Running News Daily

Indianapolis is set to become the home of American indoor track and field for the next two years after USA Track & Field confirmed that the city will host the 2027 and 2028 USATF Indoor Championships at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

The nation’s leading athletes will compete at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, with the 2027 championships scheduled for February 19–21, followed by the 2028 edition from February 18–20.

The announcement marks a significant moment for Indianapolis and its long-standing connection with the sport. The 2027 championships will take place 40 years after the city hosted the inaugural World Indoor Championships at the Hoosier Dome in 1987, bringing another major chapter of elite indoor athletics back to a city with a rich track and field history.

Although Indianapolis is home to USA Track & Field's national office and has hosted major athletics competitions over the years, the upcoming editions will be the first time the city has staged the USATF Indoor Championships. The Indiana State Fairgrounds has nevertheless developed into an increasingly important venue for the sport, providing a major platform for elite indoor competition.

The consecutive championships will give athletes two years of high-stakes competition on one of America's growing indoor stages, with national titles and places among the country's finest athletes once again on the line.

The 2028 USATF Indoor Championships will carry even greater significance, serving as a selection event for athletes hoping to represent the United States at the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Odisha, India. That will add another layer of intensity to the competition as athletes battle not only for national honours but also for the opportunity to compete on the global stage.

For Indianapolis, the return represents more than simply hosting another national championship. Four decades after welcoming the world's finest athletes for the inaugural World Indoor Championships, the city is preparing to once again place track and field firmly in the national spotlight.

With two consecutive editions now secured, Indianapolis is ready to welcome America's best indoor athletes as they chase national glory, international selection and the chance to create another memorable chapter in the city's proud athletics history.

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.

The battle for the future of world athletics is already taking shape, but outgoing World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has made one message unmistakably clear: athletics must remain at the heart of the Olympic Games.

Speaking ahead of the Diamond League meeting in Zurich, Coe said he remains highly optimistic about the sport’s future and insisted that athletics must protect its position as the leading sport of the Olympic movement.

“There are only two truly global sports, one is football and one is athletics. We must maintain our position as the number one Olympic sport,” Coe said.

The 69-year-old Briton is approaching the final year of his presidency after first taking charge of the global governing body in 2015. He was re-elected for a third term in 2023, which, under World Athletics’ term limits, is his final mandate.

Coe will leave office in 2027, when the next World Athletics president is elected at the Elective Congress in Beijing, immediately before the 2027 World Athletics Championships. The new president will serve a four-year term covering 2027–2031.

And the succession battle is already gathering momentum.

Among the candidates declared eligible so far are prominent figures from within the sport’s leadership, including World Athletics Vice-Presidents Adille Sumariwalla of India, Raul Chapado of Spain and Ximena Restrepo of Colombia. The current list also includes Yuko Arimori of Japan, Hatem Fouda of Egypt, Ivan Garcia of Uruguay, Jean Gracia of France and Kenya’s Jackson Tuwei.

Restrepo brings a particularly distinguished competitive background to the contest. The Colombian won Olympic bronze in the women’s 400 metres at Barcelona 1992 and became the first woman elected as a World Athletics Vice-President in 2019.

For Coe, however, the final chapter of his presidency is not simply about preparing for his departure. He says his priority over the next year is to continue strengthening the sport so that his successor inherits an organisation capable of growing even further.

“I've never been more optimistic about the future of the sport,” Coe said, adding that whoever succeeds him will inherit “a very much stronger sport” than the one he took over in 2015.

His presidency has coincided with significant changes across the sport, including governance reforms, commercial development and efforts to make athletics more innovative and globally engaging. The launch of the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this September is another example of the organisation’s attempt to create a shorter, high-stakes competition featuring many of the world’s leading athletes.

But the next president will inherit an enormous responsibility.

Athletics is the foundation of the Olympic Games, producing some of the most iconic moments in Olympic history and bringing together athletes from virtually every corner of the world. The challenge for Coe’s successor will be to preserve that unique position while making the sport more commercially powerful, more accessible to younger audiences and even more compelling in an increasingly competitive global sporting landscape.

Coe believes the opportunity is there.

As he prepares to hand over the presidency in 2027, his challenge to the next generation of World Athletics leadership is clear: protect the sport’s Olympic identity, keep pushing its boundaries and make sure athletics remains the heartbeat of the Games.

The question now is not whether Coe will leave a significant mark on athletics, but who will have the vision, influence and leadership required to carry the sport into its next era.

Who do you think should lead World Athletics after Sebastian Coe?

ATHLOS has announced a major change to its 2026 plans, confirming that the third edition of ATHLOS NYC will not take place as originally scheduled on October 2 at Icahn Stadium in New York City.

The decision marks a significant change for the rapidly growing women’s track and field series, which had been preparing to return to New York for another high-profile edition. ATHLOS said the move is part of a broader strategy to align its future events more closely with the global athletics calendar.

The organisation explained that it will not stage ATHLOS NYC in October 2026, with the goal of restructuring its schedule from the 2027 season onward. The new approach is intended to give the world’s best female athletes greater opportunities to compete in a healthier and more sustainable schedule while allowing them to perform at their peak.

When ATHLOS was launched, the series deliberately created a new competition window at the end of the traditional athletics season. However, as the event has grown, ATHLOS says it has become increasingly clear that its long-term home should be within the main international athletics calendar.

The cancellation of ATHLOS NYC, however, does not signal a retreat from the organisation’s global ambitions.

ATHLOS London remains firmly on the calendar for September 18, 2026, at StoneX Stadium in London, marking the series’ highly anticipated first event outside the United States. The London meeting is expected to bring together some of the biggest names in women’s athletics for what promises to be a spectacular night of elite competition.

ATHLOS has built its reputation around putting female athletes at the centre of the experience, combining world-class competition with significant prize money and an energetic event atmosphere. Its programme features several of the sport’s most exciting disciplines, including the 100m hurdles, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile and long jump.

While the decision to cancel the New York edition will come as a disappointment to fans who were expecting another major night at Icahn Stadium, ATHLOS insists that its commitment to women’s track and field remains stronger than ever.

The organisation is now turning its attention to London and to building a more sustainable international calendar from 2027. The latest decision could therefore prove to be less an ending than a strategic reset as ATHLOS looks to strengthen its position on the global athletics stage.

ATHLOS NYC may be absent from the 2026 calendar, but the series’ international ambitions are only getting bigger.

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.

The Generali Prague Half Marathon has entered a new era of unprecedented demand, with more than 70,000 runners reportedly applying for places in the race’s first-ever ballot for the 2027 edition.

The remarkable response underlines the extraordinary international appeal of one of Europe’s most celebrated half marathons. With the race limited to 17,000 participants, the number of applications means demand exceeded available places by more than four times. RunCzech confirmed that the ballot attracted more than six times the race capacity in applications.

The move to a random draw marks a significant change from the previous registration system. In 2026, the 17,000-place field disappeared within just 2 hours and 23 minutes of registration opening, demonstrating how fiercely contested entry had become. Rather than rewarding those who happened to be quickest online, the new system gives applicants an equal opportunity through a random selection process.

Applications opened on July 21 and closed at midnight heading into August 12, bringing three weeks of intense anticipation to an end. The draw is scheduled to take place this week, with every applicant due to receive the outcome by email no later than August 21. Those fortunate enough to secure a place will then have seven days to complete their registration before any unclaimed entries are returned to the pool.

The scale of the international interest is particularly striking. Applicants came from 161 countries, with 77 per cent of all applications submitted from outside the Czech Republic. The United Kingdom and Germany provided the largest overseas applicant groups, while Spain, Poland, Portugal, Italy and France were also strongly represented. Almost 1,300 applications came from Brazil and more than 700 from the United States.

For runners chasing the prestigious SuperHalfs series, Prague carries even greater significance. The race is one of the six founding members of the European half-marathon series, alongside Berlin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Valencia and Cardiff, making a place on the start line highly coveted among runners pursuing the full collection. Around 45 per cent of ballot applicants already hold a SuperHalfs passport.

The 27th Generali Prague Half Marathon will take place on Saturday, April 3, 2027, taking runners through the historic heart of the Czech capital. The event also holds World Athletics Elite Label status, reinforcing its reputation not only as a mass-participation spectacular but also as a race capable of attracting world-class athletes and producing elite performances.

The huge ballot has transformed the meaning of simply getting to the start line in Prague. For thousands of runners, preparation has already begun, but their next step is not a training session or a race-plan decision—it is an email. This time, the fastest internet connection cannot guarantee a place; chance will decide who gets to experience the roar of the crowds, the historic streets and the unmistakable atmosphere of Prague at 21.1 kilometres.

The first ballot has therefore delivered a message that is impossible to ignore: Prague is no longer merely a race runners want to run—it is a race runners are competing to enter. With more than 70,000 applications chasing 17,000 places, the 2027 edition is already shaping up to be one of the most sought-after starts on the European road-racing calendar.

For thousands of marathoners around the world, the Tokyo Marathon is a dream race. But while entering the lottery costs nothing, actually securing a place is another story altogether.

The general-entry window for the Tokyo Marathon 2027 opens today, Friday, August 14, and will remain open until 5 p.m. Japan Standard Time on August 28. The 20th-anniversary edition of the race will take place on Sunday, March 7, 2027, with a record 40,000 marathon places available.

Applicants will learn their fate on September 18, with successful runners required to complete payment between September 18 and 5 p.m. on September 30. Those who fail to pay by the deadline will lose their places. The entry fee is ¥19,800 for runners living in Japan and US$230 for international entrants.

At first glance, Tokyo's famous lottery can look like a straightforward numbers game: hundreds of thousands of runners competing for roughly tens of thousands of places. But the reality is considerably more complicated.

The headline figure of a roughly 10 percent acceptance rate should not be interpreted as meaning every applicant is competing equally for every one of the 40,000 places. The Tokyo Marathon divides its field among several entry routes before the remaining places reach the general lottery.

For 2027, 4,000 places are allocated to the ONE TOKYO three-consecutive-lottery-loss challenge, reserved for eligible ONE TOKYO members who entered the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions and missed out in all three. Another 1,000 places are reserved for the Tokyo Resident Entry. The general draw also includes dedicated allocations of 500 places for people with disabilities, 15 wheelchair places and up to five Duo Teams.

That makes the phrase "one in 10" a useful shorthand, but not the whole story. For a first-time applicant, particularly one applying from overseas, the effective odds can be much tougher because several places have already been allocated through other categories.

There is also an important requirement for faster runners.

Anyone declaring an expected finishing time of 3:00:00 or faster must provide official evidence of having achieved either a marathon in 3:00:00 or faster or a half marathon in 1:25:00 or faster at an event held between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2026. Results recorded only by a GPS watch or running application do not qualify. Official certificates or records are required.

Tokyo's remarkable rise makes today's lottery particularly striking.

When the inaugural Tokyo Marathon was held in 2007, the race attracted 95,044 total applicants, including 77,521 for the marathon, with 25,000 marathon places available. The race has since evolved into one of the world's most sought-after major marathons and became an Abbott World Marathon Majors event in 2013.

The demand has grown dramatically over the years. By the 2010 and 2011 editions, total applications had already climbed beyond 300,000, demonstrating how quickly Tokyo became one of the hardest city marathons in the world to enter.

Now, two decades after that first race, Tokyo is preparing for its 20th anniversary edition with the biggest marathon field in the event's history. The capacity has been increased from 39,000 to 40,000 runners, giving more athletes a chance to experience one of the most iconic courses in global road running.

But increased capacity does not necessarily mean an easy ticket.

For many runners, Tokyo is more than another marathon. It is the Asian representative in the Abbott World Marathon Majors and one of the six races required to complete the coveted Six Star journey. That status, combined with Tokyo's reputation for exceptional organisation, a fast course and an unforgettable passage through the heart of the Japanese capital, keeps demand extraordinarily high.

And for those who miss the general lottery, the dream does not necessarily end there. Tokyo offers alternative pathways, including charity entries and official entry programmes, although these routes come with their own requirements and, in some cases, additional financial commitments.

For everyone entering the general lottery this month, however, the immediate challenge is simple: submit the application, wait for the draw and hope your name appears when the results are released on September 18.

The Tokyo Marathon may offer 40,000 runners the opportunity to line up in 2027.

Getting one of those places remains the real race.

Entry window: August 14–28, 2026

Lottery results: September 18, 2026

Payment deadline: September 30, 2026

Race day: March 7, 2027

Field size: 40,000

Domestic entry fee: ¥19,800

International entry fee: US$230

The Tokyo Marathon 2027 is set to become a landmark edition as the race celebrates its 20th anniversary, and organisers have unveiled a special finisher medal designed to commemorate the occasion. 

Scheduled for Sunday, March 7, 2027, the 20th edition will feature a Premium Edition Finisher Medal created specifically to mark two decades of the Tokyo Marathon.

The commemorative medal is an impressive 100 millimetres in diameter, making it an extra-large version befitting such a significant milestone.

At the centre of the front design is a striking graphical interpretation of the number “20”, symbolising the 20th edition and giving the medal a distinctive anniversary identity.

The reverse side carries an equally meaningful design, featuring representative buildings and landmarks located along the Tokyo Marathon course. The imagery captures the character of Tokyo while expressing the marathon’s role in connecting people and cultures from around the world.

Importantly, the special medal will not be reserved for elite athletes or a select group of runners. Every runner who successfully completes the Tokyo Marathon 2027 will receive the 20th-anniversary Premium Edition Finisher Medal, giving every finisher a lasting memento of their achievement.

The medal unveiling adds another layer of excitement to an already highly anticipated edition of the race. For runners, it will represent not only the completion of 42.195 kilometres through one of the world’s most recognisable cities, but also their place in a significant chapter of Tokyo Marathon history.

With its combination of the bold “20” anniversary design, Tokyo landmarks and oversized 100mm format, the medal is set to become one of the most distinctive finisher medals in the event’s history.

As anticipation builds toward March 7, 2027, runners now have another special reason to chase the finish line in Tokyo: the chance to earn a medal created specifically for the marathon’s 20th-anniversary celebration.

Twenty editions. One iconic city. One unforgettable finish. 

Fresh from a thrilling victory in the mile at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Josh Kerr has made one thing abundantly clear—his greatest achievements may still lie ahead.

The British middle-distance star has unveiled an ambitious roadmap that could redefine his legacy, with two towering objectives at the heart of his journey: breaking Hicham El Guerrouj's legendary 1500m world record of 3:26.00, set on July 14, 1998, in Rome, and capturing the Olympic 1500m title at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Kerr enters this new chapter with confidence soaring after producing one of the most remarkable performances in middle-distance history. His sensational 3:42.66 during the groundbreaking Project 222 campaign shattered the men's mile world record, ending a 27-year reign and proving he possesses the speed, endurance, and tactical brilliance required to challenge the sport's greatest barriers.

That achievement has strengthened Kerr's belief that the oldest and most revered record in men's middle-distance running is now within reach. For more than 28 years, Hicham El Guerrouj's 3:26.00, set in Rome on July 14, 1998, has stood as the benchmark of excellence in the 1500m, surviving generations of world-class challengers and earning a reputation as one of athletics' most untouchable performances.

Rather than rushing the attempt, Kerr has laid out a carefully calculated plan designed to maximize his chances of success. His immediate priority is the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, where he hopes to reclaim the world 1500m title and reaffirm his position among the sport's elite.

Only after that championship campaign will his focus shift toward an assault on El Guerrouj's historic mark. A dedicated world-record attempt is expected later in 2027, built around months of meticulous preparation, altitude training, world-class pacing, ideal racing conditions, and flawless execution—the same ingredients that powered his record-breaking mile performance.

For Kerr, world records are not won by chance. They are earned through relentless preparation, perfect timing, and the courage to attack history when every detail aligns.

Beyond the pursuit of history lies one final prize that continues to fuel his ambition: Olympic gold.

Having earned bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver at the Paris 2024 Games, Kerr now has just one medal missing from an already glittering collection. His ultimate objective is to stand atop the Olympic podium in Los Angeles in 2028, completing a remarkable progression from bronze to silver and finally to gold.

If successful, Kerr would not only cement his place among Britain's greatest middle-distance runners but also become the first athlete to erase Hicham El Guerrouj's iconic 3:26.00 world record since it was established in Rome on July 14, 1998, before completing his Olympic medal collection with the sport's ultimate prize.

The stage is set, the blueprint is in place, and the countdown has begun. The question now is whether Josh Kerr can accomplish what generations of elite milers have failed to do—rewrite one of athletics' most enduring records and crown his career with Olympic gold in Los Angeles.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge once again provided a breathtaking backdrop as runners gathered in San Francisco on August 2 for the 2026 Golden Gate 10K/5K Double 8K. Blessed with cool conditions and panoramic views from start to finish, the event attracted nearly 500 participants, producing a memorable day of competition across the Double 8K, Open 10K and Open 5K races.

According to race founder and director Bob Anderson, the event continued to grow in popularity, with nearly 500 athletes signing up for this year's edition. Anderson reported, "We had nearly 500 sign ups. People did really like it."

The featured Golden Gate Double 8K, a distinctive challenge that combines a 5K, a recovery break and a concluding 3K, once again delivered exciting racing. Anthony Cortes, 32, produced the standout performance of the day, storming to victory in a combined time of 26:31. Andy Vo, 25, secured second place in 28:37, while Tyler Jeppson, 47, completed the overall podium in 31:25. Ali Abdin, 44, crossed the line fourth in 35:20.

Caitlin Huang, 25, captured the women's title in 32:31, ahead of Stacy Chen, 27, who finished in 34:07. Veteran runner Betty G, 59, continued to demonstrate remarkable consistency by claiming third in 37:04, while 17-year-old Piper Sovik rounded out the top four in 40:53.

The age-group competition showcased impressive performances across every generation. Tyler Jeppson led the men's 40-49 division with 31:25, Heath Rickling, 52, won the men's 50-59 category in 1:02:46, David Boss, 63, topped the men's 60-69 division in 36:54, while Cheryl Charleson, 70, claimed the men's 70+ title in 1:16:50.

Among the women, Huyen Kreutzer, 45, won the 40-49 division in 47:32, Betty G added the women's 50-59 crown to her overall podium finish with 37:04, Diane Gifford, 62, captured the 60-69 title in 43:43, while Cheryl Charleson also secured the women's 70+ division in 1:16:50.

The Open 10K produced one of the closest finishes of the morning. Michel Arlinghaus, 24, edged the field in 42:20, narrowly defeating Mateusz Dembski, 35, who crossed the line just nine seconds later in 42:29. Sixty-three-year-old Keith Hedlund impressed with an outstanding 42:31 to finish third overall, while Ben Kubany, 43, placed fourth in 42:59.

Ashleigh Fehrenbach, 37, led the women's race with a winning time of 41:12, followed by Lan Clayton, 58, in 46:10, Nivy Kani, 25, in 48:30, and Alicia Robert, 32, in 50:21.

The age-group titles added further depth to the competition. Ben Kubany claimed the men's 40-49 category in 42:59, Carlos Arredondo, 51, won the men's 50-59 division in 48:05, Keith Hedlund completed a memorable double by taking the men's 60-69 title with 42:31, while Dennis Boyle, 72, won the men's 70+ category in 1:18:41.

On the women's side, Angeles Morales, 42, topped the 40-49 division in 53:37, Lan Clayton added the women's 50-59 title with 46:10, Sheila Lyzwa, 63, won the women's 60-69 category in 1:05:03, while Suzanne Koonce, 74, claimed the women's 70+ title in 54:02.

The Open 5K also delivered exciting racing. Barrett Wade, 49, claimed the men's title in 18:31, holding off Kris Croome, 45, who finished second in 18:46. Mark Eger, 54, completed the podium in 23:04, while Blake Jackson, 40, finished fourth in 25:28.

One of the day's most impressive performances came from 15-year-old Taylor Synnott, who surged to the women's title in 18:34, finishing just three seconds behind the overall men's winner. Seventeen-year-old Sofia Kiyama placed second in 21:48, fellow teenager Kiki Boukas, 15, finished third in 21:57, while 16-year-old Amina Zegar took fourth in 22:44, highlighting the strength of the next generation of distance runners.

The 5K age-group champions included Barrett Wade in the men's 40-49 division (18:31), Mark Eger in the men's 50-59 category (23:04), Shreekanth Karwande, 73, in the men's 70+ division (30:45), Kellie Ward, 49, in the women's 40-49 category (29:58), Katherine Swanson, 56, in the women's 50-59 division (25:06), and Marilee Diaz, 61, in the women's 60-69 category (28:43). There were no finishers recorded in the women's 70+ division.

Following another highly successful edition, the Golden Gate 10K/5K Double 8K will return on Sunday, August 1, 2027, in San Francisco. The event will once again feature the signature Double 8K, alongside the traditional 10K and 5K races. Starting from historic Crissy Field near the Presidio, the scenic course offers runners uninterrupted views of the Golden Gate Bridge for more than 80 percent of the route as it winds through the spectacular Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The unique Double 8K format—5K, a recovery break, followed by a 3K—will once again headline the event. Every finisher will receive a commemorative medal, while participants will also take home an official event shirt and logo tote bag. The men's and women's Double 8K champions will each receive $100 in prize money, with trophies also awarded to the race winners.

Blending elite competition, inspiring masters performances, rising young talent and one of the most spectacular race settings in the United States, the Golden Gate 10K/5K Double 8K continues to strengthen its reputation as one of California's premier road running events, with another memorable edition already awaiting runners in 2027.

For generations, earning a place at the Boston Marathon has been one of the toughest achievements in distance running. Unlike most of the world's major marathons, Boston has always stood by one uncompromising principle: meet the qualifying standard—and beat everyone else who qualified—or miss out. That long-standing tradition is now evolving.

In a landmark announcement, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has confirmed that the 2027 Boston Marathon will introduce a new lottery system, giving approximately 1,000 runners who achieve a Boston qualifying time—but narrowly miss the annual entry cut-off—a second opportunity to reach the iconic starting line in Hopkinton.

The move marks one of the most significant changes to Boston's qualification process in decades, while preserving the race's elite qualifying standards.

The new system will not replace Boston's traditional selection process. Instead, all applicants will continue to be ranked according to how much they exceeded the official qualifying standard for their respective age group and gender. After race times are verified, the fastest qualifiers will receive guaranteed entry until the field reaches capacity, establishing the annual cut-off time.

What changes in 2027 is what happens next.

Rather than ending the process there, the B.A.A. will randomly select around 1,000 additional runners from the pool of qualified athletes who fell below the cut-off. Any runner who meets the qualifying standard but is not initially accepted will automatically be entered into the draw, with no separate application required.

The announcement comes after several years of record-breaking demand.

More than 11,000 qualified runners were denied entry for both the 2024 and 2025 editions despite posting official qualifying performances. In 2024, 11,039 qualifiers missed out, while that number climbed to a record 12,324 for the 2025 race. Even for the 2026 Boston Marathon, approximately 8,900 qualified applicants were left disappointed after 33,249 runners applied for just 24,362 available places.

Under the new format, the additional 1,000 lottery entries would have provided an opportunity to roughly one in every nine to twelve rejected qualifiers based on recent registration figures.

B.A.A. President and Chief Executive Officer Jack Fleming said the initiative reflects the increasingly competitive nature of marathon running.

"With the increasingly fast times in our sport, our random Boston Qualifier Selection gives all those who have met the standard for their age group a chance to run Boston," Fleming said.

The decision also brings Boston closer to the registration models used by its fellow Abbott World Marathon Majors. While Boston has traditionally relied almost exclusively on qualifying performances, races such as London, New York City, and Chicago have long allocated significant portions of their fields through public lotteries.

Alongside the lottery announcement, the B.A.A. also confirmed another notable update for the 2027 qualifying process. For the first time, qualifying performances achieved on courses with more than 1,500 feet (457 metres) of net elevation loss will be adjusted through a downhill indexing system, ensuring a more consistent comparison of performances across different marathon courses.

Registration for qualified runners will take place from September 14–18, 2026, with all applicants expected to receive their acceptance status in early October.

While Boston's qualifying standards remain among the most demanding in the sport, the introduction of a lottery offers hope to thousands of runners whose dreams have previously been decided by mere seconds. For the first time in the race's storied history, qualifying alone may no longer guarantee disappointment for those who narrowly miss the cut—because chance will now have a place alongside speed on the road to Boston.

For more than 1.3 million hopeful runners around the world, the wait is finally over.

Today, 1,338,544 applicants are discovering whether they have secured a coveted place in the 2027 TCS London Marathon, as ballot result emails are sent out to every entrant. It marks one of the most eagerly anticipated days in the global running calendar, with this year's ballot rewriting the history books before a single runner has even crossed the start line.

The unprecedented number of applications has set a new world record for marathon ballot entries, highlighting the ever-growing appeal of one of the world's most iconic road races. Despite organizers expanding the event to accommodate a record-breaking 100,000 participants, demand was still extraordinary, leaving the chances of success at approximately one in 13.

The 2027 edition will stand apart from every previous London Marathon. To celebrate the event on an unprecedented scale, organizers will stage the race across two days—Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, 2027—creating what has been named The Double. Around 45,000 runners will take to the streets on Saturday, while 55,000 will compete on Sunday, making it the largest marathon event ever staged.

Unlike previous years, every ballot entrant was automatically considered for both race days. Successful applicants will therefore receive confirmation not only that they have earned a place but also which day they will run the famous 26.2-mile route from Greenwich to Westminster.

London Marathon Events Chief Executive Hugh Brasher described the occasion as a landmark moment for the sport.

"The 2027 Double TCS London Marathon will be a weekend of celebration like no other in history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 100,000 people to take part across the two days," Brasher said.

While many runners will be celebrating today's life-changing email, over a million others will inevitably miss out through the ballot. However, the draw is far from the only route into the race.

Charity entries remain available, and for this unique 2027 edition, selected charities will also offer places on the Saturday race. The National Autistic Society has been named the event's official Charity of the Year. Additional opportunities are available through Good for Age qualification, affiliated running clubs, and the MyWay virtual marathon, allowing participants to complete the marathon distance anywhere in the world during the same weekend.

Another major announcement is still to come. Organizers have yet to reveal whether the elite men's and women's races, along with the Championship and Good for Age fields, will be staged on Saturday or Sunday. The decision is expected to attract significant attention following this year's historic London Marathon, which witnessed the first officially ratified sub-two-hour marathon performance, further elevating the race's global prestige.

For the fortunate 100,000 receiving positive news today, however, those details can wait. Their focus now shifts from anticipation to preparation as they begin the journey toward becoming part of one of the most historic marathon weekends the sport has ever seen.

The countdown to the 2027 TCS London Marathon has officially begun, and for those holding a successful ballot email, history awaits on the streets of London.

Australian teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout has suffered a devastating setback after being ruled out of next month's World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene following a serious hamstring injury sustained during training in Brisbane.

The highly rated sprinter injured his left hamstring during a training session on Wednesday night. An MRI scan conducted the following morning confirmed a Grade 3C partial tear of the proximal biceps femoris tendon. While the tear affects less than 10 percent of the tendon's cross-sectional area, it extends over an eight-centimetre length, making it a significant injury that requires a lengthy rehabilitation period.

The diagnosis immediately ended Gout's hopes of competing in Eugene, where he had been expected to challenge for gold. The disappointment is even greater considering he had deliberately prioritized the World U20 Championships over the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, choosing to focus his entire season on the global junior championships.

In a heartfelt statement following the diagnosis, Gout shared his disappointment while remaining determined to return stronger.

"I'm very disappointed but I have no other possibility but to accept the situation. I understand this is part of athletics. My focus now will be on my rehab in the coming weeks and months and ensuring I come back in 2027 better and stronger and faster."

The withdrawal is a major blow not only for Australian athletics but also for fans around the world who had eagerly anticipated watching one of the sport's brightest young stars compete on the international stage. Gout has emerged as one of the most exciting sprint prospects of his generation, earning global attention with his remarkable speed and maturity at such a young age.

Although missing the World U20 Championships is a painful setback, the teenager and his support team are now focused entirely on recovery. Rather than rushing back to competition, the priority will be a complete rehabilitation to ensure he returns in peak condition.

With youth firmly on his side and enormous potential still ahead of him, there is every reason to believe this injury will become just another chapter in what promises to be an outstanding career. Athletics fans everywhere will now be hoping to see Gout Gout back on the track in 2027—fully recovered, stronger than ever, and ready to continue his rise among the world's elite sprinters.

Guatemalan distance runner Viviana Aroche celebrated one of the biggest victories of her career after claiming the women's 10,000m title at the 2026 Pan American Athletics Championships in Medellín, Colombia.

Following her gold-medal performance, Aroche reflected on the journey that led her to the top of the podium, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to achieve another major milestone while acknowledging the blessings she has experienced throughout her career.

The newly crowned Pan American champion reserved special praise for her longtime coach, Francisco Ayala Pérez, whose guidance has been instrumental in her development over the years.

"We have been working together for many years, and we continue moving forward as a team," Aroche said. "This journey continues, and my desire to keep improving is greater than ever."

Aroche also spoke passionately about the pride of representing Guatemala on the continental stage, describing it as a tremendous honor to see her country's flag raised after her victory.

She now turns her attention to the future, setting her sights on the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, where she hopes to once again wear the Guatemalan colors with distinction.

Her triumph in Medellín is a testament to years of discipline, resilience, and consistent hard work. More than just a gold medal, it represents the rewards of unwavering commitment and a partnership with her coach that continues to drive her toward even greater achievements.

The TCS London Marathon is preparing to enter a new era after organisers confirmed that the iconic race will be staged across two consecutive days in 2027, marking the first time in its 46-year history that the event will adopt such a format.

The unprecedented move will allow up to 100,000 participants to take part, making it one of the largest marathon celebrations ever held and potentially the biggest charity fundraising event in British history.

Race organisers say the decision comes in response to overwhelming demand from runners around the world. In recent years, applications for the London Marathon have reached record-breaking levels, with hundreds of thousands of hopeful participants competing for a place on the start line. The expanded format is designed to give more people the opportunity to experience one of the world's most prestigious road races while further strengthening its remarkable charitable impact.

Since its inception in 1981, the London Marathon has grown from a major sporting event into a national institution renowned for its unique blend of elite competition, community participation, and fundraising. The race has generated billions of pounds for charitable causes over the decades, with runners consistently using the event as a platform to support organizations close to their hearts.

Organisers believe the two-day format could unlock an unprecedented wave of fundraising, with projections suggesting the event could raise more than £150 million for charity. If achieved, the figure would establish a new benchmark for mass-participation fundraising events in the United Kingdom.

The expanded race weekend is also expected to deliver significant economic benefits for London, attracting tens of thousands of additional visitors, supporters, and international participants. Hotels, restaurants, and local businesses are likely to see a major boost as the capital hosts what promises to be one of the largest running gatherings ever assembled.

While details regarding how elite races and mass-participation fields will be divided across the two days are yet to be fully outlined, the announcement has already generated excitement throughout the global running community.

For marathon enthusiasts, charity fundraisers, and first-time runners alike, 2027 promises to be a historic chapter in the London Marathon's story—a bold expansion of an event that continues to redefine what is possible in distance running while inspiring millions around the world.

With 100,000 runners expected on the streets of London, the 2027 edition is set to become more than a marathon; it will be a landmark celebration of endurance, community, and charitable giving on a scale never seen before.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A landmark chapter in global distance running has been written, with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon officially securing its place among the world's most prestigious road races. Following a rigorous assessment process, the event has been awarded Abbott World Marathon Majors status, becoming the eighth race in the renowned series and the first ever on African soil.

The announcement marks a historic breakthrough not only for South Africa but for the entire African continent, which has long been recognized as the heartbeat of distance running. For decades, African athletes have dominated marathon racing around the world. Now, Africa finally has a Major of its own.

Beginning with the 2027 edition, scheduled for 22–23 May, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will join an elite group of races that includes Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. The achievement elevates Cape Town into one of the most celebrated destinations in global marathon running and cements Africa's place at the highest level of the sport.

The journey to Major status has been years in the making, driven by relentless commitment from race organizers, athletes, volunteers, sponsors, running clubs, and supporters who believed in the vision of bringing a World Marathon Major to Africa. Through continuous improvements in race organization, international standards, athlete experience, and community engagement, the event steadily built a reputation worthy of the sport's grandest stage.

For many within the running community, the moment represents far more than the success of a single race. It is a victory for an entire continent whose passion for athletics has inspired generations. From elite champions to recreational runners, countless individuals have contributed to turning what once seemed an ambitious dream into reality.

The elevation of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is expected to boost international participation, tourism, and investment while providing a powerful platform to showcase Africa's culture, landscapes, and sporting excellence to a global audience.

As the countdown begins to May 2027, celebrations are already underway across the running world. The message resonating from Cape Town to every corner of Africa is clear: history has been made.

Africa's first Abbott World Marathon Major has arrived, and a new era for distance running has officially begun.

The California International Marathon is preparing for one of the most significant transformations in its history, with organizers confirming plans to dramatically expand the race beginning in 2027. Long regarded as one of America's premier marathon courses, CIM will nearly double its capacity while giving runners more time to reach the finish line, opening the door for thousands of additional participants.

The announcement follows a new agreement involving Union Pacific, whose freight rail operations have historically influenced race-day logistics along the course. Under the new arrangement, trains will be held for a longer period, allowing organizers to extend road closures and accommodate a much larger field than ever before.

As a result, participation is expected to grow from approximately 10,000 runners to nearly 20,000 through the introduction of a second starting wave. The expansion marks a major milestone for a race that has steadily increased in popularity among both elite competitors and recreational marathoners.

Perhaps the most welcome change for many runners is the extension of the race cutoff time. For years, CIM enforced a strict six-hour limit, largely because the course needed to reopen before scheduled rail operations resumed. Beginning in 2027, that deadline will be extended to at least six hours and 45 minutes, with race organizers gaining an additional 45 minutes to an hour of road-closure time.

The revised cutoff creates new opportunities for participants who may have previously struggled to finish within the existing time restriction. More runners will now be able to complete the marathon experience without the pressure of an unusually demanding cutoff clock.

Despite the expansion, the California International Marathon will retain the characteristics that have made it one of the world's most respected marathon courses. The point-to-point route from Folsom to downtown Sacramento remains unchanged, featuring a net elevation drop of 366 feet while staying comfortably within Boston Marathon qualifying standards for downhill courses.

Combined with Northern California's typically cool early-December conditions, the course has earned a reputation as one of the fastest and most reliable venues for athletes chasing personal bests and Boston Marathon qualification marks.

That reputation is supported by impressive numbers. In 2025, more than 30 percent of CIM finishers achieved Boston-qualifying times, an extraordinary statistic that highlights the race's appeal among serious marathoners. With Boston Marathon qualifying standards becoming five minutes faster for most age groups beginning in 2026, fast and athlete-friendly courses such as CIM are expected to become even more sought after.

For runners planning their next marathon, there is no immediate change. The 2026 edition will operate under the same format that has defined the event for more than four decades. The landmark expansion—including the larger field and extended cutoff time—will officially debut in 2027.

As the California International Marathon enters a new era, organizers are balancing growth with tradition, ensuring that one of America's most celebrated road races remains both accessible and competitive. For thousands of future participants, the message is clear: there will soon be more room on the start line and more opportunity at the finish.

The road to the World Athletics Championships marathon has never been more unforgiving. What was once an attainable global benchmark for many international runners has now evolved into an exclusive club reserved for only the fastest athletes on the planet. Over the last two decades, the qualification standards for the championships marathon have dropped dramatically, reflecting the explosive evolution of elite distance running across the world.

Back in Helsinki 2005, male athletes could secure qualification with a time of 2:18:00, while women needed 2:45:00 to earn a place on the starting line. The standards remained unchanged at the Osaka 2007 Championships, maintaining an era where consistency and endurance were enough to compete on the world stage.

However, the landscape of marathon running slowly began to transform between 2009 and 2017. Qualification times fluctuated between 2:16 and 2:19 for men, while women’s standards ranged from 2:38 to 2:45. Even then, the shift toward faster racing had already begun, driven by deeper international competition and advancements in sports science.

The major turning point arrived in 2019 during the Doha World Championships. World Athletics introduced a new qualification structure, replacing the old “A” and “B” standards with a unified direct-entry system supported by world rankings. At the same time, the standards became significantly tougher, dropping to 2:16:00 for men and 2:37:00 for women.

What followed was an unprecedented acceleration in elite marathon performances.

By the time the championships moved to Eugene in 2022 and Budapest in 2023, the entry standards had tightened even further to 2:14:30 for men and 2:33:30 for women. These were no longer simply elite times — they were becoming world-class requirements.

Then came the astonishing leap for Tokyo 2025 and Beijing 2027.

World Athletics pushed the standards to a staggering 2:06:30 for men and 2:23:30 for women — marks that place athletes among the very best marathoners globally. In today’s era, running a national-class performance is no longer enough; athletes must now deliver near-podium level times simply to qualify.

The dramatic drop in standards reflects far more than just faster athletes. Modern marathon running has been reshaped by revolutionary shoe technology, improved pacing systems, advanced nutrition strategies, scientific training methods, altitude preparation, and the growing depth of competition worldwide. The sport has entered a high-speed era where records fall rapidly and expectations continue to rise.

For many athletes, the new standards represent both inspiration and pressure. Qualification now demands extraordinary precision, consistency, and near-perfect execution over 42.195 kilometres. Every second matters more than ever before.

Yet despite the increasing difficulty, the evolution also highlights the remarkable progress of human performance. Marathon running is no longer merely about endurance — it has become a showcase of innovation, tactical intelligence, and extreme athletic excellence.

The World Championships marathon has evolved from a global competition into one of the most selective endurance events in athletics history, and the future suggests the standards may only continue to get faster.

The road to the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing has officially begun — and earning a place on athletics’ biggest stage is about to become even more demanding.

World Athletics has now confirmed the qualification system and entry standards for the championships set for September 2027 in Beijing, China, introducing a major adjustment that could reshape the battle for global qualification across distance running and track events.

Under the newly announced structure, only around 40 percent of athletes will qualify automatically through direct entry standards, while the remaining 60 percent of places will be awarded via the World Athletics Rankings system. The change represents a clear shift away from the previous 50-50 balance used in recent championships.

The updated model places greater emphasis on consistency throughout the season rather than relying solely on one exceptional performance. Athletes will now need to compete regularly at high-level meetings, collect ranking points, and maintain elite performances across an extended qualification period.

For distance runners, the standards remain exceptionally demanding, highlighting the increasing depth and competitiveness of global athletics.

In the men’s marathon, athletes must run 2:06:00 or faster to secure an automatic qualification mark, while the women’s standard has been set at 2:23:20. The qualifying window for the marathon opened on November 3, 2025, and will close on Midnight May 2, 2027.

The men’s 10,000m standard has been fixed at 26:48.00, with the women required to run 30:40.00. In the 5000m, athletes must clock 12:50.00 for men and 14:36.00 for women to gain direct entry.

Middle-distance events will also demand world-class performances. The men’s 1500m standard stands at 3:30.00, while women must achieve 3:58.00. In the 800m, the entry standards are 1:43.00 for men and 1:57.50 for women.

Sprint events remain brutally competitive. Athletes targeting the men’s 100m must break 10 seconds with a qualifying standard of 9.95, while the women’s requirement has been set at 10.96. In the 200m, the standards stand at 20.07 for men and 22.45 for women.

The hurdles events also demand elite-level precision and speed, with qualifying marks of 13.18 in the men’s 110m hurdles and 12.60 in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Meanwhile, the 3000m steeplechase standards have been fixed at 8:08.00 for men and 9:06.50 for women — times that underline the growing global standard in one of athletics’ most physically demanding disciplines.

World Athletics says the revised qualification pathway is designed to create stronger, more competitive championship fields while maintaining strict control of athlete numbers across all disciplines.

Qualification windows for the 10,000m, race walks, combined events, and relays will run from February 23, 2026, through August 22, 2027. For all other track events, athletes can qualify between August 23, 2026, and August 22, 2027.

The new system is expected to intensify competition across the entire athletics calendar, with ranking points now becoming more valuable than ever before. Athletes will no longer depend solely on one breakthrough race; instead, sustained excellence across multiple competitions may prove decisive in securing a ticket to Beijing.

As preparations begin worldwide, the countdown to Beijing 2027 has already sparked anticipation for what could become one of the most fiercely contested World Championships in recent history.

London changed marathon history forever as Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha became the first two men ever to officially break the two-hour barrier for the marathon. Sawe won in 1:59:30, while Kejelcha stunned the world by running 1:59:41 in his marathon debut.

Now the focus shifts to the next question:

Where should Kejelcha run his second marathon?

And perhaps even more intriguing:

Can he become the first man to officially run under 1:59?

“Not to take away from Sawe’s amazing 1:59:30 marathon in winning London, but Kejelcha in second place clocked 1:59:41 in his first marathon ever. I think Yomif under perfect conditions can run under 1:59,” says Bob Anderson, lifetime runner and My Best Runs editor.

That possibility suddenly feels very real.

Kejelcha has long been considered one of the most naturally gifted distance runners in the sport. Before moving to the marathon, the Ethiopian star built a remarkable résumé that included world-class performances from 1500 meters through the half marathon. His 57:30 half marathon performance in Valencia confirmed that he possessed a rare combination of speed, efficiency, and endurance.

Those qualities are essential for what may become the next great frontier in distance running.

Breaking 1:59 would require sustaining approximately 4:32 per mile for the entire marathon distance. That demands not only endurance, but extraordinary efficiency and the ability to remain relaxed while running at near-impossible speeds.

Very few athletes in history have appeared capable of that challenge.

Kejelcha now looks like one of them.

What makes his London performance even more extraordinary is that it came in his first attempt at the distance. Most elite marathoners require several races to learn the rhythm of fueling, pacing, and surviving the final 10 kilometers. Kejelcha immediately looked comfortable at a pace no one had ever officially sustained before.

That suggests there may still be room for improvement.

The question now becomes strategy.

Berlin immediately stands out as a logical option for his second marathon. No course in history has produced more marathon world records. Flat roads, cool temperatures, elite pacing, and ideal racing conditions have made Berlin the gold standard for fast marathoning.

If Kejelcha wants to make an immediate attack on history, Berlin would seem the obvious choice.

But there may be reasons to wait.

The Berlin Marathon comes only five months after London, and Kejelcha’s team may decide that patience is the smarter path. A debut marathon at world-record pace places enormous stress on the body, and carefully managing recovery could be critical to his long-term development.

Valencia may ultimately be the most intriguing possibility.

The Spanish race has rapidly become one of the fastest marathons in the world, producing countless personal bests and breakthrough performances. Kejelcha already has history there after running his half marathon world record, and the course appears perfectly suited to his smooth, efficient running style.

Chicago could also enter the conversation, though weather and wind conditions there can be less predictable.

Another option is Sevilla in early 2027, a race increasingly recognized for its fast course and ideal winter conditions.

Tokyo would provide prestige and global attention, but Berlin and Valencia are still generally viewed as superior venues for historic time attempts.

If Kejelcha’s goal is simply to win major marathons, he already has the ability to compete anywhere in the world.

But if the goal is to break 1:59, every detail matters:

weather,

pacing,

wind,

temperature,

fueling,

race timing,

and course design.

The difference between 1:59:41 and 1:58:59 may ultimately come down to only a few seconds per mile.

Still, London fundamentally changed how the running world views the limits of the marathon.

For years, an official sub-two-hour marathon felt impossible. Now the sport is already looking beyond that barrier.

At just 27 years old, Yomif Kejelcha may only be beginning his marathon career.

And after what happened in London, the possibility of a sub-1:59 marathon no longer feels unrealistic.

It feels possible.  

In a race defined by precision, courage, and rising ambition, Kenya delivered a performance to remember at the World Athletics Relays 2026 in Gaborone. The quartet of Mercy Oketch, George Mutinda, Kevin Tonui, and Mercy Chebet combined brilliance and composure to clock an outstanding three minutes, nine point eight seven seconds, rewriting the African record in the mixed 4x400m relay.

It was more than just a fast race—it was a statement.

Team Kenya did not simply chase the clock; they reshaped expectations of African sprinting on the global stage. Their electrifying run secured second place in their heat, confidently advancing them to the final, while also sealing automatic qualification for the 2027 World Championships.

Though they crossed the line behind a dominant Great Britain & Northern Ireland squad, the significance of Kenya’s performance resonated far beyond the finishing order. This was a breakthrough moment—one that signaled a new era.

From the opening leg, Kenya showed intent. Oketch set the tone with a controlled yet aggressive start, keeping the team firmly in contention. Mutinda followed with discipline and balance, maintaining momentum under pressure. Tonui then injected raw power into the race, closing crucial ground before handing over to Chebet, who delivered a determined anchor leg to secure the historic result.

The achievement reflects a shifting identity in Kenyan athletics. Long revered for its dominance in distance running, the nation is now steadily building a formidable presence in sprint relays—an evolution underscored by this record-breaking display.

The mixed 4x400m relay continues to captivate with its blend of strategy, speed, and teamwork. In Gaborone, it offered Kenya the perfect stage to announce its arrival among the world’s elite.

Not a finish line, but a powerful warning—the final still awaits.

Jamaica delivered a performance of breathtaking precision at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, storming to a sensational world record of 39.99 seconds in the mixed 4x100 metres relay—while securing qualification for both the final and the 2027 World Championships.

Though it came in a qualifying heat, the run carried the authority of a championship-winning performance. Jamaica did not merely progress—they redefined the standard. In one explosive display, they confirmed their place in the final and, crucially, booked early qualification for the World Athletics Championships.

The execution was nothing short of elite. The mixed 4x100m, still a developing event, demands absolute clarity in timing and flawless baton exchanges between male and female athletes. Jamaica delivered with remarkable cohesion, their transitions smooth and their speed devastating from start to finish.

Stopping the clock at 39.99 at this stage of the competition sends a powerful message. It highlights not only their dominance but also the possibility that an even faster performance could emerge when medals are on the line.

With the mixed 4x100m set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Jamaica’s run in Gaborone stands as a defining early benchmark in the event’s history. It reflects the nation’s enduring sprint legacy, now evolving into new formats with the same authority.

What was meant to be a step toward the final became something far greater—a record-breaking statement, a qualification secured, and a clear warning to the world.

All eyes now turn to the final, where Jamaica will look to transform early dominance into gold.

When greatness speaks, the world listens—and this time, it echoes with purpose. At 40, Allyson Felix has reignited the spark that once made her the heartbeat of global sprinting. In a move that has sent ripples across the athletics world, the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history has announced her return from retirement, setting her sights firmly on the 2028 Summer Olympics.

For Felix, this is not merely a comeback—it is a calling. She describes it as a “once-in-a-lifetime homecoming,” a rare alignment of legacy and location. The Olympic stage will return to Los Angeles, her home soil, offering a poetic full circle to a career already etched in gold. Few athletes ever get the chance to close their journey where it all feels most personal. Felix intends to seize that moment.

Dubbed “Project Six,” her ambitious pursuit targets a sixth Olympic appearance—an extraordinary milestone that would see her add to a résumé spanning 2004 Athens Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, 2016 Rio Olympics, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Remarkably, Felix has never left the Olympic stage empty-handed—her consistency as striking as her brilliance.

Her planned return to competition in 2027 signals more than preparation; it reflects discipline, patience, and belief. The modern era of sprinting is faster, younger, and fiercely competitive—but Felix has never been defined by age or expectation. She has thrived on rewriting limits.

Yet beyond medals and records, this comeback carries a deeper narrative. Felix has long been a voice for athletes—particularly mothers and women—challenging norms and advocating for change within sport. Her return now blends that advocacy with ambition, proving that elite performance and evolving identity can coexist.

If Los Angeles 2028 becomes her final act, it promises to be more than a race. It will be a statement. A celebration. A reminder that greatness does not simply fade—it chooses its moment to rise again.

And Allyson Felix, once more, is ready to run.

In a bold and transformative move, World Athletics has laid out a visionary roadmap that will reshape the future of distance running. At the heart of this strategy is the introduction of a standalone World Marathon Championships, set to debut in 2030—marking a historic shift for one of the sport’s most iconic disciplines.

For decades, the marathon has been a cornerstone of the World Athletics Championships, embodying endurance, tradition, and global prestige. However, under the new structure, the event will make its final appearances within the Championships in 2027 and 2029 before stepping into its own spotlight. From 2031 onward, road races—including the marathon—will no longer feature in the World Championships program.

Instead, the newly established World Marathon Championships will stand as an annual spectacle, designed to elevate the discipline to unprecedented heights. In a unique format, elite men’s and women’s races will alternate each year, maintaining the rhythm of top-level competition while creating a more focused and commercially vibrant platform for the sport’s biggest stars.

This evolution is not happening in isolation. World Athletics has emphasized that the championship is being built in close collaboration with key stakeholders who have helped turn the marathon into a global phenomenon—from race organizers to commercial partners. While further details of these partnerships are yet to be revealed, the intention is clear: to create an event that reflects both the heritage and the modern dynamism of road running.

Meanwhile, the World Athletics Road Running Championships will continue as a separate annual competition, ensuring that shorter road distances retain their own global stage.

Adding a layer of historical significance to this new chapter, the ancient city of Athens has emerged as the preferred host for the inaugural edition in 2030. Widely regarded as the spiritual home of the marathon, Athens offers a symbolic and cultural resonance that aligns perfectly with the ambitions of the new championship. The Athens Marathon The Authentic—already steeped in legend—has further strengthened its case by attaining Elite Label status, reinforcing its credentials on the global stage.

If confirmed, Athens would not only host a new competition but also bridge the ancient origins of the marathon with its modern evolution, creating a powerful narrative that celebrates both legacy and progress.

This strategic shift signals more than just a structural change—it represents a reimagining of how the marathon is experienced, celebrated, and elevated worldwide. By giving the event its own dedicated platform, World Athletics is betting on a future where the marathon stands taller than ever, commanding global attention in a way never seen before.

The ever-growing appeal of the London Marathon has reached a remarkable new milestone, prompting organizers to consider a bold and transformative shift for the 2027 edition. Following another year of record-breaking interest, plans are being explored to stage the iconic race across two days—an innovation that could redefine one of the world’s most celebrated marathons.

In 2026, the event attracted an astonishing 1.1 million public applications, a figure that underscores its unmatched global allure. Yet, with only a fraction of applicants securing a place, the demand has far outpaced capacity. The proposed two-day format seeks to address this imbalance, potentially allowing close to 100,000 runners to participate—effectively doubling the current field.

Under the new concept, the traditional structure of the race would undergo a significant evolution. The elite men’s and women’s competitions, typically contested on the same day, would instead be separated, each taking center stage on its own day. This shift would not only create more space for mass participation but could also provide greater visibility and storytelling opportunities for both elite races, giving each its own spotlight.

Such a change represents more than just logistical expansion—it signals a reimagining of the marathon experience itself. For amateur runners, the opportunity to be part of this historic event would become more accessible. For spectators and global audiences, a two-day spectacle could enhance engagement, turning the marathon into a weekend-long celebration of endurance, diversity, and human achievement.

However, the proposal is not without debate. Critics may question whether splitting the elite races could dilute the traditional head-to-head drama that defines championship-style competition. Others may raise concerns about the increased operational demands on the city, from road closures to crowd management. Yet, in an era where participation sport continues to surge, innovation may be the only path forward.

Ultimately, the idea reflects a simple truth: the London Marathon is no longer just a race—it is a global movement. Expanding it across two days could be the next logical step in ensuring that more people, from all walks of life, have the chance to be part of something extraordinary.

Whether embraced or contested, one thing is certain—the future of marathon running in London is on the brink of a historic evolution.

The 9th edition of the Marina Double Road Race delivered yet another memorable chapter along the scenic waterfront of Brisbane, as runners took to the flat and fast course on March 21, 2026. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the San Francisco Bay, the event once again showcased the unique blend of competition, community, and pure running joy that defines this race.

From the opening strides at Sierra Point to the turnaround at Oyster Point and back, athletes were met with near-perfect conditions. Calm weather and a picturesque route created the ideal stage for both elite performances and personal triumphs, as participants across the Double 15K, 10K, 5K, and Kids Mile embraced the rhythm of the day.

Adding to its distinctive appeal, the Double 15K is a unique race concept created by Bob Anderson, designed to test both speed and endurance in a strategic format. Athletes first complete a 10K, then return 1 hour and 45 minutes later to race a 5K, with their combined times determining the final standings. Beyond overall results, the coveted Double Victory Cup is awarded to the runner who achieves the best age-graded performance—an element that celebrates excellence across all ages, highlighted this year by an outstanding victory from a 50-year-old woman, Ritsuko Tague who delivered 58:49, the top age-graded run of the day.

At the front of the field, the Double 15K produced a series of standout performances led by Anthony Cortes, who delivered a commanding run to win the men’s race in 49:42. He was followed by Harold Castiaux, whose strong and steady effort secured second place in 55:16, while Ben Kortlang claimed third in 57:35 with a determined finish. Fernando Wotari completed the top four, crossing the line in 1:07:50.

In the women’s race, Ritsuko Tague showcased both experience and strength, surging to victory in 58:49 with an impressive display of control. Bella Rogers followed in 1:08:37, highlighting her emerging potential, while Anitha Nanunda took third in 1:15:02 through a resilient performance. Julia Rogers rounded out the top four, finishing in 1:21:25.

Beyond the leading pack, the depth of competition across the age groups added another layer of meaning to the event. From the 40–49 to the 60–69 divisions, athletes demonstrated that excellence in running knows no boundaries of age, blending experience, discipline, and enduring passion into performances that were as inspiring as they were competitive.

More than just a race, the Marina Double 15K once again brought together a vibrant community united by a shared love of the sport. Familiar faces reconnected, new friendships were formed, and every finisher contributed to the spirit that makes this event truly special.

With the energy of this edition still fresh, the journey continues toward the next chapter on April 3, 2027—another opportunity to hit the road, chase new goals, and write fresh stories along the timeless beauty of the Bay.

In a surprising yet calculated move, the United States has announced it will not field men’s or women’s 4x400m relay teams at the 2026 World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana. The decision, confirmed by USA Track & Field, reflects a blend of logistical challenges, financial considerations, and a shifting competitive strategy in global athletics.

At the heart of the matter lies the difficulty of assembling top-tier relay squads outside major championship seasons. With elite athletes prioritizing individual events and carefully managing their schedules, securing a truly competitive “A team” has proven increasingly complex. Sending second-tier squads, while an option, carries both financial strain and reputational risk for a nation long synonymous with relay dominance.

The World Relays, scheduled for May 2–3 in Gaborone, serve as a crucial gateway to global championships. They act as the primary qualification pathway for both the 2026 World Ultimate Championships (mixed relays) and the 2027 World Championships, where only the top 12 teams per event advance. Despite their absence, USATF remains confident that its 4x400m teams can still secure qualification through world rankings—a route that rewards consistency across the season rather than a single high-stakes performance.

Beyond qualification implications, the decision alters the narrative of one of track and field’s most compelling rivalries. The anticipated rematch between the United States and Botswana in the men’s 4x400m relay will not materialize on Botswana soil. This comes after the two nations shared dramatic victories at the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2025 World Championships, delivering performances that electrified fans and elevated the event’s global profile.

For Botswana, the absence of the American team removes a formidable opponent but also shifts the spotlight. Competing at home, their athletes now carry heightened expectations to capitalize on familiar conditions and passionate local support. For the United States, meanwhile, the move underscores a longer-term vision—prioritizing peak performance at major championships over participation in every qualifying event.

Ultimately, this decision signals more than a withdrawal; it reflects an evolving philosophy in elite athletics. As the sport becomes increasingly strategic, even the most dominant nations are redefining how—and when—they compete. The ripple effects will be felt not only in Gaborone but across the global track and field landscape as the road to 2027 begins to take shape.

The landscape of global marathon racing could soon undergo a significant transformation after the Abbott World Marathon Majors confirmed that the Shanghai Marathon has successfully passed the first stage of evaluation in its quest to join the prestigious marathon series.

The Chinese race is now one step closer to becoming part of one of the most exclusive clubs in road running. If the event fulfills all remaining criteria during its December 2026 edition, Shanghai could officially be welcomed into the Majors calendar as early as 2027.

Such a development would mark a major milestone not only for the race itself but also for marathon running in Asia. In recent years, the Shanghai Marathon has steadily grown in stature, attracting elite athletes and producing performances that signal its readiness for the sport’s highest tier.

Evidence of that progress was on full display at the latest edition when former world record holder Brigid Kosgei delivered a historic run, clocking the fastest marathon ever recorded on Chinese soil. Her performance underscored the race’s rising reputation as a venue capable of hosting world-class competition and record-breaking moments.

At the same time, another race is nearing a decisive moment in its own bid for inclusion. The Cape Town Marathon is currently undergoing its final evaluation phase, with hopes of becoming the first African event to join the celebrated marathon series. Should it succeed, it would represent a landmark achievement for distance running across the continent and further highlight Africa’s profound influence on the sport.

If both Shanghai and Cape Town ultimately secure approval, the Abbott World Marathon Majors would expand from seven races to nine, reflecting the sport’s growing global reach.

At present, the Majors circuit consists of the world’s most iconic marathons: the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and the recently added Sydney Marathon.

The possible addition of Shanghai and Cape Town would represent more than just numerical growth. It would signal a new era for marathon running — one that reflects the sport’s expanding global footprint, bringing the Majors closer to runners and fans across Asia and Africa while strengthening the truly worldwide identity of the marathon.

The 2026 Pyongyang International Marathon, scheduled for April 5, 2026, has been cancelled, according to the race’s international partner.

The announcement came from Koryo Tours, which said it received notice from the North Korea Athletics Association that the event would not take place.

In a brief message attributed to the association’s general secretary, organizers stated that the marathon was being cancelled “due to some reasons.” No further explanation was provided. 

Koryo Tours said it understands the decision is final and that it was made “at a level above the organisers of the event itself.” The company added that it is seeking clarification about the circumstances surrounding the cancellation.

The Pyongyang International Marathon was first established in 1981 to commemorate the birth of Kim Il Sung.

The race had only recently returned to the international calendar after being suspended for five consecutive years during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the event resuming in 2025.

The marathon is notable because it is held in North Korea, one of the most closed countries in the world, making it a rare opportunity for international runners to compete in Pyongyang. 

At this time, no official explanation has been given for the cancellation, and organizers have not announced whether the event will return in 2027.

Ethiopian middle-distance runner Diribe Welteji has been handed a two-year ban after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld an appeal filed by World Athletics.

The ruling confirms that Welteji committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation after failing to provide a sample during an out-of-competition test conducted on 25 February 2025.

In its decision, CAS stated that the violation was not intentional. However, the panel determined that the athlete was negligent and did not present sufficient justification for failing to comply with the testing requirements. Under global anti-doping regulations, athletes are strictly responsible for cooperating with testing procedures at all times.

As a result of the ruling, Welteji will serve a two-year period of ineligibility from 8 July 2025 through 30 June 2027, with credit given for the provisional suspension already served. In addition, all competitive results recorded from 25 February 2025 onward have been disqualified.

The decision marks a significant pause in the career of one of Ethiopia’s leading middle-distance talents, who has been a regular presence on the international circuit in recent seasons.

Welteji will be eligible to return to competition on 30 June 2027. Until then, the sanction stands under the framework of World Athletics’ anti-doping code, reinforcing the sport’s commitment to maintaining integrity and equal standards for all competitors.

The University of Georgia has officially unveiled its new 60 million dollar track and field complex in Athens, marking one of the most significant facility investments in collegiate track and field in recent years.

The 59.8 million dollar project was funded primarily through private gifts and donations to the university’s athletics program, allowing the development to move forward without placing additional financial strain on students or local taxpayers. The result is a state of the art venue that serves both the Georgia Bulldogs track and field program and the broader running community.

A Modern Facility Built for Performance

Located on South Milledge Avenue, the 37 acre complex replaces the former Spec Towns Track and represents a dramatic upgrade in both scale and capability.

Key features include:

• A nine lane 400 meter outdoor competition track

• Seating for approximately 2,500 spectators with expansion capability

• Dedicated long jump triple jump and pole vault areas

• Throws fields and turf training spaces

• A 110 meter training hill

• Modern locker rooms recovery areas and sports medicine space

• Press box observation deck and event amenities

The stadium is named in honor of Forrest Spec Towns Olympic gold medalist and legendary Georgia coach whose legacy remains central to the program’s history.

Indoor Training Track Within the Stadium

What truly sets this complex apart is the integrated indoor training straightaway built beneath the grandstand. The climate controlled indoor space features five lanes and allows athletes to complete sprint sessions drills and speed work regardless of weather conditions.

The design is sleek and modern with advanced lighting and a professional performance center feel. This addition gives Georgia athletes a year round training advantage and enhances recruiting appeal within the highly competitive SEC conference.

Open to the Public

Perhaps most notably the facility includes designated public access times. Local runners walkers youth athletes and clubs will have the opportunity to train on a world class surface typically reserved for Division I athletes.

That decision strengthens the connection between the university and the Athens community and positions the city as an emerging destination for track and field enthusiasts.

Hosting Major Events

The new complex is already scheduled to host major competitions including the Classic City Track and Field Invitational and the GHSA state championships. The SEC Championships are also scheduled to be held here in 2027 further cementing Athens as a key venue in collegiate athletics.

A Bold Statement for the Sport

In an era when many collegiate programs face budget challenges this 60 million dollar investment sends a strong message about the importance of track and field at Georgia. Facilities influence recruiting performance and community engagement.

Athens Georgia now stands among the premier track and field locations in the southeastern United States offering elite competition infrastructure while remaining accessible to the public.

For the Bulldogs it is a competitive advantage.

For the community it is opportunity.

For the sport it is a powerful statement of belief in its future.

For the first time in more than three decades, New York City will once again stand at the center of American track and field. USA Track & Field has officially announced that the 2026 U.S. Outdoor Championships will be held at Icahn Stadium from July 23–26, bringing the nation’s top athletes to one of the sport’s most historic and iconic settings.

This announcement marks a significant shift for the championships, which in recent years have been closely associated with Eugene, Oregon. Since 2021, Eugene—home of Hayward Field—has served as the primary stage for the national championships, reinforcing its reputation as TrackTown USA. Now, the move to New York signals both a return to the sport’s roots and a renewed commitment to expanding track and field’s visibility in major metropolitan centers

Icahn Stadium, located on Randall’s Island, is no stranger to elite competition. The venue has hosted numerous international meets, including Diamond League events, and has earned a reputation for producing fast times and memorable performances. Its IAAF Class 1 certification and world-class facilities make it a fitting location for the country’s premier outdoor championship.

The 2026 championships will also carry major significance beyond national titles. The meet will serve as a key proving ground for American athletes preparing for future global competitions, with many using the event to establish momentum heading into the 2027 World Championships cycle.

New York City has a rich but underappreciated history in U.S. track and field. The last time the city hosted a national outdoor championship was in 1991 at Downing Stadium, making the 2026 event a historic return after 35 years. Bringing the championships back to New York reconnects the sport with one of the world’s great athletic capitals and offers a powerful opportunity to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans.

Meanwhile, Eugene’s role remains firmly intact. USA Track & Field has confirmed that the 2027 U.S. Outdoor Championships will return to Eugene, where the team for the 2027 World Championships in Beijing, China, will be selected. This dual-city approach reflects the sport’s growing national footprint while honoring both tradition and innovation.

For athletes, the 2026 championships in New York will represent more than a national competition—it will be an opportunity to perform on one of the sport’s biggest domestic stages, in front of a diverse and passionate audience. For fans, it will be a rare chance to witness America’s best runners, jumpers, and throwers competing in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

The return of the U.S. Outdoor Championships to New York City marks a historic moment—one that connects past and present, celebrates the sport’s national reach, and reminds the world that track and field belongs on the biggest stages.

The 2025 Shanghai Marathon delivered the kind of fireworks organizers were hoping for on Sunday, November 30—fast times, dominant front-running, and a powerful statement that Shanghai is ready to join the World Marathon Majors.

More than 23,000 runners started at the Bund at 7 a.m., racing through one of the world’s most iconic skylines before finishing at Shanghai Stadium. Both the men’s and women’s races produced standout performances.

Kosgei Back on Top With a Historic Run

Former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei returned to the top of the podium in commanding style. The 31-year-old Kenyan surged early, hit halfway under 69 minutes, and never looked back, winning in 2:16:36—

• the fastest marathon ever run on Chinese soil,

• a new Shanghai course record, and

• the third-fastest performance of her career.

Only compatriot Irine Chepet Cheptai could stay close in the early miles, eventually taking second in 2:18:51. Ethiopia’s Tiruye Mesfin finished third in 2:20:38, followed closely by fellow Ethiopian Bekelech Gudeta at 2:20:59.

China’s top star Zhang Deshun placed fifth in 2:25:13, continuing her impressive streak of top domestic finishes.

Ethiopia Sweeps the Men’s Podium

The men’s race unfolded differently—a large, aggressive pack early on before Ethiopia dominated the final 10K. In a furious sprint to the line, Milkesa Mengesha broke the tape in 2:06:25, edging compatriot Dawit Wolde by two seconds. Deresa Geleta finished third in 2:06:36, completing an all-Ethiopian podium.

Five Ethiopians broke 2:07, underscoring the depth at the front.

China’s Feng Peiyou delivered the best domestic performance of the day, clocking 2:08:36, the fastest marathon ever run by a Chinese athlete in Shanghai. Countrymen Yang Kegu, Li Dalin, and Ma Rui also cracked the top ten.

Top 10 Results

Men

1. Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) – 2:06:25

2. Dawit Wolde (ETH) – 2:06:27

3. Deresa Geleta (ETH) – 2:06:36

4. Haftu Teklu (ETH) – 2:06:57

5. Challa Gossa (ETH) – 2:08:06

6. Feng Peiyou (CHN) – 2:08:36

7. Solomon Kirwa Yego (KEN) – 2:09:42

8. Yang Kegu (CHN) – 2:12:00

9. Li Dalin (CHN) – 2:13:11

10. Ma Rui (CHN) – 2:13:26

Women

1. Brigid Kosgei (KEN) – 2:16:36 (course & Chinese all-comers record)

2. Irine Chepet Cheptai (KEN) – 2:18:51

3. Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) – 2:20:38

4. Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) – 2:20:59

5. Zhang Deshun (CHN) – 2:25:13

6. Veronicah Njeri Maina (KEN) – 2:26:33

7. Wu Shuang (CHN) – 2:27:17

8. Yao Miao (CHN) – 2:31:13

9. Shen Jiayao (CHN) – 2:31:57

10. Ma Xuexian (CHN) – 2:34:51

Shanghai’s Road to Becoming a Major

For the second straight year, organizers staged the race under the “Run Beyond Borders” banner, showcasing deep elite fields, expanded medical and volunteer support, and international broadcast coverage. Shanghai is currently undergoing World Marathon Majors evaluation, with the earliest possible inclusion in 2027.

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has confirmed new qualifying standards for the 2026 Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 20, 2026, and they are among the most demanding ever issued in the event’s 130-year history. For runners aged 18 to 59, the time standards have been made five minutes faster than those used for the 2025 race — a reflection of both the extraordinary growth in marathon participation and the deepening field of competitive age-group runners.

These updates reinforce the B.A.A.’s commitment to maintaining the Boston Marathon as the pinnacle of achievement for amateur and professional runners alike. With more applicants qualifying each year than the race can accept, meeting the standard no longer guarantees entry — runners must often exceed the qualifying mark by several minutes to secure a bib.

2026 Boston Marathon Qualifying Standards

Age Group – Men – Women

18–34 – 2:55:00 – 3:25:00

35–39 – 3:00:00 – 3:30:00

40–44 – 3:05:00 – 3:35:00

45–49 – 3:15:00 – 3:45:00

50–54 – 3:20:00 – 3:50:00

55–59 – 3:30:00 – 4:00:00

60–64 – 3:50:00 – 4:20:00

65–69 – 4:05:00 – 4:35:00

70–74 – 4:20:00 – 4:50:00

75–79 – 4:35:00 – 5:05:00

80+ – 4:50:00 – 5:20:00

These standards closely match the official 2026 qualifying table published by the B.A.A. Standards for runners aged 60 and above have changed little or remained consistent with prior years, while younger age divisions (18–59) now face significantly faster requirements.

Meeting these times makes a runner eligible to apply for registration, but acceptance depends on the number of applicants. For the 2025 Boston Marathon, runners needed to be 6 minutes and 51 seconds faster than the posted standard to gain entry. For the 2026 edition, the cutoff narrowed but remained steep — 4 minutes and 34 seconds faster than the standard.

Elite Field Entry

The B.A.A. does not publicly post official qualifying times for elite athletes. Instead, entries are extended by invitation to runners who have recently achieved world-class performances. While not formalized, typical benchmarks for consideration are around sub-2:20 for men and sub-2:45 for women, depending on the depth of the field and prior race results.

Course Adjustments Coming for 2027

Beginning with the 2027 Boston Marathon, new rules will redefine which marathon courses count toward qualification. Races with net-downhill profiles will face time “indexing” to ensure fairness:

• Courses dropping 1,500–2,999 feet: +5 minutes added to finishing time

• Courses dropping 3,000–5,999 feet: +10 minutes added

• Courses dropping 6,000 feet or more: will no longer count as qualifiers

These adjustments, already confirmed by the B.A.A., are designed to standardize qualifying efforts across all marathon courses and eliminate advantages from steep downhill profiles.

What This Means for Runners

For competitive marathoners worldwide, the 2026 standards mark one of the most significant tightening periods in recent memory. The message from the B.A.A. is clear:

• Run faster than ever before.

• Choose a certified, fair course.

• Don’t aim to meet the standard — aim to beat it decisively.

The Boston Marathon remains the benchmark for excellence in distance running. With the 2026 standards now in place and additional adjustments ahead for 2027, the pursuit of a Boston Qualifier (BQ) remains one of the most respected — and challenging — achievements in the sport.

South African stars Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn solidified their places among the world’s best ultra runners with commanding victories at the 2025 Comrades Marathon, held Sunday, June 8. Dijana, now a three-time champion, won the men’s race in 5:25:27, edging out defending champion Piet Wiersma by just five seconds in a thrilling repeat of last year’s finish.

Steyn claimed her fourth Comrades title, joining elite company as only the second woman to win the race more than three times. Her time of 5:51:18 put her nearly five minutes ahead of runner-up Alexandra Morozova.

Race Distance and Pace

• Distance: 89.98 kilometers (55.9 miles)

• Tete Dijana’s average pace:

• 3:37 per km

• 5:50 per mile

• Gerda Steyn’s average pace:

• 3:54 per km

• 6:17 per mile

Innovations and Historic Field

The 98th edition of the Comrades, run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, featured a record Down Run field of 22,677 qualified entrants. For the first time in event history, organizers introduced a split start for safety and improved flow, with two groups starting 15 minutes apart.

The new finish line on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, adjacent to Durban’s People’s Park, added a festive atmosphere with expanded hospitality and club support zones.

Elite Race Highlights

In the men’s race, Onalenna Khonkhobe led early before Dijana surged with 20km to go. Dutchman Piet Wiersma closed the gap late, but Dijana stayed strong to win in a near repeat of 2023.

“I came prepared and stuck to my race plan. When I saw Piet closing, I pushed and opened the gap,” said Dijana.

Nikolai Volkov finished third in 5:29:41, followed by Edward Mothibi and Joseph Manyedi. South Africans claimed six of the top 10 spots.

In the women’s race, Elizabeth Mukoloma led early, but once Steyn took over, the outcome was never in doubt. Despite a late surge from Morozova, Steyn pushed ahead to win by nearly five minutes.

“It’s always an honor to be part of this race. I ran conservatively early to run my best race today—and it paid off,” said Steyn.

Kenya’s Shelmith Muriuki, in her Comrades debut, finished third, while Olympic marathoner Irvette van Zyl impressed with a strong fourth-place debut.

Building Toward the 100th

Comrades General Manager Alain Dalais praised the success of this “dress rehearsal” for the 100th edition in 2027:

“We’re thrilled with how well the split start worked and with the positive feedback on the new finish zone. We’re on the right path.”

Dalais also celebrated personal milestones, including Louis Massyn’s 50th Comrades finish, making him the first runner to earn a Quintuple Green Number.

Top Finishers

Men’s Top 3:

1. Tete Dijana – 5:25:27

2. Piet Wiersma – 5:25:32

3. Nikolai Volkov – 5:29:41

Women’s Top 3:

1. Gerda Steyn – 5:51:18

2. Alexandra Morozova – 5:55:55

3. Shelmith Muriuki – 6:07:55

If you’ve ever dreamed of running the Boston Marathon but felt shut out by strict qualifying standards, there’s exciting news on the horizon. In a sweeping and historic change, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced Tuesday morning that qualifying times will be eliminated for the 2027 and 2028 races—ushering in a new era of inclusivity for one of the world’s most iconic marathons.

For decades, qualifying times have been the cornerstone of the Boston Marathon. Introduced in 1970 to manage growing participation and maintain a high level of competition, these benchmarks have pushed runners to achieve excellence. Yet while they have inspired elite performances, they have also left countless passionate runners on the outside looking in.

The decision to remove qualifying times comes on the heels of a record-breaking applicant pool for the 2025 race. In a candid statement, B.A.A. officials explained that the change is driven not only by a commitment to making the event accessible to a broader audience but also by the undeniable demand from the running community. By opening the race to a wider field, the organization aims to celebrate the diverse spirit of marathon running and redefine what it means to be part of this legendary event.

Under the current system, prospective runners must meet stringent time standards based on their age group. For instance, the current qualifying benchmarks for the upcoming race season are as follows:

Men

• Ages 18–34: 2 hours 55 minutes

• Ages 35–39: 3 hours 00 minutes

• Ages 40–44: 3 hours 05 minutes

• Ages 45–49: 3 hours 15 minutes

• Ages 50–54: 3 hours 20 minutes

• Ages 55–59: 3 hours 35 minutes

• Ages 60–64: 3 hours 50 minutes

• Ages 65–69: 4 hours 05 minutes

• Ages 70–74: 4 hours 20 minutes

• Ages 75–79: 4 hours 35 minutes

• Ages 80 and over: 4 hours 50 minutes

Women

• Ages 18–34: 3 hours 25 minutes

• Ages 35–39: 3 hours 30 minutes

• Ages 40–44: 3 hours 35 minutes

• Ages 45–49: 3 hours 45 minutes

• Ages 50–54: 3 hours 50 minutes

• Ages 55–59: 4 hours 05 minutes

• Ages 60–64: 4 hours 20 minutes

• Ages 65–69: 4 hours 35 minutes

• Ages 70–74: 4 hours 50 minutes

• Ages 75–79: 5 hours 05 minutes

• Ages 80 and over: 5 hours 20 minutes

For many runners, these time cutoffs have represented nearly insurmountable hurdles, forcing them to either settle for smaller local races or abandon the dream entirely. With the new open-entry format, the Boston Marathon will no longer serve as an exclusive club for the fastest runners; instead, it will become a celebration of perseverance, community, and the sheer joy of running.

Critics have argued that removing qualifying times might dilute the race’s competitive legacy, while supporters contend that it will invigorate the event by welcoming a richer diversity of participants. The B.A.A. remains confident that this transformative change will not only boost participation but also cement the Boston Marathon’s status as a truly inclusive sporting event.

For runners who have long trained in vain to meet the rigid standards, this decision is a game changer—a symbolic moment that recognizes passion and perseverance over arbitrary numbers. As the running community braces for the upcoming races under this new model, one thing is clear: the Boston Marathon is set to redefine itself, embracing the idea that the spirit of competition can coexist with a commitment to accessibility.

Stay tuned to My Best Runs for further updates and in-depth coverage as we track the unfolding impact of this bold new chapter in marathon history.

Spanish Olympian and two-time world championship medalist Mohamed Katir was handed a four-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Friday for falsifying travel documents in support of his explanation for his three whereabouts failures in 2023.

Instead of accepting wrongdoing and taking on the two-year whereabouts ban, the 26-year-old middle-distance runner falsified travel documents (a travel itinerary, boarding pass and booking confirmation) in an attempt to mislead investigators as they probed the integrity of his explanation for a whereabouts failure that occurred on Feb. 28, 2023. The result was an even longer ban than what he was already facing.

The four-year ban will run concurrently with Katir’s ongoing whereabouts sanction, extending his ban from the sport until February 2028. This means he will be forced to miss both the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. 

According to the AIU, the world 5,000m silver medallist missed three tests between Feb. 28, 2023 and Oct. 10, 2023 (missing three doping tests in a 12-month window results in an anti-doping rule violation, or ADRV).

Katir’s whereabouts failures

On Feb. 28, 2023, a Doping Control Officer (DCO) went to the address in Murcia, Spain, indicated in the Athlete’s Whereabouts information; upon arrival, the DCO was told that Katir was in Lisbon and would not be returning until March 2. 

Katir missed another test on April 3, when a DCO showed up at his home in Murcia again. When they arrived, Katir was training in France, and had failed to update his whereabouts. Katir told the AIU he tried to update his information, but the system was not working. He was charged with his second violation when he failed to send an email providing evidence of technical issues.

His third violation occurred on Oct. 10, when a DCO went to the specified location during a 60-minute time slot between 7:20 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. When the DCO arrived, Katir was away at training, and later insisted there was a mistake in his whereabouts, and claimed he never changed the time slot from his usual 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. window.

Katir is a two-time world championship medallist in the men’s 1,500m and 5,000m events. He won silver in the 5,000m behind Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

AIU head Brett Clothier said the ruling underscored the seriousness of tampering: “Gone are the days in athletics when explanations offered in anti-doping cases are just accepted at face value,” he stressed. “The vast majority of our elite athletes respect the strict rules and processes of the sport and they should take heart at the action being taken to ensure a level playing field.”

Yan (Mary) Ma, a 60-year-old marathoner from Coquitlam, B.C., is pursuing her third Abbott World Marathon Majors Six-Star finisher medal in 2025.

If you’ve run any of the Abbott World Marathon Majors over the past five years, chances are you’ve crossed paths with the 60-year-old masters marathoner Yan (Mary) Ma of Coquitlam, B.C. She is a two-time Six-Star finisher, having run each of the marathon majors twice. In 2025, she will be chasing her third Six-Star finisher medal, looking to run all six marathon majors in one year.

Ma came to our attention over the fall when she finished near the top of her age category at both the 2024 Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon, less than four weeks apart. These two top-10 finishes in the women’s 60-64 age category at majors capped off an incredible fall season for Ma, during which she ran four marathons on three continents in seven weeks.

Like us, you might wonder how she has time to travel the world and run marathons. Ma works part-time as an accountant for a firm that gives her the flexibility to arrange her work schedule around travel and races.

When Ma immigrated to Canada from China in 2009, she wasn’t sure how she would fit in. Her knowledge of English was sparse, but she eventually found her calling in a hiking group in her new home of Coquitlam. This led her to fall in love with distance running.

“I’ve always liked to run long distance,” Ma says. “I started running in university, then I had a long hiatus. I started running again in 2018, when my friend introduced me to someone at Vancouver’s LaPower Club.”

She says rediscovering running later in life has been transformative, keeping her feeling young and allowing her to build a strong network of friends.

Ma’s club boasts more than 800 members from across the Greater Vancouver area, and most of the people she runs with are around her age (and are also from China). Ma says the club has runners participating in each major marathon, which has enticed her to undertake this incredible challenge.

“I started my Six-Star journey by running Boston and New York City in the fall of 2021,” Ma says. “I thought I was done there, then my good friend convinced me to run Berlin with her. Since I was halfway there, I wanted my Six-Star medal. Now, we are at a second Six-Star.”

Ma doesn’t plan on slowing down. She is registered for the 2025 Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon and London Marathon in the spring. She’s also pursuing the new Nine-Star medal, which will include the three new marathon major candidates: Sydney, Cape Town and Shanghai. “I already completed Sydney this September, and plan to run the other two new races in 2026 and 2027,” she says.

As she begins to take on new races, Ma says New York City is the marathon major that keeps her coming back. “It’s my favourite by far. It’s easy to get to from Vancouver, and one I look forward to every year.”

Multiple world and Olympics champion Faith Kipyegon has hinted at the possibility of abandoning her specialty, the 1,500m, in favor of other races at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Three-time Olympics 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon might have run her final Olympics over the distance as she is exploring the possibilities of featuring in other disciplines.

Kipyegon made history when she became the first woman to claim three straight Olympics gold medals in 1,500m at the Paris 2024 Games, adding onto her titles secured in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

At 30, Kipyegon perhaps does not feel that she will still have the power in her legs to go for a fourth straight gold over the distance at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and her fans might get to see her square it out for medals in another race instead.

“It was not easy [winning third gold in Paris],” Kipyegon said on Citizen TV’s JKL on Wednesday. “I was praying to God that I just win my third gold and I did it.”

When asked if she sees herself going for a fourth straight Olympics gold, the mother of one replied: “That is a tough one, because it will be 2028 so I don’t know if I will still be doing the 1,500m or maybe 5,000m or marathon, so we don’t know.”

Kipyegon has previously expressed her desire to switch to marathons in the next phase of her career and seems to be looking at that possibility even as she squeezes out what is left in her in 1,500m.

She has also displayed enough quality in 5,000m where she is already the world champion over the distance, after her gold medal heroics in Budapest last year, and also has Olympics silver won in Paris this year.

The 1,500m world record holder will certainly defend her titles at next year’s World Championships in Tokyo but the 2027 Worlds will perhaps give an indication of how she will approach the 2028 Olympics given she will be 34 by then.

Former Tokyo Marathon runner-up Tsehay Gemechu was banned for four years because of suspected blood doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit said Thursday (Friday in Manila).

The 25-year-old Ethiopian also was disqualified from all her results and prize money earned since March 2020, including second place in the elite-level Tokyo race in March 2023. Her run of just under 2 hours, 17 minutes had ranked No. 24 in the women's all-time list.

Gemechu also placed fourth over 5,000 meters at the 2019 world championships in Doha, Qatar, and ran in the 10,000 at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. She already was disqualified from that Olympics race for a lane violation. She did not finish the marathon at the 2023 worlds in Budapest, Hungary.

The AIU said Gemechu had suspicious blood values in her athlete biological passport. It can show indicators of doping over longer periods of time without the need for a positive test.

Gemechu gave 50 blood samples over a five-year period with those taken in March 2020 then April and May 2022 "indicative of blood manipulation," according to an independent doping tribunal's verdict.

She is banned until November 2027.

Shanghai International Marathon joins Sydney and Cape Town as candidates to become the seventh world major.

On Thursday, Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) announced that China’s Shanghai Marathon will be the newest race to join the majors candidacy process. Shanghai replaces the (previously nominated) Chengdu Marathon, joining the TCS Sydney Marathon and the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in a bid to become the seventh marathon major.

This announcement marks the beginning of Abbott WMM’s multi-year evaluation process for Shanghai. To become a WMM, the race must meet specific criteria for participation, organization, certification, sustainability and legacy for two consecutive years over the next three years.

If successful, Shanghai will join an elite group of races—Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon—as a new member of the prestigious AbbottWMM series, as early as 2027.

AbbottWMM’s decision to potentially expand into China reflects its aim to explore and grow in one of the biggest and fastest-growing running markets worldwide.

AbbottWMM CEO Dawna Stone said in a press release, “This presents an exciting opportunity to expand our impact into Asia and further our mission to create, grow, and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community.”

For more than a decade, the Shanghai International Marathon, held in late November since 1996, has been categorized as a Platinum Label Road Race by World Athletics. 

The course is flat and fast, and showcases the city’s most scenic and iconic landmarks. Last year, the Shanghai Marathon weekend attracted more than 30,000 participants across all distances. The 2024 Shanghai Marathon will take place on Sunday, Dec. 1.

Bahrain have been heavily sanctioned by World Athletics over doping scandals which will heavily impact their athletes, including Kenyan-born Olympic champion Winfred Yavi.

The World Athletics Council has approved a series of corrective actions against the Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA) following historical breaches of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR). 

This decision comes after an 18-month investigation by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which uncovered serious violations linked to doping practices within the BAA.

The investigation was triggered by doping infractions involving two Bahraini athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where both were found guilty of homologous blood transfusions. 

Additionally, it was discovered that the BAA had employed a coach between 2019 and 2021 who was banned from the sport for prior anti-doping violations.

Acting negligently and recklessly in relation to doping, thereby damaging the reputation of World Athletics and the sport as a whole.

Failing to conduct proper due diligence when hiring athlete support personnel, which increased the risk of doping within the national team.

In response, the BAA admitted to the charges and has cooperated with the AIU throughout the process. As a result, the following sanctions and corrective measures have been imposed:

1.Restricted Participation: The BAA's involvement in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo 2025 will be limited to a maximum of 10 athletes, a move that could impact stars like Winfred Yavi and others.

2.12-Month Ban: The BAA will be barred from participating in any other World Athletics Series events for a period of 12 months starting from June 1, 2024.

3.Transfer Freeze: The BAA will not be allowed to apply for transfers of allegiance or recruit any foreign athletes until 2027, marking a significant shift in the association’s recruitment strategy. Yavi is one of many athletes who were recruited from other countries.

4. $7.3 Million Investment: The BAA is required to invest up to $7.3 million over the next four years in measures aimed at addressing doping and integrity issues. This includes the implementation of a detailed strategic plan and operational roadmap (SPOR), developed in coordination with the AIU, to overhaul the federation’s governance and management practices.

5. Establishment of a National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO): Bahrain will establish a WADA-compliant NADO, fully funded by the government until at least 2026. This organization has already been operational for a year, marking a significant step forward in managing doping risks.

6. Talent Development Academy: The BAA will create and fund a talent academy focused on nurturing local athletes, signaling a shift towards developing homegrown talent rather than relying heavily on foreign recruits.

7. AIU Costs: The BAA will cover the AIU’s costs associated with the investigation and the supervision of the SPOR implementation.

David Howman, Chair of the Athletics Integrity Unit, praised the BAA’s leadership for their cooperation and proactive steps in addressing the federation’s failings.

 “The BAA, to its great credit, has displayed genuine contrition about its past wrongdoings and commitment to change,” Howman said. He highlighted the establishment of a new NADO in Bahrain as a particularly significant achievement for clean sport.

Despite the BAA's past shortcomings, the AIU acknowledged that the federation's senior leadership was not involved in deliberate rule breaches and expressed satisfaction with the outcome, which aims to balance punitive measures with the goal of fostering real change within Bahrain's athletics landscape.

As Bahrain's athletes, including World Champion steeplechaser Winfred Yavi, prepare for the upcoming international competitions, the repercussions of these sanctions will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the nation’s athletic programs.

Six weeks ago, 19-year-old Issam Asinga, the fastest teen sprinter in world history, was handed a four-year ban from the sport of track & field after testing positive for the banned substance GW1516. Asinga’s positive sample came in July 2023, just days before he ran 9.89 seconds to become, at the time, the youngest person in history to break 10 seconds for 100 meters. Asinga, who had been provisionally suspended since August 2023 by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), appealed the decision to the AIU’s disciplinary tribunal, who ruled against him and upheld the four-year suspension on May 27.

Until then, the details of Asinga’s case had been kept secret. Now they are public, and potentially explosive.

Asinga, who maintains his innocence, blamed the positive test on contaminated Gatorade gummies he received at the company’s National Athlete of the Year ceremony in Los Angeles last summer, where he was honored as high school track & field athlete of the year. Asinga has already appealed his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where it is expected to be heard later this year. He is also mulling whether to launch a civil suit against Gatorade because the gummies in question falsely carried an NSF Certified for Sport label, which signified that the product did not contain any prohibited substances. NSF has made a public statement saying the gummies from Asinga’s lot number were not NSF Certified and the NSF Certified mark was being used without authorization.

“They distributed a supplement that wasn’t NSF Certified for Sport that had a banned substance in it,” said Asinga’s lawyer Paul Greene. “That’s violation of product liability law, negligence, implied warranty, New York state consumer protection law. I mean, it’s bad. He had the possibility of getting endorsement and NIL deals that were going to be in the millions of dollars and he lost all that as a result of this. He also lost out on the chance to compete in the World Championships and the Olympics.”

The AIU, however, was not satisfied that the gummies were the source of Asinga’s positive test, and its disciplinary tribunal agreed.

Incredible 2023 high school season

Asinga’s is one of the highest-profile doping cases in recent years. After running personal bests of 10.44 seconds in the 100m and 20.76 in the 200m as a junior in 2022 at Principia High School in Missouri, Asinga transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida for his senior year, where he improved enormously and produced one of the greatest seasons ever by a high school sprinter.

During the 2023 indoor season, Asinga won national high school titles in the 60m (6.59) and 200m (20.48) at New Balance Nationals, tying the national record in the former event (he ran 6.57 in the semis) and breaking the national record in the latter. Outdoors, Asinga ran a wind-aided 9.83 in the 100m to defeat Noah Lyles, who would go on to win the world title in that event four months later. Asinga, who was born in the US but represents Suriname internationally, then ran 19.97 in the 200m in April (#2 all-time among US high schoolers) and 9.89 in July to win the South American 100m title in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The latter time ranked Asinga in a tie for ninth in the world in 2023. It was also a world U20 record and was the first time a US high school athlete had broken the fabled 10-second barrier.

Now that world U20 record has been stripped as Asinga finds him at the center of controversy. The 43-page decision in his case released by the AIU presents only two possible versions of events.

Option A: An 18-year-old was caught doping barely a month after being added to the international testing pool. Then he or someone in his camp tried to cover up his doping by manipulating evidence and defaming Gatorade, one of the world’s largest sports nutrition companies.

Option B: One of the greatest sprint talents in history was unjustly banned after consuming a tainted supplement given to him by one of the most famous brands in sports.

Neither picture is particularly rosy for the sport of track & field, but one of them must be true. After reviewing the evidence, the AIU and its disciplinary tribunal is clear which version it believes: Option A. As a result, Asinga is banned from competition until 2027 barring a successful appeal to CAS.

Background: Asinga enters the testing pool

Most high school track athletes, even elite ones, are rarely drug-tested. But by the spring of 2023, Asinga was running so fast it was becoming clear he could be a factor at that summer’s World Championships in Budapest. He was added to the World Athletics Testing Pool on June 1.

Asinga was tested on June 11 and returned a negative result. He was tested again out-of-competition on July 18 (in his training base of Clermont, Fla.) and again at the South American championships on July 28. The July 18 sample tested positive for GW1516, a banned substance that modifies how the body metabolizes fat and has been found to cause cancer. Specifically, Asinga’s sample tested positive for low levels of two metabolites of GW1516 — a metabolite is a substance produced when the body breaks down a specific drug. In this case, Asinga’s urine contained the GW1516 sulfone metabolite (at a concentration of 0.2 nanograms per milliliter in both his A sample and B sample) and the GW1516 sulfoxide metabolite (at a concentration of 0.5 ng/mL in his A sample and 0.4 ng/mL in his B sample).

On August 9, Asinga was informed of his positive test and provisionally suspended from competition. Shortly after, in an effort to prove his innocence, he began sending his supplements to be tested for contamination at the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory (SMRTL), a WADA-accredited lab in Salt Lake City. The first supplement Asinga sent, melatonin gummies, tested negative. Asinga then sent a larger set of supplements, including Airborne and Skratch Lab Hydration packets as well as Gatorade Immune Support Gummies and Gatorade Recovery Gummies, two new products he had received at the Gatorade National Athlete of the Year ceremony on July 10.

All of the supplements tested negative for GW1516 except the Gatorade Recovery Gummies. In December, SMRTL informed the AIU that of the five gummies tested, four were positive for GW1516. That much, the parties agree on. From there, the narratives diverge.

Contaminated during manufacturing or as part of a coverup?

Asinga said he began taking the Recovery Gummies shortly after the ceremony on July 10 — initially two per day, then less consistently before traveling to Brazil for the South American championships on July 25. He said he did not take any gummies to Brazil. Asinga declared the gummies as a supplement on the doping control form for his July 18 test and said he had no concerns about the gummies because the container carried the NSF Certified for Sport label.

Greene said the AIU was initially reluctant to share the results of the SMRTL analysis with Asinga because it viewed the test results of products from an opened container as unreliable.  (LetsRun.com reached out to the AIU for comment on June 2 but had not received an answer as of publication).

“Normally, SMRTL’s process and the AIU’s process is if there is a preliminary finding in a supplement, they don’t initially just tell the athlete straight away,” Greene said. “They try to go and find their own sealed version and test that too and then go to confirmation testing.”

But neither SMRTL nor the AIU could find a sealed version from the same lot number as Asinga’s gummies. So, after several weeks, the AIU relented and shared the news that the Gatorade Recovery Gummies had tested positive for GW1516. Asinga said he felt he was on his way to clearing his name.

“I was like okay, boom,” Asinga told LetsRun.com. “When I got that message, I was like, okay, finally we’re going to move forward.”

But the AIU did not agree with Asinga’s assessment and hinted at something far more sinister. In the disciplinary tribunal hearing, which took place over Zoom on April 30, Martial Saugy, former director of the WADA-accredited lab in Lausanne, Switzerland, served as an expert witness for the AIU and noted that the exterior of the gummies contained much higher concentrations of GW1516 than the interior of the gummies.

“I cannot see how these results would be consistent with a contamination during the manufacture of the gummies,” Saugy said. “These results point to an adulteration of the gummies at a later stage.”

Another key point: Asinga had opened both containers of gummies before sending them to SMRTL. And in SMRTL’s analysis, it noted a “large discrepancy” between the concentration levels of GW1516 between the containers. The two gummies tested from the first container each featured a concentration of at least 610 ng of GW1516 per gummy. Meanwhile of the three gummies tested from the second container, the highest concentration of GW1516 was 1.5 ng per gummy, and one of the gummies did not test positive for GW1516 at all.

This fact left open the possibility for manipulation; to be satisfied of his innocence, the AIU demanded to see a positive test from a separate, sealed container of gummies from the same lot number as Asinga’s.

Separate lot numbers bring questions

This is where things get complicated. The lot number printed on Asinga’s gummy containers was 22092117150234. NSF has issued a statement saying this lot number was not NSF Certified and the NSF Certified mark was being used without authorization. As part of the case, the Lausanne lab did test a sealed container of Gatorade Recovery Gummies, which tested negative. But that container was from a different lot number — lot 22092117150213, which was one of the lots that did receive NSF certification.

The gummies were not manufactured directly by Gatorade, but rather by a company contracted by Gatorade called Better Nutritionals, who manufactured the gummies for Gatorade at its plant in Gardena, Calif. As part of its case, the AIU called a former Better Nutritionals employee as a witness who testified that, for all intents and purposes, lots 22092117150234 and 22092117150213 were identical. This witness, referred to only as Witness B in the decision, made the following argument:

Witness B said lots 22092117150213 and 22092117150234 were part of the same batch of 20,000 jars’ worth of gummies cooked on the same day. That batch of 20,000 jars was separated into two lots: 7,500 jars (lot 22092117150213) would enter the marketplace immediately without the NSF Certified for Sport logo, of which a few would be sent to NSF for testing. The remaining 12,500 jars (aka lot 22092117150234, which included the gummies Asinga received) would be held back and given the NSF Certified logo predicated on NSF testing on lot 22092117150213.

Before NSF testing had been completed, lot 22092117150213 entered the marketplace without the NSF Certified logo.

By October 4, the 12,500 jars from lot 22092117150234 had been labeled NSF Certified. On October 18, Better Nutritionals received confirmation that lot 22092117150213 had been granted NSF certification, which was confirmed on the NSF website.

As proof that the two lots were part of the same batch, Witness B noted that the first six digits of the lot number, which refer to the cook date, were identical: 220921, or September 21, 2022. Furthermore, Witness B said the seventh digit refers to the specific production line used at the factory. Again, both were the same — 1, referring to the first production line.

Witness B said it would not be feasible to produce two separate batches on the same day, noting that a batch with 20,000 jars’ worth of gummies would take roughly 19 hours to complete with a minimum of eight hours to clean the production line between batches.

Witness B and another witness from Better Nutritionals (Witness A) noted there was no logical source for contamination as GW1516 is not an ingredient of any of the other products manufactured in the Gardena plant.

To simplify: one lot of 7,500 jars (lot 22092117150213) was NSF Certified but did not bear the NSF label. Another lot of 12,500 jars (lot 22092117150234) was not NSF Certified but did bear the NSF label, and that is the lot Asinga’s gummies came from. Better Nutritionals claims the two lots were cooked as one large batch of 20,000 jars, and as a result, the fact that one lot was NSF Certified means that both lots should be considered NSF Certified.

To represent him in his appeal, Asinga hired Greene, the sports lawyer who previously represented Jarrion Lawson, Shelby Houlihan, Peter Bol, and many others in their high-profile doping cases. Greene said he does not buy Witness B’s argument.

“There’s no such thing as two lots of the same,” Greene told LetsRun.com. “They’re not the same. Every lot is separate according to NSF and according to FDA rules.”

After it was informed of Asinga’s positive test by the AIU, the NSF conducted its own investigation and issued the following public notice on June 4:

Gatorade® Immune Support Gummies (citrus; lot number 22091937150233) and Gatorade® Recovery Gummies (cherry; lot number 22092117150234), manufactured by Better Nutritionals LLC, have been found in the public domain bearing the NSF Certified for Sport® Mark without authorization. These specific lot numbers, for these products, have not been tested, evaluated or certified by NSF and are not authorized to use the NSF certification mark or make any claims of NSF certification.

Furthermore, Greene noted that Witness B was terminated for cause by Better Nutritionals in December 2022 — the same month Better Nutritionals filed for bankruptcy.

Asinga asked a representative at Gatorade for a sealed container from lot 22092117150234 — the lot from which Assinga’s gummies came — but was informed that Gatorade Recovery Gummies had been discontinued for “manufacturing reasons” (Witness A said the gummies were discontinued because Better Nutritionals went bankrupt). The AIU and SMRTL also requested sealed containers from the same lot, yet Gatorade/Better Nutritionals only made containers from lot 22092117150213 available. Greene says that makes no sense. If the two lots are identical, Greene argues, why not send one from the same lot number as Asinga’s?

“Somehow they had several sealed versions from the 7,500 lot but nothing from the 12,500 lot,” Greene said. “I find it hard to believe they don’t have anything out there and it was an intentional choice to withhold it. It had to be. Why else wouldn’t they give us one from both? What’s the difference?”

If Gatorade has no sealed version, Greene says, they are in violation of FDA regulations, which state that supplement manufacturers must hold reserve samples from each lot they produce.

Two of the top road racers in the world will face off in the 55th Running of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race, organizers announced today.

In his first season of competition in the U.S., Sabastian Sawe comes to Atlanta ranked as the #1 road racer in the world, based on distances from 10K to the half marathon. The 29-year-old Kenyan brings a personal best of 26:49, the second-fastest 10K time in the world last year, and the reigning World Half Marathon Champion sits on top of the 2024 leaderboard for fastest half marathon in the world so far this year, 58:24.

In a rematch of those 2023 World Half Marathon Championships, Sawe will face Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo, 28, who earned a silver medal in that race last fall. Ebenyo was leading until Sawe drew even with a few hundred meters remaining, going on to a four-second victory. “We pushed each other to a good result,” Ebenyo said afterward.

Ebenyo, the 2023 World Championships silver medalist at 10,000 meters on the track, is ranked #1 in the world for 10K on the roads. His personal best of 26:58 is second in the Peachtree field only to Sawe. Both will be making their Peachtree debuts.

Among the other top athletes in the field are Mathew Kimeli of Kenya (27:07) and Boniface Kibiwott (27:13) of Kenya and Jake Robertson of New Zealand (27:28). Returning to the Peachtree for the 10th time is American Elkanah Kibet, 41.

In the Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division, course record-holder Daniel Romanchuk of the USA (right) will have a chance to make history as the first athlete in the men’s open division to win the Peachtree seven times. Romanchuk, 25, has won Peachtree for the past six years in a row, but will have to fend off American Aaron Pike, a six-time Paralympian, and Josh Cassidy of Canada, a two-time Peachtree champion.

he field for the women’s footrace is headlined by 24-year-old Emmaculate Anyango, whose 10K personal best of 28:57 makes her the second-fastest woman in history at the distance. The Kenyan is currently ranked as the #4 road racer in the world.

Countrywoman Chelangat (30:01) will challenge her. Anyango and Chepkoech, who is tied for 8th-fastest woman in history, will be making their Peachtree debuts, while Chelangat is back after finishing second here last year.

Also returning will be Susannah Scaroni (left), the 2020 Paralympic gold medalist at 5,000 meters. The 33-year-old Peachtree course record-holder will be seeking her fourth win here since 2018 and third in a row. Scaroni missed the spring marathon season with an overuse injury but is apparently back to form: She set a World Record for 5,000 meters on the track in early June.

The winner of each professional division will receive $12,500.

For the first time, the Peachtree will feature an Elite High School Division, giving the best young distance runners in Georgia the chance to experience professional road racing first-hand. The field is composed of the top 20 boys and top 20 girls from the classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027 residing in Georgia who accepted an invitation from Atlanta Track Club.

The 55th Running of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race will be held Thursday, July 4, in Atlanta, Georgia, with 50,000 runners and walkers making their way from Lenox Square to Piedmont Park in the world’s largest 10K. The event will be livestreamed on AJC.com and on the AJC News app beginning at 6 a.m., with Lewis Johnson, Carrie Tollefson and Amanda McGrory leading the broadcast team.

Lucy Mawia has been banned for three years by the Athletics Integrity Unity for the presence of three banned substances in her body.

The 2022 Belgrade Half Marathon Lucy Mawia has been slapped with a three-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit for an anti-doping rule violation.

Mawia, popularly known for her cross-country prowess, will be eligible to compete once again from March 27, 2027. Her results from March 10 this year, will also be disqualified.

As per World Athletics, athletes representing a foreign Member Federation or other Areas are regarded as out of competition participants (OC).

Earlier this year, the Italian Anti-doping tribunal suspended Mawia following a violation of an anti-doping rule.

As per the Italian anti-doping agency, Mawia’s sample was found positive for the presence of Efedrina, Oxycodone, and its metabolite Oxymorphone. The substance is an active metabolite of oxycodone produced via CYP2D6-mediated metabolism.

Her career was taking shape and in 2022, she won the 2022 World Cross Country Tour. In 2022, Mawia dominated the races at the start of the tour, winning in Bydgoszcz in October and in Soria and Alcobendas in November.

Mawia kicked off the 2023 cross-country campaign with a third-place finish in Amorebieta and sixth place in Atapuerca. The 2023 15K Nocturna Valencia Banco Mediolanum champion was also third in Atapuerca in November and second in San Vittore Olona in January in 2023.

This means her results from the 5km Route de Lille and the Italian Cross-Country Championships have been disqualified. In France, she finished fifth in the road race before clocking 27:50 to cross the finish line in her cross-country race in Italy, competing as an out of competition participant.

The former indoor 600m world record holder, Michael Saruni of Kenya, was handed a four-year ban on Feb. 1, by the Anti-Doping Association of Kenya (ADAK) for sending a friend to impersonate him during a drug test at the 2022 Kenyan Trials for the 2022 World Championships.

According to the ADAK report, Saruni was found guilty of “evading sample collection, or without compelling justification, refusing, and running away.” In June 2022, the ADAK Doping Control Officer (DCO) notified Saruni that he was to undergo doping control after competing in the 800m final at the Kenyan trials, and was required to provide blood and urine samples. “It was further alleged that the athlete adamantly evaded, refused, and failed to give a sample or submit to sample collection and by collusion or trickery escaped or left the venue.”

The ADAK panel added that Saruni asked a lookalike to impersonate him and provide a sample on his behalf. According to the report, Saruni had locked himself in a toilet stall. Then the DCO allegedly watched someone moving to Saruni’s stall. When approached to identify, he ran for it and allegedly jumped over a perimeter wall at the venue. Saruni claimed he had never been summoned by testers at the Kenyan trials. He is banned until Aug. 30, 2027.

Saruni was the former world record holder for 600m indoors, with a personal best of 1:14.79. He is also the Kenyan national record holder for 800m indoors, running 1:43.98 at the 2019 Millrose Games.

Although we are only two months into 2024, Saruni’s suspension could be an early candidate for the craziest doping ban of the year. I wonder if he and his doppelgänger are still friends, or if he got a refund for his services, since the lookalike didn’t pull it off.

There are currently 75 Kenyan athletes on the AIU’s Global List of Ineligible Persons. The Kenyan government is in the second year of its $25 million, five-year campaign to test more athletes and eliminate doping in athletics. The AIU is working with the Kenyan government, Athletics Kenya and ADAK to combat the issue.

The next US Olympic Track and Field Trials will be held in ….. Eugene, yet again.

Yes that’s right. Hayward Field will host the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field from June 21-30, 2024, USATF announced in a statement on Thursday. The Olympic track & field program will begin four weeks later, on August 1 in Paris.

2024 will be the fifth straight Olympic Trials hosted by Eugene (2008, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024) and Eugene’s fourth straight USATF Outdoor Championship. Since the new Hayward Field opened in 2020, no other stadium has hosted the US championships.

That means that in 2024 — just as in 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2022 — the three biggest meets in American track & field will be held at Hayward Field: the Prefontaine Classic, the NCAA championships, and the USATF championships/Olympic Trials. Here is what the schedule will look like for 2024:

May 25: Prefontaine ClassicJune 5-8: NCAA championshipsJune 21-30: US Olympic Trials

Quick Take: Eugene does a fantastic job hosting big meets, but it’s time to give someone else a chance to host the Olympic Trials

Let’s make a few things clear. The new Hayward Field is the best track & field stadium in the country, and Eugene has a terrific local organizing committee in TrackTown USA that knows how to stage big meets. The 2024 Olympic Trials are going to be terrific — they always are.

When you’ve got a beautiful new stadium like Hayward Field, you don’t want it to go to waste. But from 2021-2024, almost every major track meet in the US will have been staged at Hayward Field. The three most important track meets in the US are the Prefontaine Classic (the US’s only Diamond League), the NCAA championships, and the USATF championships/Olympic Trials. During a four-year period, 11 of those 12 meets will have been hosted in Eugene. And that does not even include the biggest meet Eugene has ever hosted — the 2022 World Championships.

That’s a recipe for major Eugene fatigue.

The Prefontaine Classic obviously isn’t moving out of Eugene, and the NCAAs are locked into Eugene through 2027. But it’s a missed opportunity to hold USAs in Eugene every single year, particularly the Olympic Trials. There are a limited number of diehard track fans in the US, and any diehard who has wanted to visit the new Hayward Field has probably done it at this point. If a husband and wife are huge track fans and they already figured out a way to take their kids to Eugene for Worlds, are they really going to want to go back again to the same location for the Trials?

The Olympic Trials should be in Eugene at most once every eight years. The last two normal* Trials drew more than 20,000 fans per day (21,644 in 2012; 22,1222 in 2016) but it’s foolish to suggest that the Trials can only do those sort of numbers in Eugene.

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was ticketing uncertainty about the 2021 Trials until the very last minute, which meant attendance numbers were a fraction of previous years

In the United States, when you throw the word Olympic in front of anything, people go crazy. And the last few US championships has shown that the built-in track fanbase in Eugene — the diehards who will go to every meet — has dwindled significantly.

We’re confident that if you staged the Olympic Trials in Austin, Des Moines, Omaha, Sacramento, or Mt. SAC, you’d draw big crowds. The Olympic Trials will do well anywhere they are held.

The question then, is why isn’t this happening?

“We all know that getting [to Eugene], it’s trying,” said Will Leer, chair of the USATF Athlete Advisory Committee, when LetsRun asked him about this at USAs in July. “Small airport, it’s expensive, hotels are minimal. But the process by which championships are awarded is through a bid. That much is well-known throughout all of USATF. And time and time again, TrackTown comes to the table with the best bid.”

Eugene certainly has a lot to offer, but we also don’t how much competition there is to host these events. It’s not as simple as USATF just awarding the Trials to a different city. A potential Trials host needs a world-class track facility and a local organizing committee interested in bidding for the Trials, which requires dollars.

Sarah Lorge Butler reports that Eugene paid at least $3 million to host the 2020 Trials, writing, “TrackTown paid a nonrefundable rights fee of $500,000 and the total prize purse of $1.4 million. They also had obligations to provide $1.1 million for athlete support during the meet, to be used at USATF’s sole discre

It’s an expensive undertaking for any local organizing committee. We know Eugene has the dollars. It’s unclear whether anyone else does (If you know of any other city that bid for the Trials, please email us at letsrun@letsrun.com)

If it’s simply a matter of USATF needing to find $3 million to put on the Trials, we know where they could find it. USATF head Max Siegel was paid a ridiculous $3.8 million in compensation in 2021; reduce that to a more reasonable $800k and you could hold the Trials wherever you wanted without any financial impact on USATF.

On Wednesday, the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) announced in a statement that the committee has decided to withdraw the host city status from Barranquilla, Colombia, for the 2027 Pan American Games due to a breach of contract.

According to PASO, a meeting took place at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, between the committee and Colombian authorities regarding Barranquilla 2027. The host city requested an extension of the financial deadlines set by PASO to fulfill contract expectations. PASO granted the hosts an extension, with the new deadline set for Dec. 30.

“Given the lack of response in accordance with the new financial deadline, the PASO executive committee made the decision on Jan. 3, 2024, to withdraw the right to be a host city of the continental event in 2027,” PASO said in a translated statement posted on social media.

The Federación Colombiana de Atletismo (FECODATLE), the national athletics federation of Colombia, submitted the bid for the 2027 Games on Aug. 27, 2021. They were one of three cities that expressed interest in hosting the major sporting event, with others being Buenos Aires, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Buenos Aires submitted a bid for the 2023 event, but withdrew for financial reasons.

“Charles Philibert-Thiboutot earns Canada’s first track medal at Pan American Games” — Canadian Running Magazine

View on the original site.

As Barranquilla was the sole bid, it was appointed as the host city. Large multi-sporting events outside of the Olympics have recently grappled with the costs of staging an event of this magnitude. Recently, the state of Victoria, Australia, pulled out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to the exponential costs associated with the Games.

The Pan American Games is a multi-sport event held every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games. It is the second oldest continental games globally, originating in 1951 in Buenos Aires. Since then, the games have been held in various cities across North and South America, including Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and Toronto. The most recent event was held in Santiago, Chile, in late October, where Team Canada won a total of 164 medals, including 46 gold

Jamaican Olympic bronze medalist in the 110m hurdles, Ronald Levy, faces a significant setback in his athletic career as the B-sample from his recent drug test has returned positive for two banned substances.

The initial discovery of these substances was made in his A-sample during an out-of-competition test conducted last month by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lab in Canada.

As a result of the positive B-sample, Levy now faces a hearing and the possibility of a four-year ban from competitive athletics. Such a ban could have far-reaching implications, potentially ruling him out of participating in the upcoming Paris Olympics in the summer of next year, as well as the World Athletic Championships scheduled for 2025 and 2027.

Banned Substances Identified

According to Radio Jamaica Sports sources, the two banned substances detected in Levy’s sample are GW501516-Sulfoxide and GW501516-Sulfone. The presence of these prohibited substances raises serious concerns about Levy’s adherence to anti-doping regulations.

Earlier this month, the athlete confirmed the adverse finding through his Instagram page, disclosing that he had been notified of the test results on November 3. However, he did not initially reveal the names of the specific drugs that led to the adverse finding.

The development casts a shadow over Levy’s athletic career and places his future participation in major international competitions in doubt. It also underscores the importance of strict adherence to anti-doping protocols and the consequences of violating anti-doping regulations in the world of sports.

Former European indoor 3000m champion Yelena Korobkina has been banned from international competition for four years for violating anti-doping rules, the Russian Athletics Federation reported.

Yelena Korobkina was suspended by a decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on September 27. The reason is the use of prohibited stimulants.

In addition to the penalty, which expires on September 26, 2027, Yelena Korobkina’s results between July 2, 2013 and July 24, 2016 have been voided. Thus, the new European 3,000m champion for 2015 becomes Sviatlana Kudzelich from Belarus, but this has not yet been announced by the international federation.

The CAS decision most likely officially ends the career of Yelena Korobkina, who is already 32 years old.

Yelena Korobkina is a Russian distance runner who competes in events from 1,500m to 10,000m. She won the silver medal in the 1,500m at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan.