and initial food supplies. Depending on the camp's requirements, Anderson says this financing could reach KSh500,000.

Separate interest-free loans were used to finance potato production, generally budgeted at approximately KSh100,000 per acre.

The intention was for proceeds from potato sales to repay both the farming costs and the money advanced to establish the running camp.

The funds were therefore not intended to operate as grants that beneficiaries could retain without repayment.

After the loans were cleared, the remaining income was intended to support athletes and help finance subsequent farming seasons.

Anderson says the model was designed to create a revolving system in which money recovered from one camp could eventually help another.

“The idea was to provide the seed capital once and then have the potato proceeds repay everything,” Anderson said. “After the camp and farming loans were cleared, each camp could continue operating without depending upon Catherine and me for more money.”

The financial projections used by KATA were based on anticipated agricultural returns. Anderson says the programme estimated that a well-managed acre could generate about KSh400,000 in gross sales, although actual returns would depend on yields, disease, weather and market prices.

These were projections rather than guaranteed returns.

More than KSh42 million committed

Anderson says he and Catherine committed more than KSh42 million to establishing and operating the wider programme.

Approximately KSh36 million, he says, was provided through interest-free loans to coaches, farmers and camp operators, while more than KSh6 million was spent on independent contractors and related programme expenses.

The Kenyan personnel engaged to coordinate activities and monitor participating farms were independent contractors, according to Anderson, rather than employees.

The Andersons did not establish a company in Kenya, with the programme directed through their California-based business.

The complete financial records covering the wider KATA programme have not been independently reviewed for this article.

The KSh1,077,500 advanced to Charles Ngeno represents only one part of the wider programme.

But Anderson says the failure to recover the money meant funds intended to circulate to other camps and athletes became unavailable.

Athletics Kenya references

Anderson says Ng’eno regularly communicated with him about athletics, farming and the proposed camps.

Among the material provided are photographs appearing to show Ng’eno participating in Athletics Kenya-related meetings, including one in which he is seated behind an Athletics Kenya nameplate and another in which he appears to address a gathering.

Ng’eno also told Anderson that he had discussed KATA with senior Athletics Kenya officials.

According to Anderson, Ng’eno reported that the Athletics Kenya president had praised the programme and believed it could benefit Kenyan athletes.

Those claims have not been independently confirmed.

The photographs show Ng’eno at athletics-related functions but do not establish that Athletics Kenya endorsed KATA or participated in the financing arrangement.

“It gave me confidence,” Anderson said. “Charles presented himself as a senior and respected figure in Kenyan athletics. He talked about discussions with the AK president, and I believed he had the standing to make the camps successful.”

Athletics Kenya has not been accused of receiving any of the disputed money.

KSh1.07 million and requests for more

According to Anderson, the KSh1,077,500 advanced to Ng’eno was intended to cover work toward two camps and six acres of potatoes.

In August 2025, Ng’eno sent what he described as bookkeeping for the Olenguruone and Nakuru camps. The figures referred to a proposed total allocation of KSh1.3 million, including potato projects, rent, bunk beds, mattresses, blankets and food.

The KSh1.3 million was a proposed budget and was not the amount Anderson says Ng’eno ultimately received.

Anderson says he stopped advancing money after repayment dates were missed and other concerns emerged.

“I probably would have sent more because Charles kept presenting new plans,” Anderson said. “Fortunately, one red flag after another was raised, and I cut him off after KSh1,077,500.”

Anderson says Ng’eno later sought approximately KSh600,000 to cultivate another six acres.

Had that request been approved, Anderson's total exposure to Ng’eno could have approached KSh1.7 million.

Ng’eno's own messages about the harvest

WhatsApp correspondence provided by Anderson contains messages attributed to Ng’eno discussing the farming operation and anticipated returns.

In an October 7, 2025 message, Ng’eno said he expected his first harvest to produce more than 150 bags of 50kg potatoes.

“For my first harvest, I'm expecting to have more than 150 bags of 50kg,” he wrote.

In the same exchange, Ng’eno referred to the “agreed loan” and said he was aware of the remaining obligation.

He also promised a “good return” and asked Anderson to proceed with what he described as a final disbursement.

“Please let us make an agreement that this be final dispersal until you experience the delivery of revenue,” he wrote.

In November, the correspondence moved to the practical issue of harvesting and selling the potatoes.

On November 11, Ng’eno told Anderson that some of his other acres were ready for harvesting but said market prices were poor.

“My other acres are ready for harvesting but this is not the time to do so. price is terrible,” he wrote.

He said the crop required spraying against worms and requested KSh15,000.

The following day, Ng’eno referred to potatoes from two acres that he expected to harvest within two weeks.

“Bob. Please send me 15k for Olenguruone camp. Potatoes to be harvested in 2 weeks. 2 acres,” he wrote.

Anderson subsequently asked for information about the number of bags, total weight, and photographs showing where the potatoes were being stored.

Ng’eno said he had secured free storage space and added that his farm manager was working on the ground.

The exchanges establish that the two sides were discussing the loan, potato farming, anticipated harvests and additional funding. They do not by themselves establish the final size of the harvest, sales proceeds or repayment.

Repeated repayment promises

Other correspondence reviewed for this story contains further discussions about repayment.

In November 2025, Anderson says Ng’eno indicated that nearly KSh600,000 would be paid before the end of December, with another KSh200,000 expected in January or February after seeds were sold.

Ng’eno also referred to a plot allegedly worth KSh1.5 million that could be disposed of if necessary to clear the loan.

“Don’t worry about me,” he wrote.

On January 31, 2026, after Anderson asked how much Ng’eno would begin repaying, Ng’eno responded:

“Yes, Bob, I need to start with Ksh. 400,000.”

He added that he was responsible and “must make payments.”

Anderson says the KSh400,000 payment was not made.

Ng’eno also told Anderson that repayment had been delayed because he was constructing a residential building that would become a KATA camp. He offered to show Anderson the building through a video call.

The correspondence shows that repayment was repeatedly discussed. It does not, without the underlying bank records, establish precisely how much money was ultimately generated from the farms or how the funds advanced were used.

A programme built around trust

For Anderson, the dispute goes beyond one borrower.

He says the KATA programme was created after he and Catherine saw the challenges facing some Kenyan athletes and wanted to provide better accommodation, food and training environments.

The agricultural component was intended to give camps an independent source of income.

But Anderson says the experience with Ng’eno and other beneficiaries ultimately forced the programme to stop advancing money.

“This was not simply a case of Charles misleading Catherine and me,” Anderson said. “Fellow Kenyans working with us in good faith also relied on the information and promises he provided.”

Those contractors have not been publicly identified.

Anderson has made broader claims about repayment problems involving other beneficiaries. Those claims require separate verification and should not be treated as established facts without supporting records and responses from those involved.

The questions requiring answers

The Ng’eno case leaves several questions that can be answered only through the underlying records.

How was the KSh1,077,500 used?

How much went into each camp?

Were all six acres planted?

What was harvested?

How much was sold?

Who bought the potatoes?

How much revenue was generated?

Were any proceeds used to repay the loan?

Did the two proposed camps operate, and how many athletes did they support?

Why were the promised repayments not made?

And does the reported KSh1.5 million property exist and was it available to secure or repay the debt?

Ng’eno should also be given an opportunity to respond to the claims concerning his representations about Athletics Kenya and to provide evidence of any discussions with its officials.

For Anderson, the principle behind the programme remains straightforward.

“This money was not donated to Charles,” he said. “It was loaned to establish camps and grow crops. It had to come back so it could help other athletes and camps.”

The dispute is now about whether the funds were used according to the agreements, what income the projects generated and why Anderson says none of the money has been returned.

Until complete financial records, contractual documents and Ng’eno's response are obtained, the allegations should remain clearly identified as contested claims rather than established findings.

The men’s 5000m at the Lausanne Diamond League produced one of the most electrifying distance races of the season, as six athletes broke the coveted 13-minute barrier in a breathtaking display of speed and depth.

Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew emerged victorious in a fiercely contested race, clocking 12:57.55 to secure a brilliant win against a world-class field. Balew held off relentless pressure behind him to claim the victory as the race exploded into a spectacular battle over the closing stages.

The United States produced an especially impressive performance, with Parker Wolfe leading a powerful American charge in second place. Wolfe crossed the line in a personal best of 12:58.20, while Nico Young followed closely in third with a season's best of 12:58.33. Graham Blanks made it three Americans in the top four, dipping under 13 minutes with 12:59.16.

Kenya’s Cornelius Kemboi added another sub-13-minute performance in fifth, clocking 12:59.33, while Ethiopia’s Mezgébu Sime completed the extraordinary group of six athletes under the historic barrier with 12:59.48 in sixth place.

The quality of the race was underlined by the fact that Ethiopia’s Kuma Girma, despite recording a season's best of 13:00.22, could finish only seventh. Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu took eighth in 13:00.73, followed by Ethiopia’s Kahiri Bejiga, who ran a personal best of 13:03.27.

Grant Fisher, one of the biggest names in the field, finished 11th in 13:07.74 on a night when the remarkable depth and pace of the competition left no room for error.

Lausanne has once again delivered a memorable night of distance running, with the men’s 5000m becoming a showcase of the extraordinary standard currently being produced on the track. Six men under 13 minutes in a single race was a powerful statement, while Balew's victory and the exceptional performances from the American trio ensured this was one of the standout races of the 2026 Diamond League season.

Top 10 finishers:

1. Birhanu Balew (Bahrain) — 12:57.55

2. Parker Wolfe (United States) — 12:58.20 PB

3. Nico Young (United States) — 12:58.33 SB

4. Graham Blanks (United States) — 12:59.16

5. Cornelius Kemboi (Kenya) — 12:59.33

6. Mezgébu Sime (Ethiopia) — 12:59.48

7. Kuma Girma (Ethiopia) — 13:00.22 SB

8. Dominic Lobalu (Switzerland) — 13:00.73

9. Kahiri Bejiga (Ethiopia) — 13:03.27 PB

10. Egide Ntakarutimana (Burundi) — 13:07.21

In a race packed with exceptional talent, Balew ultimately had the decisive finishing strength—but Lausanne's biggest story was the sheer depth of the performance, with six men racing beneath 13 minutes and turning the 5000m into an unforgettable Diamond League showdown.

Winfred Yavi delivered a statement performance at the Lausanne Diamond League, defeating reigning world champion Faith Cherotich in a thrilling women's 3000m steeplechase showdown and taking the lead in their increasingly compelling 2026 rivalry.

The Bahraini star, the 2024 Olympic steeplechase champion, led from the opening stages and never surrendered control, crossing the line in a meet record of 9:00.04. Cherotich, the reigning world champion, fought hard throughout but had to settle for second in 9:01.90.

The victory gave Yavi the upper hand in their head-to-head battles this season, with the Olympic champion now holding a 2-1 advantage over Cherotich in their three meetings in 2026.

For much of the race, Cherotich remained within striking distance of Yavi, staying close as the two stars negotiated the barriers at a relentless pace. However, Yavi refused to give her Kenyan rival an opportunity to take control, maintaining the lead and producing another powerful display when the pressure intensified in the closing stages.

It was a fascinating battle between two of the dominant figures in women's steeplechasing. The reigning Olympic champion against the reigning world champion lived up to expectations, and on this occasion, Yavi had the answers.

Tunisia's Marwa Bouzayani completed the podium in 9:05.55, while Kenya's Doris Lemngole finished fourth in 9:07.09. American Lexy Halladay rounded out the top five with a personal best of 9:08.35.

Yavi's winning time was not only enough to secure another important victory over her biggest rival but also established a new Lausanne meet record, underlining the exceptional standard of the race.

With Yavi now leading their season series 2-1, the rivalry between the Olympic champion and the world champion is becoming one of the most exciting battles in women's distance running. Lausanne belonged to Yavi, but Cherotich remains close enough to ensure that their next meeting could produce another spectacular contest.

When thousands of runners line up in the heart of Sapporo on Sunday, August 30, 2026, they will be taking part in one of Japan’s most distinctive marathon traditions — a race where the battle is not only against the clock and the 42.195-kilometre distance, but also against the summer heat.

The Hokkaido Marathon traces its roots to 1987, when the inaugural race attracted just 439 entrants. Over nearly four decades, it has grown into a major international marathon, welcoming runners from Japan and around the world while maintaining its unique identity as one of the country’s few major summer marathons.

That summer setting is precisely what makes heat management such an important part of the Hokkaido Marathon experience.

The 2026 edition will begin at 8:30 a.m. from Odori Nishi 4-chome, with the course winding through some of Sapporo’s most recognisable landmarks, including Susukino and Hokkaido University. But while the atmosphere will be festive and competitive, organisers are urging athletes to treat heat-related illness with the utmost seriousness.

As one of Japan’s few marathons held during the summer, Hokkaido Marathon carries a heightened risk of heatstroke. Mild heat illness may improve with rest, cooling and appropriate hydration, but severe heatstroke can become life-threatening and demands rapid action to lower body temperature.

The organisers have therefore placed medical preparedness at the centre of the 2026 event. Since the 2022 Hokkaido Marathon, an ice-bath system has been available for emergency cooling — an approach also used during the marathon and race-walking competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

If medical staff suspect severe heatstroke accompanied by impaired consciousness, a doctor may assess the athlete, including measuring rectal temperature when necessary. Where appropriate, the runner can be rapidly cooled using an ice bath before being transported to a medical facility.

For competitors, recognising the warning signs early could make all the difference.

Feeling dazed, unusually confused, mentally foggy or unable to remain fully alert during the race should never be dismissed as ordinary fatigue. Runners experiencing such symptoms are being urged not to force themselves forward. They should stop, rest and seek medical assistance.

The same responsibility applies to fellow runners and spectators. Anyone who notices a competitor appearing confused, disoriented or seriously unwell should immediately alert the nearest medical or first-aid team.

Hydration is another critical part of the organisers’ message — but the advice is not simply to drink as much water as possible.

Both insufficient sodium intake and excessive fluid consumption can contribute to hyponatremia, a potentially dangerous drop in blood sodium levels. Runners should therefore pay attention to both fluid and sodium replacement during the marathon rather than relying solely on water.

The race is also expanding its cooling measures in 2026. An ice distribution point will be available at approximately 13.2 kilometres, while new water-dousing points will be introduced at the end of selected aid stations. These facilities are designed to give runners additional opportunities to cool their bodies as the race progresses.

A cooling spray may also be carried and used as another practical measure against the heat.

Such precautions are particularly significant given the Hokkaido Marathon’s history. From its modest beginning in 1987, the event gradually established itself as an important testing ground for athletes preparing to compete in hot-weather conditions. Japanese and international elites have repeatedly used the race to test their endurance and heat tolerance, while the event has also welcomed some of the world's leading distance runners.

Today, the marathon combines that elite tradition with a huge mass-participation atmosphere. What started with fewer than 500 entrants has evolved into an event capable of attracting around 20,000 runners, turning Sapporo into a celebration of distance running each summer.

But the message for 2026 is clear: finishing the marathon is never more important than protecting your health.

For runners chasing personal bests, international athletes seeking victory and recreational participants simply hoping to complete the distance, knowing when to slow down, stop or seek help is part of racing intelligently.

On August 30, the streets of Sapporo will once again provide a spectacular stage for 42.195 kilometres of running. Yet beneath the excitement, the Hokkaido Marathon is sending an equally important message: run hard when your body allows it, cool down when necessary, stay alert to the heat and never ignore the warning signs.

After nearly four decades of history, the Hokkaido Marathon continues to evolve — and in 2026, protecting the runners who make that history possible is firmly at the heart of the race.

Andreas Almgren has spent the past two seasons transforming himself into one of Europe’s most formidable distance runners. Now, the Swedish star is ready to take on an entirely new challenge — the marathon.

Fresh from a commanding European 10,000m triumph in Birmingham, Almgren has confirmed that he will make his marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon on November 1. The decision adds another intriguing chapter to a remarkable rise that has seen him repeatedly rewrite the European record books.

The 31-year-old owns European records of 12:44.27 for 5,000m, 26:45 for 10km on the road and 58:41 for the half marathon — extraordinary marks that underline both his speed and his growing endurance. His 26:45 in Valencia in January 2026 lowered his own European 10km record, while his 58:41 in Valencia last October made him the first European athlete to break the 59-minute barrier for the half marathon.

His latest achievement came in Birmingham, where Almgren produced one of the most dominant performances of the European Championships. He stormed to the 10,000m title in 27:23.44, setting a championship record and adding a major senior title to the World Championships bronze medal he won over the same distance in Tokyo last year.

Yet his choice of New York for his first marathon is what makes the announcement particularly fascinating.

Rather than selecting a traditionally fast, flat course where a debutant can concentrate almost exclusively on the clock, Almgren has chosen one of the most demanding and tactically complex marathons on the calendar. The New York course takes runners through all five boroughs and across five bridges before the finish in Central Park, combining repeated climbs, descents, turns and constantly changing race dynamics.

It is a course that rewards patience, strength and tactical intelligence as much as raw speed. For Almgren, whose career has been built around racing at the highest level rather than simply accumulating fast times, the setting could provide a fascinating test of how his exceptional track and road credentials translate to 42.195 kilometres.

And he will not be entering a quiet debut race. The 2026 field features defending men's champion Benson Kipruto, former champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Dutch star Abdi Nageeye, American contenders Conner Mantz and Zouhair Talbi, as well as several other elite marathoners. Almgren is one of a small group of high-profile athletes making their marathon debuts in New York.

The race will also mark the 50th anniversary of the modern five-borough New York City Marathon course, adding even greater significance to an already prestigious occasion. With Almgren bringing European-record credentials, a fresh continental title and the confidence of a breakthrough period behind him, his first encounter with the marathon promises to be one of the most closely watched stories of the autumn road-racing season.

For a runner who has already conquered the track and rewritten the European road-running record books, New York represents the beginning of another journey.

On November 1, the question will no longer be how fast Andreas Almgren can run 5,000m, 10km or a half marathon.

It will be how far that extraordinary speed and endurance can carry him over 42.195 kilometres through the streets of New York.

Ten years ago, on August 20, 2016, Sir Mo Farah cemented his place among the greatest distance runners in Olympic history with another extraordinary triumph in the 5,000 metres at the Rio Olympic Games.

Farah had already secured the 10,000m title in Rio, but victory in the 5,000m delivered something even more significant. By successfully defending both Olympic distance titles he had won four years earlier in London, the British superstar became only the second man in history, after Finland’s Lasse Virén, to complete the remarkable Olympic “double-double” — winning the 5,000m and 10,000m at two successive Games.

His Olympic record was extraordinary.

At London 2012, Farah claimed gold in both the 10,000m and 5,000m, announcing himself as the dominant force in global distance running. Four years later in Rio, he repeated the feat, bringing his Olympic gold medal tally to four.

But Farah’s achievement extended far beyond the Olympic stage.

Between 2011 and 2015, he won six World Championship gold medals across the 5,000m and 10,000m, completing an unprecedented run of dominance. With his Olympic victories in London and Rio added to his World Championship success, Farah became the first man to successfully defend both distance titles at successive Olympic Games and World Championships — a remarkable achievement widely associated with the term “quadruple-double.”

His Rio campaign also produced one of the most memorable images of his career. After falling during the 10,000m final, Farah recovered, charged back into contention and ultimately retained his title, raising his arms in celebration before performing his trademark “Mobot.”

That moment captured the essence of Farah’s career: resilience, confidence, extraordinary endurance and an almost relentless ability to deliver when the stakes were highest.

For more than a decade, Mo Farah was synonymous with British distance running. He transformed major championships into his personal stage, accumulated titles across the biggest competitions in the sport and inspired millions with his distinctive celebrations and unmistakable competitive spirit.

Ten years after that historic night in Rio, the question is no longer whether Farah belongs among the greats. His record has already answered that.

The real debate is where he stands on the all-time list.

Four Olympic gold medals. Six World Championship gold medals. Two Olympic double-doubles. A career defined by championship dominance.

Mo Farah did not simply win races.

He created an era.

Will it be a case of third time lucky at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon for Noah Kipkemboi?

In his first appearance at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2024, the Kenyan star finished third. Last year, he moved up one place to finish second. Now, with the benefit of knowing the course intimately, he returns intent on reaching the top step of the podium.

“It’s really my hope to run well on the course again and to be on the podium,” he says of the October 18 race. “It is my pleasure if I come position one this time. Now I am in training and preparing for the race.”

Kipkemboi’s personal best remains the 2:07:31 he ran during his initial Toronto appearance, and improving on that time would be especially satisfying. Clearly, his two visits have endeared him to the event and the people he has met in Toronto. At the finish line and during the post-race press conference, he kindly served as an interpreter for 2025 winner Leonard Langat, who is more comfortable speaking Kiswahili than English.

“Please say hello to everyone in Toronto,” he begins during a WhatsApp video interview. “It is a beautiful city, and thank you for inviting me back.

“I really like when people from the Toronto communities where we run through are happy and cheering us. Here, everyone is shouting ‘go,’ giving us motivation. Being cheered, you can get power and keep going better. 

As a Christian, Kipkemboi has also been inspired by hearing the Canadian national anthem traditionally sung at the race start, especially the line “God keep our land glorious and free.” But it is the competition that initially attracts world-class runners. 

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon serves as both the official Athletics Canada Canadian Marathon Championship and a World Athletics Elite Label race. The $25,000 Canadian prize offered to each winner is especially meaningful to the runners. Kipkemboi has put his earnings to good use, raising three young children of his own while also contributing to the school fees of two other children in his village. There have also been medical expenses to consider.

“During the two times racing in Toronto, I have been having difficulty before the race,” he reveals. “The first Toronto race, my daughter Phoebe was not feeling comfortable, and after the 2025 race, she was having a second kidney operation.

“I was on the start line praying that I would win so my kids would be happy. Now she is okay. My happiness, if I come position one, it will be so beautiful, so my kids will be happy.”

Kipkemboi has been represented by the Dutch-based Global Sports Communication throughout his career. From Monday through Saturday, he lives and trains at the organization’s camp in Kaptagat, while his family remains at their home in Eldoret, 24 kilometres away. Such living arrangements are typical among Kenya’s world-class runners.

Among Kipkemboi’s training partners is the legendary Eliud Kipchoge, the former world marathon record holder and two-time Olympic marathon champion. Kipkemboi served as a pacer during Kipchoge’s 2022 world-record performance in Berlin.

Another close friend and former training partner, Philemon Rono, won the Toronto Waterfront Marathon three times and holds the course record of 2:05:00.

“He has gone to another management group, but we are still friends,” Kipkemboi says of his compatriot. “His camp is not far from our camp. Mostly, when we are training in the forest, we meet them and wave.

“He asked me, ‘Are you going back to Toronto? Can we go together this time?’ We were chatting about Toronto. He said, ‘You go this time and win that race!’”

These days, Kipkemboi is running as much as 200 kilometres a week in preparation for Toronto. Between training sessions, life at the camp consists of daily household chores divided among the runners, physiotherapy and massage sessions, and meals. For relaxation, the runners enjoy watching football together.

“Yes, we normally watch football. Me, I like Arsenal,” he says with a smile. “Most of us in the camp, most of the athletes, are fans of Arsenal. The Commonwealth Games steeplechase champion Edmund Serem likes Arsenal. When he won the gold medal, he did what Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres does in celebration.”

With that, Kipkemboi interlocks his fingers to form a mask below his eyes, as the Swedish footballer does after scoring—a reference to the Batman villain Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Like many successful Kenyan runners, Kipkemboi is planning for life after his competitive career comes to an end. With prize money from his first Toronto appearance, he opened a general store in Eldoret that sells everything from candy and flour to soap and perfume. He also farms a plot of land.

Victory at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon will not come easily. But Kipkemboi feels at home on the streets of Toronto, and that could very well make it third time lucky.

For more than a decade, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Hellen Obiri of Kenya have been familiar opponents on the biggest stages of distance running. Their rivalry was forged on the track, where Hassan’s extraordinary versatility and finishing speed repeatedly collided with Obiri’s strength, tactical intelligence and championship pedigree.

Now, after conquering different chapters of the sport, the two global stars are set to meet again on the streets of New York on November 1, 2026 — with another marathon crown at stake.

Their most memorable encounters came during the golden years of their track careers. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Hassan defeated Obiri in a thrilling 5000m final, winning gold in 14:36.79 while Obiri took silver in 14:38.36.  A year later, the two were again among the leading figures in the 10,000m at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, where Obiri claimed silver and Hassan finished fourth.

But both athletes eventually turned their attention to the marathon, transforming a track rivalry into a new battle over 42.195 kilometres.

Hassan’s transition was extraordinary. After already establishing herself as one of the most versatile distance runners in history, she conquered the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning gold and setting a personal best of 2:13:44 — a mark that remains significantly faster than Obiri’s current personal best.

Obiri, meanwhile, built her own formidable reputation on the roads. The Kenyan became a major force in the World Marathon Majors, winning the New York City Marathon in 2023 before returning to the top of the podium in 2025.

That 2025 New York race added another compelling chapter to the Hassan-Obiri rivalry.

Hassan made her New York debut but finished sixth in 2:24:43, while Obiri produced a commanding performance to win in 2:19:51. Her victory not only secured her second New York title but also shattered Margaret Okayo’s long-standing course record of 2:22:31.

The contrast could hardly be more intriguing heading into 2026.

Hassan owns the faster marathon personal best and the ultimate Olympic marathon prize. Obiri owns two New York titles and knows exactly how to master the famously demanding five-borough course. And the Kenyan has continued to strengthen her marathon credentials, running a personal-best 2:15:53 in London in 2026.

Hassan, meanwhile, returns to New York with unfinished business. After describing her 2025 debut as a physically punishing experience, she is preparing to tackle the course again, bringing the lessons of her first attempt and her vast championship experience with her.

This time, the stakes feel different.

There is history between them. There is unfinished business. And there is the intriguing question of whether Hassan’s superior lifetime speed over the marathon distance can finally translate into victory on the streets where Obiri has already established herself as a two-time queen.

One athlete has Olympic marathon gold and a 2:13:44 personal best.

The other has two New York crowns and a course record that announced her arrival among the marathon elite in emphatic fashion.

When Hassan and Obiri line up together again in New York, it will be more than another World Marathon Major showdown. It will be the latest chapter in a rivalry that began with championship battles on the track and has now evolved into one of the most compelling confrontations in women’s marathon running.

Track rivals. Olympic champions. Marathon queens.

On November 1, New York gets the next chapter.