Running News Daily

History has unfolded in dramatic fashion at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, delivering a long-awaited moment of celebration for the host nation, Poland. What began as uncertainty has now transformed into triumph, as Poland are officially awarded the bronze medal in the Mixed 4x400m Relay following a decisive review that led to Jamaica’s disqualification.

In a competition defined by intensity and razor-thin margins, the relay initially concluded without Poland on the podium. However, the narrative took a compelling turn after officials conducted a thorough post-race evaluation. The ruling ultimately altered the final standings, elevating the host nation into the medal positions—an outcome that carries both emotional weight and historical significance.

The turning point came with the disqualification of Jamaica, who were found to have violated relay regulations—specifically exchanging positions before the takeover zone, a breach under rule TR24.22. In relay events, strict adherence to exchange procedures is crucial, and any premature movement or positional change before the baton is passed is deemed illegal. This technical infringement, though occurring in the heat of competition, proved decisive in reshaping the final results.

For Poland, this bronze medal is more than just a podium finish; it represents their first medal at these Championships, achieved on home soil in front of a passionate and expectant crowd. The significance of that milestone cannot be overstated. It is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the unpredictable beauty of sport, where fortunes can shift long after the finish line has been crossed.

The Mixed 4x400m Relay, one of athletics’ most dynamic and strategic events, once again proved its capacity for drama. With men and women combining efforts in a seamless display of speed and teamwork, every leg carries immense pressure. Poland’s athletes executed their race with determination, keeping themselves within striking distance—an effort that ultimately paid dividends when the final decision was rendered.

While the circumstances surrounding Jamaica’s disqualification may spark debate, Poland’s elevation to bronze stands as a rightful recognition of their performance and persistence. It is a reminder that in elite sport, every detail matters, and every moment counts.

As the celebrations begin, this achievement will be etched into Poland’s sporting history—a breakthrough moment at the highest level of indoor athletics. For the athletes and the fans alike, it is a reward not only for what was seen on the track, but for the belief that no effort is ever in vain.

On a stage where dreams are chased at full speed, Poland have claimed theirs—proving that sometimes, history is not just written in seconds, but in decisions that follow.

In a night electrified by raw speed and championship intensity, Jordan Anthony delivered a performance for the ages, surging to gold in the men’s 60m final at the World Indoor Championships in Toruń. With the crowd on its feet and anticipation crackling through the arena, the American sprint sensation exploded out of the blocks and never looked back, crossing the line in a stunning personal best and world-leading 6.41 seconds.

It was not just a victory—it was a statement. Anthony’s breathtaking run now places him as the fourth fastest man in history over the distance, etching his name among the sport’s all-time greats. In a discipline where races are decided in mere fractions of a second, his dominance was both emphatic and unforgettable.

Pushing him all the way to the finish was Kishane Thompson, who once again proved his consistency on the global stage. The Jamaican star powered to silver in 6.45 seconds, adding yet another podium finish to his growing collection and reinforcing his reputation as one of the finest short sprinters of his generation.

Sharing that same time was American speedster Trayvon Bromell, whose explosive finish earned him the bronze medal. In a race defined by razor-thin margins, Bromell’s experience and finishing strength ensured his place on the podium in a fiercely contested final.

From the thunderous start to the dramatic finish, the race embodied everything that makes indoor sprinting so captivating—precision, power, and pure adrenaline. Yet on this occasion, the spotlight belonged firmly to Anthony, whose golden sprint has not only crowned him world champion but also signaled the arrival of a new force in global sprinting.

As the season gathers momentum, all eyes will now turn to what lies ahead. If this performance is any indication, Jordan Anthony’s reign may just be beginning—and the sprinting world has been put on notice.

The women’s 100 metres hurdles at the upcoming Prefontaine Classic promises to deliver one of the most electrifying clashes of the season, as four of the world’s finest hurdlers prepare to battle over the barriers at the iconic Hayward Field on July 4.

The event, part of the prestigious Diamond League circuit, will feature an exceptional lineup led by Olympic champion Masai Russell and world record holder Tobi Amusan. They will be joined by two-time world champion Danielle Williams and rising star Grace Stark, creating a field packed with global pedigree and fierce competitive firepower.

Russell arrives with the confidence of an Olympic champion, having established herself as one of the most explosive hurdlers on the planet. Her speed between the barriers and aggressive racing style make her a formidable presence whenever she steps onto the track.

Standing opposite her will be Amusan, whose name is etched in athletics history after she shattered the world record with a breathtaking 12.12 seconds. The Nigerian star has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to dominate the event on the biggest stages, and any race she enters immediately carries the promise of something extraordinary.

Adding further intrigue is Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, a seasoned championship performer renowned for her composure and technical precision. As a two-time world champion, Williams has built a reputation for delivering when it matters most, often rising to the occasion against the sport’s biggest names.

Completing the elite quartet is Grace Stark, currently ranked world number one. The American hurdler has been in impressive form, showcasing remarkable consistency and speed throughout the season. Racing on home soil in front of the passionate Eugene crowd could provide the perfect stage for another standout performance.

With ten barriers separating the athletes from victory, the race is expected to unfold at blistering pace from the very first stride. Each hurdle will test rhythm, speed, and composure, leaving no margin for error among this elite group.

As the Diamond League returns to Eugene, fans can anticipate a high-stakes contest where Olympic glory, world titles, and current form collide. When the starting gun fires at Hayward Field, the women’s 100m hurdles could very well produce one of the most thrilling moments of the entire track and field season.

Jamaica has a new national marathon record holder.

Michka-Mae Hyde delivered a historic performance at the Philadelphia Marathon on November 23, 2025, running 2:35:28 to smash Jamaica’s women’s marathon record for the 26.2-mile distance. The previous mark of 3:08:47 had stood for years—making Hyde’s improvement of more than 30 minutes one of the most dramatic national-record breakthroughs in recent memory.

The run places Hyde firmly on the international radar and signals a potential turning point for Jamaican distance running. While the island nation is synonymous with sprinting dominance, the marathon has long been an underrepresented event. Hyde’s performance suggests that may be changing.

What makes the result even more compelling is Hyde’s athletic background. A former standout at George Mason University, she competed primarily in the 400 meters and 400-meter hurdles, showcasing speed and strength before transitioning to the roads. Her successful leap to the marathon highlights both her versatility and the untapped potential that exists beyond Jamaica’s traditional sprint pipeline.

National records are typically lowered by seconds—sometimes minutes. Hyde didn’t just lower the record; she rewrote it entirely.

With a time of 2:35:28, Hyde has established a new benchmark and opened the door for greater participation, belief, and investment in Jamaican marathon running. For the country, the event has entered a new chapter—and Michka-Mae Hyde is leading the way.

Jamaica is back—and in a big way. With just weeks until the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025, the top three times in the men’s 100 meters all belong to Jamaican sprinters:

Kishane Thompson – 9.75

Bryan Levell – 9.82

Oblique Seville – 9.83

It’s a stunning sweep that echoes the glory days of Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, and Yohan Blake. Once again, Jamaica is asserting sprinting dominance on the global stage.

But the Americans aren’t backing down.

 The U.S. Response

Christian Coleman, the 2019 World Champion and indoor world record holder, remains a serious contender. While he hasn’t cracked the 9.80 mark this season, his raw speed and big-meet experience can’t be ignored.

Then there’s Noah Lyles, the reigning 100m world champion from 2023. Lyles opened 2025 focused more on the 200m and Olympic buildup, but he’s expected to peak at the right time. He holds a personal best of 9.83, and if he gets the start right, he can be deadly in the final 30 meters.

Fred Kerley and Trayvon Bromell are also in the mix, both capable of sub-9.90 performances when healthy and locked in. Their challenge now is to stay consistent as the season progresses.

The Rivalry is Back

Tokyo 2025 could deliver one of the most thrilling 100-meter finals in recent memory:

• Three Jamaicans in peak form.

• Four Americans with world-class credentials.

• African stars like Omanyala and Tebogo chasing their first world title.

It’s a global showdown that brings back the tension and electricity of the Bolt-Gatlin era—only this time, the Jamaicans aren’t chasing; they’re being chased.

As World Athletics put it: “JAMAICA TO THE WORLD” — but America might have something to say about that.

Michael Johnson’s ambitious new track and field league, Grand Slam Track, is facing a major financial crisis after a key investor backed out of their funding commitment, leaving the startup owing athletes and vendors over $13 million.

Launched in early 2025 with the goal of transforming the economics of elite track competition, Grand Slam Track promised unprecedented prize money across four high-profile meets. Athletes were told they could earn up to $100,000 per event, far surpassing the standard payouts in the sport.

But just months into its debut season, the reality behind the scenes has shifted dramatically.

“A major investor failed to fulfill their full commitment,” Johnson told Front Office Sports. “That put us in a major, major cash flow issue.”

Millions Owed to Athletes

Only appearance fees from the opening event in Kingston, Jamaica have been paid out. Payments for subsequent events in Miami and Philadelphia are still pending, and no compensation was issued for the Los Angeles event, which was ultimately canceled.

In total, Grand Slam Track now owes at least $13 million to athletes, plus an undisclosed amount to vendors and venues. The startup also defaulted on payments to key partners, including approximately $78,000 owed to the Ansin Sports Complex in Florida.

Athletes have voiced their frustration publicly. Sprinter Gabby Thomas and British star Zharnel Hughes are among those still awaiting payments. The company has informed agents that Kingston prize money will be paid by end of July, with all other dues—including from the canceled LA meet—settled by September.

World Athletics Steps In

The growing controversy has caught the attention of World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who said the organization is “monitoring the situation closely.” In recent interviews, Coe cautioned against “vanity projects” that are heavy on promise but light on execution, adding that athletes and agents have raised formal concerns with the global governing body.

“We have been in discussions with the Association of Athletics Managers,” Coe said, “and we are aware of the growing tension.”

Who Backed Out?

Johnson has so far declined to name the investor who reneged on their funding, but according to sources, the pullout happened days after the Kingston event. The investor allegedly redirected their capital elsewhere due to shifting global financial conditions, including tariff changes.

Can GST Recover?

Despite the turmoil, Johnson says the mission of Grand Slam Track is far from over. A new investor—reportedly Vista Equity’s Robert Smith—joined prior to the Philadelphia event, and Johnson insists the team is working “around the clock” to secure additional capital.

“We’ve got to get this right,” he said. “Our priority is to make sure our athletes and vendors are paid before we even think about next season.”

As of now, all 2025 payments remain outstanding, and the 2026 season hangs in the balance.

The inaugural Grand Slam Track (GST) series launched with high hopes and bold promises—top-tier venues, world-class athletes, and massive prize money. But just months after its first leg in Kingston, Jamaica, the glitter is beginning to tarnish as frustration mounts over unpaid prize money and appearance fees.

From Olympic gold medallists to world record holders, dozens of elite athletes are still waiting to be compensated for their performances. Middle-distance star Emmanuel Wanyonyi is owed $100,000 (approximately Ksh12.9 million) after topping the men’s short-distance leaderboard. American sprint sensation Gabby Thomas and 400m hurdles world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone are among others reportedly awaiting their payouts.

The issue extends beyond prize money. Appearance fees—typically paid prior to or shortly after competition—have also not been delivered. In contrast, athletes competing on the Diamond League circuit often receive payments within two to three weeks. The GST delay now stretches months, leaving agents, athletes, and federations scrambling for answers.

Organizers claim the delay is due to “economic challenges,” the same reason cited by GST founder Michael Johnson when he abruptly canceled the final series meet scheduled for Los Angeles. That announcement, made during an emergency Zoom call with athletes, raised immediate red flags about the financial health of the operation.

GST executive Kyle Merber recently attempted to ease concerns by emailing athlete representatives with a tentative payment plan. According to the message, prize money from Kingston will be paid by the end of July, with all other outstanding payments—including those for the canceled Los Angeles leg—expected by the end of September.

But skepticism remains. “It is still a bit vague,” one top agent told The Times. “If they have the money, why can’t they pay it now? For some of these athletes, we are talking hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Reports of internal staff layoffs at GST have only added to the uncertainty.

Athlete managers and associations are now getting involved, demanding transparency and accountability. The Association of Athletics Managers recently held a meeting with Johnson to seek clarification, but sources say no firm dates or guarantees were given.

As the dust settles from what was supposed to be a revolutionary series for the sport, key questions remain unanswered:

• How much money was actually collected by GST?

• Have any athletes received their payments in full?

• What safeguards will be put in place to protect athletes moving forward?

"Big promises but I don't think GST set out to scam anyone," says Bob Anderson, " but those of us that have been around athletics for decades know that track and field is a hard sell.  I hope the athletes involved will be paid but they should not count on it."

With millions promised and reputations on the line, the success—or collapse—of GST could set a precedent for future independent track series. For now, the running world waits.

Jamaican sprinting just added another chapter to its storied legacy. On June 27, 2025, Kishane Thompson stunned the track world with a blazing 9.75-second performance in the men’s 100m final at the 2025 Jamaican National Championships, becoming the sixth-fastest man of all time.

Running in near-perfect conditions, Thompson powered down the track with a performance that firmly cements him among the global elite. Only five men—Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, and Justin Gatlin—have ever run faster.

This wasn’t just a personal best. It was a breakout moment that may redefine Jamaica’s sprint hierarchy heading into the Paris Olympics later this summer. Thompson, who has quietly been building momentum over the past two seasons, now finds himself at the center of global attention.

“I knew I had this in me,” Thompson told reporters after the race. “Training has been going well, and I came here ready to execute. To do it on this stage, in front of my home crowd, is special.”

The performance lights up what’s already been a thrilling sprint season, with several athletes dropping times under 9.90. But 9.75? That’s a mark that sends shockwaves around the world.  

With his explosive start and powerful closing stride, Thompson showed a blend of raw speed and race maturity well beyond his years. The moment also comes at a critical time for Jamaican sprinting, as the nation looks to find its next global icon following the retirement of Usain Bolt.

If Friday’s race was any indication, Kishane Thompson may be that next name.

Top 100m Performances All-Time

1. Usain Bolt – 9.58

2. Tyson Gay – 9.69

3. Yohan Blake – 9.69

4. Asafa Powell – 9.72

5. Justin Gatlin – 9.74

6. Kishane Thompson – 9.75

In a digital age overflowing with misinformation, fake news has found its way into nearly every corner of public life—and now it’s creeping into the world of athletics. Over the weekend, a Facebook post from a fan page titled Usain Bolt Fans falsely claimed that the legendary sprinter was stepping down as Jamaica’s ambassador.

The post, filled with dramatic language and linked to a questionable site (dailypressnewz.com), quickly gained traction—racking up hundreds of reactions, comments, and shares. But there’s one problem: it’s not true.

There has been no official confirmation from Usain Bolt, the Jamaican government, or any reputable media outlet. This appears to be a blatant fabrication—another example of how social media platforms, especially Facebook, are failing to properly police misinformation.

“Why would anyone want to spread such lies?” That’s the troubling question. Perhaps it’s about driving traffic to ad-heavy websites. Or it could be more sinister—part of a broader trend of undermining public trust in institutions and public figures. Either way, it’s deeply concerning.

Usain Bolt isn’t just an Olympic icon—he’s a symbol of excellence, integrity, and global unity through sport. Misusing his name to generate clicks is not only dishonest, it’s harmful.

At My Best Runs, we believe in truth, accuracy, and the integrity of the running community. If false headlines are allowed to spread unchecked, they can damage reputations and distort public perception—especially among younger athletes who look up to role models like Bolt.

This incident is a wake-up call. If fake news can so easily invade the running world, no part of our sport is safe from digital misinformation.

Let’s stay vigilant. Let’s ask questions. And let’s continue celebrating the real stories that make our sport so powerful.

At the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25, held from May 4–5, 2025, a surprising question echoed through the stadium: When did Spain become a global relay powerhouse?

In what turned out to be a landmark weekend, Spain’s women’s 4x100m team—Esperanca Cladera, Jael Bestue, Paula Sevilla, and Maria Isabel Perez—blazed to a national record 42.18 in the opening round, defeating a Jamaican squad stacked with legends like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

In the final, Spain proved it wasn’t a one-off. Clocking 42.28, they finished second behind Great Britain and ahead of both Jamaica and the USA.

But they weren’t done.

In the women’s 4x400m final, Sevilla, Eva Santidrian, Daniela Fra, and Blanca Hervas delivered another shock: a gold medal performance in 3:24.13, again a national record, defeating powerhouses USA and South Africa.

The mixed 4x400m team—David Garcia, Carmen Aviles, Samuel Garcia, and Hervas—kept the momentum going, winning their heat in 3:12.55 and securing a berth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

A New but Growing Stage

The World Athletics Relays, launched in 2014 in Nassau, Bahamas, were designed to promote global relay competition and offer a dedicated international stage for national teams. The first three editions were held in 2014, 2015, and 2017 at Thomas Robinson Stadium. Initially intended as an annual meet, the format shifted to every odd-numbered year, aligning with the World Athletics Championships qualification calendar.

Until Guangzhou, Spain had never won a relay medal at the World Relays. Their only other global relay podium came in the form of a men’s 4x400m silver at the 2022 World Indoor Championships. And yet, in China, they were mixing it with sprinting royalty—and winning.

Why the Sudden Success?

“A lot of relay camps,” explained Jael Bestue, who also competed in the mixed 4x100m. “We work hard on baton changes and building trust. We’re like sisters.”

Though a botched handoff cost them in the mixed 4x100m, the women’s team bounced back brilliantly, executing smooth exchanges that led to their national record.

Blanca Hervas, anchor of both the women’s and mixed 4x400m squads, credited the consistent connection between teammates. “Most of our training is at home with our coaches, but we come together for camps multiple times a year. That shared bond is key.”

Santidrian, who ran the fastest split (50.58) in the 4x400m final, added: “We’re really close friends. When one of us improves, all of us improve.”

Spain’s recent success is no accident. National coach Jose Peiro Guixot traced it to a development program launched nearly a decade ago. “We created a national relay plan. The progress has been steady, and now it’s starting to show. But we’re not done—we want to keep improving.”

Even Spain’s younger athletes are feeling inspired. Andoni Calbano, part of a developmental mixed relay squad, said the women’s performance raised the bar. “Individually, we’re not the fastest. But our changes were perfect. That’s the secret.”

In the 4x100m final, Maria Perez held off a charging Shericka Jackson and Twanisha Terry to earn silver. “I was nervous,” Perez admitted. “But I just told myself: run faster.”

Then came the gold. In the 4x400m final, ‘Las Burbujas Doradas’ (The Golden Bubbles), as they’re known in Spain, stormed to victory. Hervas anchored in 50.59.

“My biggest dream came true,” said Hervas. “Gold medal, national record, World Relays champion—this is for our coaches, our families, everyone. It’s their medal too.”

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to Debut in 100m Hurdles at Philly Grand Slam Meet—A New Chapter Begins June 9

One of track and field’s most celebrated athletes is stepping into a new lane—literally.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympic and world champion in the 400m hurdles, will compete in the 100m hurdles for the first time as a professional at the Grand Slam Track Meet in Philadelphiaon June 9, 2025. The event marks a bold move for a star known for redefining her own limits.

The meet is part of the Grand Slam Track series, an ambitious new project that launched in Kingston, Jamaica in May 2025. The series aims to bring excitement and elite matchups to iconic track venues with high-energy formats and streamlined scheduling. Unlike traditional leagues, Grand Slam Track events are standalone competitions that prioritize fan experience and top-tier competition without the bureaucracy of point-based rankings.

The Philly Grand Slam will be held at historic Franklin Field, home of the Penn Relays, and is expected to draw a packed crowd and worldwide attention—especially with McLaughlin-Levrone on the start list.

Why 100m hurdles, and why now?

Sydney was a dominant sprint hurdler in high school and has hinted in recent years that she still has unfinished business with the shorter hurdles. Her transition comes as no surprise to insiders:

• It’s a return to her roots: Before becoming a 400m hurdles world-beater, she posted elite-level times in the 100m hurdles as a teen.

• A lighter load physically: The 100m hurdles is demanding but significantly less punishing than the 400m hurdles, especially post-Olympics.

• A new challenge: With multiple Olympic and World titles already secured, Sydney may be seeking fresh goals—and this could open the door to a hurdles double in future major championships.

“I’ve always loved the hurdles,” she said in a statement ahead of the meet. “This is about stepping outside my comfort zone and having fun.”

With the 100m hurdles field likely to include top U.S. and international talent, fans will see how Sydney stacks up—technically, tactically, and mentally—against the best over 10 barriers and 100 meters.

Whether it’s a one-off experiment or the start of a new direction, June 9 in Philly is must-watch track.

The second day of the Grand Slam Track meet in Miami, held on May 3, 2025, at the Ansin Sports Complex, showcased thrilling middle-distance races, with elite athletes delivering standout performances in the 800m and 1500m events.

Women’s 1500m: Hailu Edges Hiltz in a Nail-Biter

Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu clinched victory in the women’s 1500 meters, clocking 4:06.96. She narrowly defeated American Nikki Hiltz, who finished just 0.12 seconds behind at 4:07.08. Diribe Welteji secured third place with a time of 4:07.46. The race was a tactical battle, with Hailu making a decisive move in the final lap to outpace her competitors.

Men’s 800m: Arop Dominates with Commanding Win

Canada’s Marco Arop, the reigning world champion, showcased his dominance in the men’s 800 meters, winning with a time of 1:43.81. He led the race from the front, breaking away in the second lap to secure a comfortable victory. Djamel Sedjati of Algeria finished second in 1:44.49, while American Bryce Hoppel took third in 1:44.91.

Women’s 800m: Goule-Toppin Returns to Form

Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin delivered a strong performance in the women’s 800 meters, winning the race in 1:58.31. She held off a competitive field, with American Allie Wilson finishing second in 1:58.84 and Kenya’s Vivian Chebet taking third in 1:59.07. Goule-Toppin’s victory marks a significant return to form as she builds momentum for the upcoming season.

Prize Money Structure: Grand Slam Track’s Lucrative Payouts

The Grand Slam Track series offers a substantial prize pool of $12.6 million across its season. Each event, or “Slam,” awards prize money to the top eight finishers in each race group as follows:  

• 1st Place: $100,000

• 2nd Place: $50,000

• 3rd Place: $30,000

• 4th Place: $25,000

• 5th Place: $20,000

• 6th Place: $15,000

• 7th Place: $12,500

• 8th Place: $10,000 

In addition to per-event earnings, “Grand Slam Racers” receive annual base compensation for participating in all four Slams, while “Challengers” earn appearance fees per event.  

Looking Ahead: Final Day in Miami

The Grand Slam Track meet in Miami concludes on Sunday, May 4, 2025, with the final day’s events scheduled from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time at the Ansin Sports Complex. Key events include the women’s 800m, women’s 3000m, and men’s 5000m. Fans can watch the live broadcast on The CW Network or stream the events live on Peacock.

As the series progresses, athletes accumulate points based on their performances, aiming for the prestigious “Racer of the Year” title awarded at the season’s end.  

The opening day of the Grand Slam Track meet in Miami lived up to its billing as one of the most exciting events on the global track calendar. Held at the Ansin Sports Complex on May 2, the meet delivered fast times, dramatic finishes, and a new American record—all under sunny Florida skies.

Masai Russell Breaks American Record in 100m Hurdles

Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell stole the spotlight by breaking the American record in the women’s 100m hurdles, clocking an incredible 12.17 seconds. The performance makes her the second-fastest woman in history behind Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan. In a race stacked with talent, Tia Jones followed closely in 12.19—now the third-fastest time ever—and Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent rounded out the podium with 12.34.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Sprints to 100m Win

In the women’s 100m, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden delivered a statement win with a wind-aided 10.75, continuing her strong 2025 campaign. Tamari Davis and Favour Ofili followed in a fiercely contested race that highlighted the depth of American sprinting.

Josh Kerr Outkicks Nuguse in 1500m Showdown

Great Britain’s Josh Kerr triumphed in a thrilling men’s 1500m, edging out top Americans Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker with a 3:34.51 finish. Kerr’s victory marked a confident return to form after a quieter performance in Kingston earlier in the season.

World Lead for Jereem Richards in 200m

Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards ran a world-leading 19.86 in the men’s 200m, narrowly holding off Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Marileidy Paulino continued her dominance in the women’s 400m, winning in 49.21 over Salwa Eid Naser.

Irish Victory in the 3000m

Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran claimed the men’s 3000m title with a time of 8:17.56, edging out American Grant Fisher and Great Britain’s George Mills. The distance event proved to be one of the day’s most tactical and tightly packed races.

Ngetich Leads Kenyan Charge in 5000m

Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich controlled the women’s 5000m from the gun, finishing in a commanding 14:25.80. Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa and Hirut Meshesha gave chase, but couldn’t close the gap—another chapter in the ongoing Kenya-Ethiopia distance rivalry.

What’s Next

With more events set for the weekend, the Grand Slam Track’s Miami stop is already shaping up to be one of the season’s most memorable. The combination of elite talent, fast conditions, and prize money incentives has brought the very best to the starting line—and the fans are reaping the rewards.

The 2025 Wanda Diamond League kicks off this Saturday, April 26, in Xiamen, China, launching the most prestigious one-day series in global track and field. With 15 elite meets on the calendar, this year’s circuit serves as both a proving ground and a preview for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.

While Olympic champion Grant Holloway will headline the sprint hurdles, it’s the middle- and long-distance events in Xiamen that promise some of the most compelling matchups of the weekend.

Chebet vs. Tsegay in the Women’s 5000m

Saturday’s most anticipated race may be the women’s 5000m, featuring a classic Kenya vs. Ethiopia showdown.

Beatrice Chebet, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in the 10,000m, opens her Diamond League campaign against Gudaf Tsegay, the reigning 5000m world champion and world record holder. With personal bests of 14:05.92 (Chebet) and 14:00.21 (Tsegay), the two are expected to push each other deep into record territory.

They’ll be challenged by rising Ethiopian talents Freweyni Hailu and Birke Haylom, both capable of delivering world-class performances.

Kipyegon Returns in the 1000m

Also making her season debut is Kenyan superstar Faith Kipyegon, who will race the rarely-run 1000m. The two-time Olympic and world champion is the current world record holder in both the 1500m and the mile.

In Xiamen, she’ll face Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin and Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi, both of whom are known for their championship pedigree over 800m. The 1000m offers an ideal distance for Kipyegon to sharpen her speed and stamina heading into the summer.

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase: A Deep Field Emerges

The men’s 3000m steeplechase will feature a stacked lineup, with top athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Morocco vying for early-season dominance. With the event’s tradition of upsets and tactical drama, this race will be one to watch for fans of distance racing.

2025 Wanda Diamond League Schedule

Following Xiamen, the Diamond League tour travels to 14 more cities before the two-day final in Zurich. Here’s the full schedule:

• April 26 – Xiamen, China

• May 3 – Shanghai/Suzhou, China

• May 16 – Doha, Qatar

• May 25 – Rabat, Morocco

• June 6 – Rome, Italy

• June 12 – Oslo, Norway

• June 15 – Stockholm, Sweden

• June 20 – Paris, France

• July 5 – Eugene, USA

• July 11 – Monaco

• July 19 – London, UK

• August 16 – Silesia, Poland

• August 20 – Lausanne, Switzerland

• August 22 – Brussels, Belgium

• August 27–28 – Zurich, Switzerland (Diamond League Final)

The series leads directly into the 2025 World Athletics Championships, set for September 13–21 at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.

The inaugural Grand Slam Track event, held from April 4–6, 2025, at Jamaica’s National Stadium in Kingston, marked a transformative moment in professional track and field. Spearheaded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, the series aims to revitalize the sport by offering substantial prize money and a unique competition format.

Innovative Competition Format

Grand Slam Track introduces a fresh approach to track and field competitions. Athletes are divided into 12 event groups—six for men and six for women—each comprising two disciplines:

• Short Sprints: 100m and 200m

• Long Sprints: 200m and 400m

• Short Hurdles: 100m hurdles (women), 110m hurdles (men)

• Long Hurdles: 400m hurdles and 400m

• Short Distance: 800m and 1500m

• Long Distance: 3000m and 5000m 

Over three days, competitors face off in both events within their group, earning points based on their performances. Points are awarded as follows: 

• 1st place: 12 points

• 2nd place: 8 points

• 3rd place: 6 points

• 4th place: 5 points

• 5th place: 4 points

• 6th place: 3 points

• 7th place: 2 points

• 8th place: 1 point  

The athlete with the highest combined score in each group is crowned the “Slam Champion” and awarded a $100,000 prize. In total, $1.2 million was distributed among the 12 group winners in Kingston, contributing to the event’s overall prize pool of $3.15 million.

Standout Performances

• Grant Fisher: The American distance runner secured the men’s long-distance Slam Champion title. Fisher won the 5000m in 14:39.14 and placed third in the 3000m with a time of 8:03.85, accumulating the highest points in his group and earning $100,000.

• Kenny Bednarek: Bednarek dominated the men’s short sprints, winning both the 100m in 10.07 seconds and 200m in 20.07 seconds. His flawless performance earned him the maximum 24 points and the $100,000 prize.

• Gabby Thomas: Thomas showcased her versatility by winning the women’s 200m in 22.62 seconds and finishing second in the 400m with a personal best of 49.14 seconds. Her combined results secured her the women’s long sprints title and a $100,000 award.

Challenges in Attracting Top Talent

Despite the substantial prize money and innovative format, the Grand Slam Track series has faced challenges in attracting some of the sport’s top athletes. Notably absent from the Kingston event were Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles and double Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Lyles had previously indicated he would only participate if the league secured a broadcast partner, which it now has with deals on The CW and Peacock. However, he has yet to join the roster. Ingebrigtsen, on the other hand, reportedly declined participation due to the format requiring athletes to compete in two corresponding disciplines within an event category, which may not align with his specialization. 

Financial and Attendance Concerns

The Kingston event, while successful in terms of athlete performances, struggled with low attendance. Reports indicate that the main grandstands never reached 50% capacity on any of the three days, with other sections remaining largely empty. Limited on-site parking and inadequate local marketing were cited as contributing factors to the sparse turnout. Financially, while the league has secured over $30 million in commitments from investors and strategic partners, the inaugural event’s low attendance and high operational costs suggest that it may have operated at a loss. However, organizers view this as a long-term investment in the sport’s revitalization.  

Historical Context

Grand Slam Track is not the first attempt to establish a professional track and field league. The International Track Association (ITA), which operated from 1972 to 1976, initially attracted many top athletes but ultimately folded due to a lack of television revenue and difficulties in sustaining athlete participation. Similarly, the American Track League, founded more recently, has struggled to gain significant traction. These historical precedents highlight the challenges inherent in creating a sustainable professional track and field league.   

Looking Ahead

The Grand Slam Track series continues with upcoming events in Miami (May 2–4), Philadelphia (May 30–June 1), and Los Angeles (June 20–22). Each meet follows the same format, offering athletes the opportunity to compete for significant prize money and fans the chance to witness high-stakes, head-to-head competition.

American long-distance runner Emily Infeld has embarked on a transformative phase in her career in 2025, marked by a significant sponsorship change and impressive performances on the track.

Transition to Brooks Running

In January 2025, after a 12-year association with Nike, Infeld signed a sponsorship deal with Brooks Running. Reflecting on this new partnership, she shared her enthusiasm:

“My first pair of running shoes was the Brooks Adrenaline. And back in them again, it feels like coming full circle.”  

This collaboration signifies a fresh start for Infeld, aligning with her aspirations to explore new challenges in her running career.

Notable Performances in Early 2025

Infeld’s recent race results underscore her resilience and competitiveness:

• The TEN, San Juan Capistrano, CA (March 29, 2025): Competing in the elite women’s 10,000 meters, Infeld secured a sixth-place finish with a time of 30:59.38. This race was particularly competitive, with multiple athletes breaking the 31-minute barrier.

• Grand Slam Track, Kingston, Jamaica:

• 3000 Meters (April 4, 2025): Infeld placed eighth, recording a time of 8:56.66 in a field that featured top international competitors.  

• 5000 Meters (April 6, 2025): She achieved a fourth-place finish with a time of 15:26.87, demonstrating her versatility across distances.  

Looking Ahead

These performances highlight Infeld’s determination and adaptability as she continues to navigate the evolving landscape of her athletic career. With the support of Brooks Running and a series of strong showings in early 2025, Infeld is poised for continued success in the upcoming track and field season.

The U.S. distance team dominated under the lights in Kingston, Jamaica April 4 as Grant Fisher captured the men’s 5000m title on opening night of the Grand Slam Track series, earning $100,000 and recording the biggest international outdoor win of his career.

Fisher surged to the front with 600 meters to go and never looked back, crossing the line in 13:00.25, a world-class season opener. He was followed by Cooper Teare, who finished second in 13:01.74, and Dylan Jacobs, who rounded out the American sweep with a time of 13:04.10.

“It felt good to get out and compete,” Fisher said post-race. “This series is something new, and it’s exciting to be part of something that brings big-time racing to new places. Jamaica was loud, fast, and fun.”

This was the debut event of the Grand Slam Track series, designed to bring elite track and field to new global venues with big prize money and a fan-first atmosphere. The Kingston crowd delivered with high energy, and the athletes responded with one of the fastest early-season 5000m races ever run on Jamaican soil.

Fisher, a two-time Olympian and former Stanford standout, walked away not just with a win, but with one of the largest single-race payouts in track distance running history—$100,000 for first place. The prize money is part of Grand Slam Track’s mission to elevate the sport and reward top-tier performances.

The U.S. sweep sends a powerful message heading into the heart of the 2025 season. With the next Grand Slam Track meet on the horizon, Fisher and his teammates have momentum—and the world is watching.

In an ambitious move to elevate professional track and field, sprinting legend Michael Johnson has launched the Grand Slam Track league. This innovative series promises athletes regular, high-stakes competitions against top-tier rivals, coupled with unprecedented financial incentives.

Unprecedented Financial Incentives

Grand Slam Track offers a substantial $12.6 million in prize money for its inaugural season. Athletes will compete in four major meets, with prize distributions as follows:

• 1st Place: $100,000 

• 2nd Place: $50,000

• 3rd Place: $30,000

• 4th Place: $25,000

• 5th Place: $20,000

• 6th Place: $15,000

• 7th Place: $12,500

• 8th Place: $10,000

In contrast, the established Diamond League offers $10,000 for event winners and $1,000 for eighth place, highlighting Grand Slam Track’s commitment to elevating athlete compensation.

Season Schedule and Venues

The 2025 season features four high-profile meets:

1. Kingston, Jamaica – Independence Park: April 4–6

2. Miami, USA – Ansin Sports Complex: May 2–4

3. Philadelphia, USA – Franklin Field: May 30–June 1

4. Los Angeles, USA – Drake Stadium: June 27–29

These venues have been strategically selected to maximize global engagement and showcase the sport’s premier talents.  

Elite Athlete Participation

The league has successfully attracted 48 elite athletes, known as “Grand Slam Racers,” who are contracted to compete in all four events. Notable participants include:

• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: Double Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles.

• Josh Kerr: 2023 world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medalist in the 1500m.

• Fred Kerley: World-renowned sprinter and Olympic medalist.

• Emmanuel Wanyonyi: Prominent middle-distance runner.

These athletes are poised to deliver thrilling head-to-head competitions, enhancing the sport’s appeal.

Visionary Leadership and Funding

Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, spearheads the Grand Slam Track league. His vision is to create a platform that offers consistent, high-quality competitions and substantial financial rewards, addressing long-standing challenges in track and field.

The league has secured over $30 million in funding from private investments and strategic partnerships, including media rights deals with The CW Network and NBC Sports, ensuring extensive coverage and robust financial backing.

Broadcasting and Global Reach

Grand Slam Track has established broadcasting agreements with The CW Network and Peacock in the United States. Every event of each three-day meet will stream live on Peacock, with exclusive coverage of each Friday’s races, while The CW will air weekend coverage. NBC, whose parent company owns Peacock, will also air highlight specials.

The global broadcast team will be led by Steve Cram, Carrie Tollefson, and Anson Henry, with reporting from Radzi Chinyanganya and Taliyah Brooks. These collaborations aim to bring track and field to a broader audience, revitalizing interest in the sport.

With its innovative approach, substantial financial incentives, and commitment to showcasing elite talent, Grand Slam Track is set to redefine the landscape of professional track and field.

In the electrifying atmosphere of the 2024 Paris Olympics, American sprinter Noah Lyles clinched the gold medal in the men’s 100m final, clocking a personal best of 9.784 seconds. This razor-thin victory over Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, decided by just five-thousandths of a second, marked one of the closest finishes in Olympic 100m history.

As the athletics world celebrates Lyles’ achievement, attention turns to forthcoming changes in timing regulations set by World Athletics. Starting in 2025, a significant amendment will alter how sprint times are recorded: the race clock will commence only when an athlete initiates movement, effectively eliminating the inclusion of reaction times in official results.

Under this new system, Lyles’ Paris performance would be recalculated to exclude his reaction time, potentially resulting in a faster recorded finish. This adjustment not only redefines personal bests but also brings Usain Bolt’s longstanding world record of 9.58 seconds into closer contention. The recalibration raises compelling questions about the comparability of sprint times across different eras and the evolving nature of athletic records.

As athletes and enthusiasts alike anticipate the implementation of these changes, the track and field community stands on the cusp of a new chapter—one that may see historical records challenged and the very metrics of speed redefined.

Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas and entrepreneur Spencer McManes have announced their engagement, marking a significant milestone in their relationship. The couple, both former Ivy League athletes, have been together since 2022, supporting each other’s professional endeavors.

Gabby Thomas: A Multifaceted Champion

Born on December 7, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, Gabby Thomas was raised in Northampton, Massachusetts. She attended Harvard University, earning a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology and global health. During her time at Harvard, Thomas won 22 conference titles across six events, setting school and Ivy League records in the 100m, 200m, and indoor 60m races. Notably, she became the first Ivy League sprinter to win an NCAA sprint championship, securing the 200m title with a time of 22.38 seconds.  

Thomas’s athletic achievements are remarkable. She clinched three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 200m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay. Her 200m victory was achieved with a time of 21.83 seconds.  Beyond her athletic prowess, Thomas is dedicated to addressing racial health disparities, working with Austin’s Volunteer Healthcare Clinic and aspiring to run a nonprofit organization focused on expanding healthcare access.  

Spencer McManes: From Ivy League Athlete to Entrepreneur

Spencer McManes hails from Roswell, Georgia, where he attended Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, excelling as a quarterback and setting multiple football records. He continued his athletic career at Yale University, playing as a quarterback for the Bulldogs and graduating with a degree in political science and government.

Professionally, McManes has held roles in customer success management and, in May 2023, founded Kaviva, a non-alcoholic kava-based sparkling water company based in Austin, Texas.

A Relationship Built on Shared Values and Mutual Support

Thomas and McManes’s relationship began in 2022 after connecting through mutual friends who noted their shared backgrounds as Ivy League athletes. Despite the traditional Harvard-Yale rivalry, they bonded over common interests and experiences. McManes has been a steadfast supporter of Thomas’s athletic career, notably cheering her on during her triumphant performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  

The Engagement: A Surprise Rooftop Proposal

In March 2025, McManes proposed to Thomas during an intimate rooftop gathering in Austin, Texas. The setting was adorned with flowers, and Thomas’s best friend and a photographer were present to capture the moment. Reflecting on the surprise, Thomas expressed her genuine astonishment and joy.

The engagement ring features a classic round-cut diamond, estimated at three carats, set in white gold or platinum, symbolizing their enduring commitment.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Personal and Professional Aspirations

As Thomas and McManes embark on this new chapter together, they continue to pursue their respective professional goals. Thomas is preparing for the 2025 track season, with plans to compete in the new Grand Slam Track league, which includes events in Jamaica, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Oregon, and culminates at ATHLOS NYC in October.  

The World Athletics Indoor Championships began on March 21, 2025, in Nanjing, China, featuring outstanding performances across various events.

Matheus Lima da Silva Sets South American Record

Brazil’s Matheus Lima da Silva set a new South American indoor record in the men’s 400 meters, clocking 45.79 seconds to win his heat and advance to the semifinals.  

Triple Jump Gold for Andy Díaz Hernández

Italy’s Andy Díaz Hernández secured gold in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 17.80 meters, setting a new Italian record. China’s Zhu Yaming took silver with 17.33 meters, and Brazil’s Almir Dos Santos earned bronze with 17.22 meters.  

Jeremiah Azu Triumphs in Men’s 60 Meters

Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu won the men’s 60 meters final, recording a personal best of 6.49 seconds. Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy finished second in 6.50 seconds, and South Africa’s Akani Simbine claimed bronze with 6.54 seconds.  

Woo Sang-hyeok Wins High Jump

South Korea’s Woo Sang-hyeok claimed gold in the men’s high jump, clearing 2.31 meters. New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr and Jamaica’s Raymond Richards both cleared 2.28 meters, earning silver and bronze respectively based on countback rules.

Strong Performances in Middle-Distance Events

In the men’s 800 meters heats, France’s Yanis Meziane led with a time of 1:46.07, followed by the USA’s Brandon Miller at 1:46.47, and Puerto Rico’s John Rivera at 1:46.84.  

The opening day set a high standard, with athletes delivering exceptional performances and setting the stage for an exciting competition ahead.

Track and field has long been the stage for some of the most electrifying athletic performances in history. Each generation has produced legends who have redefined what is possible in sprinting, distance running, and field events. But which era stands above the rest?

From the Silent Generation pioneers to the Gen Z record-breakers, every period has contributed to the evolution of the sport. Let’s break down each era’s greatest stars and their lasting impact on track and field.

Gen Z (Born 1997 - 2012): The Future of Track & Field

The newest generation of elite athletes is already making waves on the world stage. With the benefit of cutting-edge training, nutrition, and recovery techniques, these young stars are smashing records at a rapid pace.

Notable Sprinters & Field Athletes:

• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – 400m hurdles world record holder and Olympic champion

• Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) – Pole vault world record holder

• Erriyon Knighton (USA) – One of the fastest teenagers ever in the 200m

Notable Distance Runners:

• Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) – Olympic 1500m champion, European mile record holder

• Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) – 5000m and 10,000m world record holder

• Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) – Half marathon world record holder (57:31)

• Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia) – World champion in the 1500m, dominant in middle distances

Gen Z athletes are not only breaking records but also shaping the future of the sport through their influence on social media and global visibility. With their combination of speed, endurance, and access to modern sports science, they may soon surpass all who came before them.

Defining Traits: Explosive, record-breaking, tech-savvy

Millennials (Born 1981 - 1996): The Superstars of the Modern Era

No discussion of dominant track and field generations is complete without mentioning Usain Bolt. The Jamaican sprinting legend captured the world’s attention with his charisma and untouchable world records.

Notable Sprinters:

• Usain Bolt (Jamaica) – Fastest man in history (100m: 9.58, 200m: 19.19)

• Allyson Felix (USA) – Most decorated female Olympian in track history

• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) – One of the most dominant sprinters of all time

Notable Distance Runners:

• Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) – The greatest marathoner of all time, first to break two hours in a marathon

• Mo Farah (UK) – Dominated the 5000m and 10,000m at two Olympic Games

• Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia) – 1500m world record holder

• Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) – First woman to break the 2:10 barrier in the marathon, setting a world record of 2:09:56 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon

Millennials excelled across all track and field disciplines. They ushered in an era of professional distance running dominance, with African runners setting standards in middle and long distances. Meanwhile, Kipchoge’s sub-2-hour marathon attempt was a historic milestone in human endurance.

Defining Traits: Charismatic, dominant, endurance revolutionaries

Gen X (Born 1965 - 1980): The Tough and Versatile Competitors

Gen X athletes were the bridge between the amateur days of track and the fully professional era. They pushed the sport forward with fierce rivalries and new records, while also seeing the globalization of track and field.

Notable Sprinters:

• Maurice Greene (USA) – Former world record holder in the 100m (9.79)

• Marion Jones (USA) – One of the most dominant sprinters of the late ‘90s

Notable Distance Runners:

• Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) – Olympic and world champion, former marathon world record holder

• Paul Tergat (Kenya) – Pioneered marathon running dominance for Kenya

• Tegla Loroupe (Kenya) – First African woman to hold the marathon world record

This era marked a golden age for distance running, with Gebrselassie and Tergat setting the stage for the marathon revolution that would come in the next generation. With increased sponsorships, the road racing circuit became more competitive, and Kenyan and Ethiopian dominance solidified.

Defining Traits: Tough, globalized, long-distance pioneers

Baby Boomers (Born 1946 - 1964): The Golden Age of Track & Field

The Baby Boomers took track and field into the modern Olympic era, producing some of the most iconic figures in the sport’s history.

Notable Sprinters:

• Carl Lewis (USA) – Nine-time Olympic gold medalist across sprints and long jump

• Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) – 100m (10.49) and 200m (21.34) world record holder

Notable Distance Runners:

• Sebastian Coe (UK) – 800m and 1500m Olympic champion, middle-distance legend

• Steve Prefontaine (USA) – One of the most influential distance runners in history

• Miruts Yifter (Ethiopia) – 5000m and 10,000m Olympic champion

This era brought middle and long-distance running into the mainstream, with rivalries like Coe vs. Ovett and Prefontaine vs. the world captivating fans. The Baby Boomers were the first generation of professional-level training and saw athletes truly dedicated to their craft year-round.

Defining Traits: Bold, revolutionary, multi-talented

Silent Generation (Born 1928 - 1945): The Pioneers of Kenya’s Dominance

This generation laid the foundation for modern track and field, producing legends whose influence still resonates today.

Notable Distance Runners:

• Kip Keino (Kenya) – The pioneer of Kenya’s dominance in distance running, winning Olympic gold in the 1500m (1968) and 3000m steeplechase (1972)

• Emil Zátopek (Czechoslovakia) – Triple gold in 5000m, 10,000m, and marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics

• Paavo Nurmi (Finland) – Nine-time Olympic gold medalist in long-distance events

Kip Keino’s triumph over Jim Ryun in the 1500m final at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. Competing at high altitude, Keino used a fast early pace to break Ryun, ushering in an era of Kenyan middle-distance dominance that continues today.

Defining Traits: Groundbreaking, resilient, visionary

Which Generation Had the Greatest Impact?

Each generation of track and field athletes has contributed to the sport’s evolution in unique ways:

• Millennials brought global superstardom (Bolt, Felix, Fraser-Pryce, Kipchoge, Chepngetich)

• Gen X athletes were fierce competitors in a rapidly changing sport (Greene, Gebrselassie, Tergat)

• The Baby Boomers set records that still stand today (Carl Lewis, Flo Jo, Coe, Prefontaine)

• The Silent Generation laid the foundation for modern track and field (Owens, Zátopek, Kip Keino)

• Gen Z is already breaking records and shaping the future of the sport (McLaughlin-Levrone, Ingebrigtsen, Cheptegei)

While it’s hard to declare one era the best, one thing is certain: the sport of track and field continues to evolve, with each generation pushing the limits of human performance.

Which generation do you think is the greatest? Let us know in the comments!

Devynne Charlton will return to the scene of her first world 60m hurdles record when she races at the Millrose Games – a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting – in New York on 8 February.

The Bahamian hurdles star clocked 7.67 to win at the Armory last year, taking 0.01 off Susanna Kallur’s 16-year-old record. 

Tia Jones then equaled that mark just five days later to win the US indoor title in Albuquerque, before Charlton improved the world record by another 0.02 with her 7.65 performance to win the world indoor title in Glasgow.

In a season that gives Charlton the chance to defend her world indoor title in Nanjing in March, she will go head-to-head with Jones as well as the previously announced Olympic 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell at the Millrose Games.

They will be joined by Jamaican 100m hurdles champion Ackera Nugent as well as US Olympic finalists Grace Stark and Alaysha Johnson.

“I can’t wait to be back at the Millrose Games this year,” said Charlton. “Almost a year ago, I broke the world record there for the first time and I’m looking forward to having another great showing and defending my title.”

Other athletes already announced for the meeting include Olympic silver medalists Katie Moon and Daniel Roberts, plus Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hocker and double Olympic bronze medalist Grant Fisher, who will go head-to-head in the 3000m.

The world 100m bronze medalist has fired warnings to Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo and Kishane Thompson.

Great Britain’s fastest man Zharnel Hughes has resumed training and things are looking up as far as getting into the right shape is concerned.

Zharnel Hughes suffered an injury in 2024, a setback that denied him an opportunity to compete more often and he was not ready by the time the Olympic Games were approaching.

The Olympic 100m bronze medalist was eliminated from the semifinal, being forced to continue his hunt for an individual medal from the Olympic Games.

He was fortunate enough not leave the French capital without a medal as he claimed an Olympic bronze medal from the men’s 4x100m relay. However, Hughes was forced to withdraw from the 200m to ensure he does not cause more impact on his injury.

He did not compete after the Olympics and jetted back to Jamaica for treatment. Hughes then started light training immediately after getting a bit better and so far, he admitted that he is hitting new heights.

In an exclusive interview with Athletics Weekly, Hughes predicted that his 2025 season will be much different from 2024, noting that he is much confident now in his abilities and will be looking to stop the likes of Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo and Kishane Thompson from continuing their winning ways.

“From there, we have taken it day by day. I have been doing more strength work and have made a change to my strength and conditioning in the gym, and by doing that, I can feel a difference. I am hitting more personal bests in the gym already, I am hitting numbers I have never hit before,” Zharnel Hughes said.

“I am looking forward to seeing how I can execute throughout the season. I am feeling pretty confident with how my body is feeling and I just need to ensure that I am resting and recovering properly. You can do all the training but if you are not recovering properly then it can always hit the fan.”

His major focus will be on getting into shape for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan and he hopes to attain that by competing at Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track League. Hughes also has eyes on the 100m and 200m national records.

Usain Bolt broke world records in all his three specialties but the 2008 Olympics diet change was the beginning of his dominance on track.

Three-time Olympic 100m champion Usain Bolt has revealed how a change in diet at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing played a crucial role in him setting a world record in his specialty.

The legendry Jamaican sprinter who also managed three Olympic 200m gold titles, was fueled by chicken nuggets because he thought Chinese food tasted odd.

In his autobiography, Faster than Lightning, Bolt wrote: “At first I ate a box of 20 for lunch, then another for dinner. The next day I had two boxes for breakfast, one for lunch and then another couple in the evening. I even grabbed some fries and an apple pie to go with it,” the 11-time world champion told TalkSport.

Bolt estimated he ate 1,000 of McDonald’s chicken nuggets during the Beijing Olympics. It was an even more impressive feat considering he did it with his shoelaces untied! Bolt finished so clear of his competitors that he pumped his chest while crossing the finishing line and had he not done that, a better final time would have been recorded.

The 38-year-old made history a year later when he set another record in the men’s 100m with a time of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships. He also won two 4x100m relay golds and holds the world record in all three disciplines.

Bolt retired from athletics after the 2017 World Championships, where he won bronze in his final solo 100m race but then pulled up in his last ever contest in the 4x100m relay final.

After refusing a wheelchair, he hobbled across the finish line alongside his teammates - but, despite his legendary career ending in heartbreak, Bolt will go down as one of the track's greatest ever competitors.

In recent years, we’ve seen several National Football League (NFL) stars step into the world of track and field, but it’s rare for a prominent track and field athlete to make the jump to football. The reigning Olympic champion in the men’s discus, Jamaica’s Roje Stona, will reportedly switch sports and try out for the NFL through its International Player Pathway (IPP) program.

According to an interview with ESPN, the 25-year-old feels he’s accomplished everything he wanted to in the discus, and will be trying out as a defensive end and tight end in the IPP camp, which starts in January 2025 in Florida.

“After the Olympics, [the IPP] reached out again. I was like, ‘Yo, the door’s open again,'” Stona told ESPN. “Of course, I was going to take it.”

Stona arrived at the Paris Olympics as an underdog in the men’s discus throw, as, earlier in the season, Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna had broken the long-standing men’s world record with a throw of 74.35m. In the final, Stona ousted Alekna by three centimetres for gold, setting a new Olympic record of 70.00m. He won Jamaica’s only gold medal in athletics at Paris 2024.

Stona’s love for football started when he attended Clemson University, where he began his collegiate track and field career before transferring to the University of Arkansas. Stona will look to become the second currently active track and field athlete to join the NFL, following in the footsteps of American sprint hurdler Devon Allen, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad for two seasons.

If Stona is successful in the IPP program, he will earn a spot on an NFL roster. There are currently five IPP players on active rosters: Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles/Australia), Efe Obada (Washington Commanders/U.K.), Sammis Reyes (Minnesota Vikings/Chile), Thomas Odukoya (Tennessee Titans/Netherlands) and David Bada (Detroit Lions/Germany).

The discus thrower will be joined by 14 other international athletes trying out for the NFL from Australia, Fiji, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.K. and Zimbabwe.

Bolt loved all the short distance races but 400m was never his long-term priority even though he preferred it early in his trophy-laden career.

Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has revealed what made him stop taking part in 400m despite loving the specialty in his formative years.

Bolt, the three-time Olympic 100m champion, said his coach Glen Mills was one of many people who felt the younger Bolt was better suited to the longer sprint distance than the marquee 100m event, meaning the 6ft 5ins sprinter almost ended up as a quarter-miler, much to his disgust.

The three-time Olympic 200m champion reiterated that even though he liked 400m, doing away with it and focusing on 100m paid dearly for him going by his record. 

"Running the 400m wasn’t fun at all. It was always pain. But I was good at it, so I used to do it. However much as I did it, though, I never liked it. So I stopped and went back to the 100m. You could say I’m happy it worked out," Bolt told TalkSport.

"The over-distance runs are the hardest thing we do in training, because when you feel that lactic acid you can’t walk, you can’t sit down, you don’t know what to do – it takes a while to get it out of your system,” he added.

The 11-time world champion said time wasn't everything and his focus was always the technique. "All we try to focus on is technique because, the better you get at these things, the better the times will get. When the champs come, then you can try to run fast.”

The 38-year-old  is the most successful male athlete of the World Championships. Bolt is the first athlete to win four World Championship titles in the 200m and is one of the most successful in the 100m with three titles, being the first person to run sub-9.7s and sub-9.6s races.

Gout Gout, the young athlete drawing comparisons to Usain Bolt, now holds the Australian U18 100m and 200m records.

Australia’s Gout Gout has left the world speechless once again. At Friday’s Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Nathan, Australia, the sprinter made a run at the elusive 10-second barrier–at the age of just 16. In heats, he soared to a blazing 10.04 seconds (+3.4 m/s winds), crossing the line more than five tenths of a second ahead of second place. Including all non-legal marks, Gout’s time secured him the number-four spot on the all-time U18 list.

Tailwind speeds exceeding 2.0 m/s are deemed illegal in sprinting, as stronger winds are considered to aid the racers. Wind assistance can impact times by about 0.1 seconds, a substantial difference in the world of sprinting.

In the 100m final at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Gout went on to run a stunning (and wind-legal) 10.17. The time shattered his own personal best of 10.29 and the previous U18 Australian record of 10.27 held by Sebastian Sultana, and still places him sixth on the all-time U18 list.

The high schooler first made headlines when he cruised to a 20.77-second win in the qualifying rounds of the 200m at the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, in August. The following day, he clinched the silver medal in the event’s final.

Gout signed a pro contact with Adidas in October, and just a week later, clocked an electrifying 20.29 at the All Schools Queensland track and field championships. The time broke his own U18 national record, along with the 31-year-old U20 national record and the Oceanic record. His time was the fourth-fastest in Australia’s history.

Gout’s race on Friday clip is his second to go viral in the athletics world in four months; many track and field fans began drawing comparisons of his tall stature and running style to those of Jamaican track legend Usain Bolt.

Ruth Chepng’etich once stated that Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce inspired her journey, reflecting her motivations and record-breaking marathon achievements.

New women’s marathon record holder Ruth Chepng’etich has long been one of the most dominant forces in long-distance running.

From clinching the World Championship in 2019 to winning gold at the 2021 and 2022 Chicago Marathons, the Kenyan runner has proven her mettle time and again on the global stage.

Earlier this year, in an exclusive interview with Athletics Weekly, Chepng’etich opened up about her admiration for Jamaican sprinting legend Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce.

“Shelly Ann (Fraser-Pryce), she motivates me, inspires me, to do a lot. Shelly Ann, I think she started a long time ago, before me, so I'm following (in) her footsteps. Like her, I want to run for long, run smart, and fall and get up,” Chepng’etich shared.

Fraser-Pryce, widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, has not only inspired Chepng’etich’s approach to competition but has also served as a role model for longevity in athletics.

Chepng’etich expressed a desire to emulate the sprinter's perseverance and adaptability, striving to push boundaries in her own discipline of marathon running.

The Kenyan champion also credited her family as a source of motivation, particularly her daughter.

“I think about my daughter, I am pushing so much because of my daughter. My daughter is motivating me to work harder. I have to work hard for her to study. Mothers have a lot to do, so it is not easy. Our children are motivating us to work harder. We want to show them the way in how life goes,” she added.

Chepng’etich’s remarkable journey reached new heights at this year’s Chicago Marathon, where she set a jaw-dropping world record time of 2:09:56, becoming the first woman ever to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Her incredible performance not only shattered the previous record of 2:11:53 held by Tigst Assefa but also firmly established her as one of the greatest marathon runners in history.

Reflecting on her world-record performance, Chepng’etich expressed both pride and a sense of accomplishment.

“I feel so great, I'm proud of myself. This is my dream that has come true. I've fought a lot, thinking about the world record, and I have fulfilled it,” she said after the race.

She attributed her success to meticulous preparation, favorable weather, and unwavering determination.

Chepng’etich dedicated her record-breaking run to the late Kelvin Kiptum, a fellow Kenyan marathoner who set a men's world record at the Chicago Marathon last year.

“The world record has come back to Kenya, and I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum,” she said.

Her achievement is awaiting ratification by World Athletics, but it has already resonated worldwide as a testament to the indomitable spirit of Kenyan runners.

Chepng’etich’s feat not only cements her legacy but also reinforces Kenya's stature as a powerhouse in distance running.

Her admiration for Fraser-Pryce and the motivation she draws from her daughter underscore her commitment to excellence both on and off the track.

In addition to the fine, the Australian man who stormed the track received a three-year ban from the Stade de France.

The 24-year-old Australian man who disrupted the men’s 100m final at the Stade de France on Aug. 4 has been fined 8,000 euros (CAD $11,800) by a French court, per AFP News.

The incident occurred moments before the start of the world’s most prominent race, as the top sprinters were in their blocks. The man, wearing a T-shirt reading “Free Palestine,” “Free Ukraine,” and “Jesus,” jumped onto the track from the stands, but was almost immediately intercepted by security staff. His goal appeared to be reaching the 100m straight, but security acted swiftly enough to prevent any disruption to the race.

In addition to the fine, the man received a three-year ban from the Stade de France. The finalists, including eventual champion Noah Lyles, had to wait several minutes for the track to be cleared before the race could begin.

Lyles went on to win his first Olympic gold medal, narrowly beating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in a photo finish that came down to five-thousandths of a second. Afterward, Lyles told the media he didn’t see anyone trying to get onto the field, but was wondering what they were waiting for.

Paris 2024 organizers praised the security team’s efficiency in handling the situation, which caused minimal delay. The man was taken into custody and placed under judicial supervision, which included a ban from attending any further Olympic events during the Games.

France has laws against unauthorized entry into sports venues or disrupting public events. These actions typically fall under laws governing public safety and order, such as Code pénal articles on disrupting public gatherings or trespassing. Offenders can face fines, bans from stadiums or events, and even imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence.

Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo have been announced as World Athletes of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2024 in Monaco.

Following a vote by fans, Hassan and Tebogo received top honors on an evening that saw six athletes crowned in three categories – track, field and out of stadium – before the overall two winners were revealed.

Tebogo was confirmed as men’s track athlete of the year, with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone receiving the women’s honour. Hassan claimed the women’s out of stadium crown and Tamirat Tola the men’s, while Mondo Duplantis and Yaroslava Mahuchikh were named field athletes of the year.

This year’s Rising Stars were also celebrated, with Sembo Almayew and Mattia Furlani receiving recognition.

World Athletes of the Year for 2024

Women’s World Athlete of the Year: Sifan Hassan (NED)Men’s World Athlete of the Year: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)

Women’s track: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)Women’s field: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR)Women’s out of stadium: Sifan Hassan (NED)Men’s track: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)Men’s field: Mondo Duplantis (SWE)Men’s out of stadium: Tamirat Tola (ETH)

Women’s Rising Star: Sembo Almayew (ETH)Men’s Rising Star: Mattia Furlani (ITA)

“At the end of what has been a stellar year for athletics, we are delighted to reveal our list of World Athletes of the Year – both in their respective disciplines and overall,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “This group of athletes represents the very best of our sport and has this year redefined what is possible in terms of athletic performance.

“Our 2024 cohort set new standards in heights, speed and distance, including six world records and a host of Olympic and national records between them.

“I congratulate all our award winners, and all of the athletes nominated for these honors, and I thank them for inspiring us all with their performances this year.”

World Athletes of the Year Hassan and Tebogo both won gold and claimed multiple medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Dutch star Hassan’s medal treble in Paris was capped by her winning the final athletics gold medal of the Games with her triumph in the marathon in an Olympic record of 2:22:55. That performance came just 37 hours after Hassan claimed bronze in the 10,000m, and six days after her first medal in the French capital – also bronze – in the 5000m.

As a result, she became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon at the same Games, and the first athlete since Emil Zatopek, who won all three men’s titles in Helsinki in 1952.

Tebogo also made history in Paris when he won the 200m, as he claimed a first ever Olympic gold medal in any sport for Botswana. He ran an African record of 19.46 – a time that moved him to fifth on the world all-time list – and that performance followed his sixth-place finish in the 100m final. He went on to form part of Botswana’s silver medal-winning men’s 4x400m team.

He dipped under 20 seconds for 200m a total of nine times in 2024, with those performances topped by his Olympic title-winning mark which remained the fastest of the year.

His fellow track athlete of the year, McLaughlin-Levrone, improved her own world 400m hurdles record twice, to 50.65 and 50.37, and claimed Olympic gold in that event as well as in the 4x400m. Tola, who joined Hassan in being named out of stadium athlete of the year, won the Olympic marathon title in Paris in an Olympic record.

World records were set by both field athletes of the year. Mahuchikh cleared 2.10m to improve the world high jump record before winning Olympic gold, while Duplantis revised his own world pole vault record three times, eventually taking it to 6.26m, and won the Olympic title.

"Thank you to the fans, to everybody who voted," said Hassan, who was in Monaco to receive her two awards. "I never thought I was going to win this one. This year was crazy. It’s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing. I’m really grateful. What more can I say?"

Standing alongside Hassan on the stage at the Theatre Princesse Grace, Tebogo said: "It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes. It was a great year.

"This means a lot," he added. "It’s not just about the team that is around you, there are a lot of fans out there that really want us to win something great for the continent. It was a real surprise to hear my name because I didn’t expect this."

Almayew and Furlani named Rising Stars of 2024

Not only did Sembo Almayew and Mattia Furlani achieve great things as U20 athletes in 2024, they both also secured success on the senior stage.

Almayew finished fifth in the 3000m steeplechase final at the Paris Olympics, going close to her own national U20 record with her 9:00.83 performance, before she travelled to Lima where she won the world U20 title, setting a championship record in the process. With that win, the 19-year-old became the first ever Ethiopian world U20 women’s steeplechase champion.

Furlani improved the world U20 long jump record to 8.38m at the European Championships on home soil in Rome to secure silver, and he won two more senior major medals at the World Indoor Championships, where he got another silver, and the Olympic Games, where he claimed bronze.

In Glasgow – at the age of 19 years and 24 days – Furlani became the youngest athlete ever to win a world indoor medal in the horizontal jumps.

Knight wins President’s Award

The winner of the President’s Award was also announced in Monaco on Sunday (1), with Nike co-founder Phil Knight receiving the honour in recognition of his constant inspiring support for athletics and the development of the sport.

The President's Award, first awarded in 2016, recognises and honours exceptional service to athletics. Past winners of the award include the Ukrainian Athletics Association, British journalist Vikki Orvice, Swiss meeting director Andreas Brugger, Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt, the Abbott World Marathon Majors, and 1968 men’s 200m medallists Tommie Smith, Peter Norman and John Carlos for their iconic moment on the podium in Mexico.

“Phil Knight’s passion for athletics is pretty much lifelong,” said Coe. “He developed an almost father-son relationship with his coach, the legendary Bill Bowerman, whose training approach was a departure from the orthodoxies of the day and who not only guided Knight’s career on the track but became a central figure when Phil took his first tentative steps in the running shoe business that became the dominant global force Nike.

“His love of athletics runs through Nike. It is a business created and driven by runners, with Phil never afraid to be the front runner.”

Knight said: “Thank you, Seb Coe, for the ultimate honour of the President’s Award, given by World Athletics. I am in great company, with Tommie Smith and John Carlos, and Usain Bolt. Obviously, I didn’t run as fast as those guys, but I am in such high company that I am thrilled by the award. Track and field has always been an important part of Nike – it has always been a central part of who Nike is.

“I do think running will continue to grow. Not only does Seb and his team do a great job promoting the sport, but it is a sport that not only is enjoyable, but it is probably the best fitness activity you can do. So, for me to win this honour, it is very meaningful.”

During the ceremony, a moment was taken to remember last year’s men’s out of stadium athlete of the year Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record-holder who died in a road traffic accident in February, as well as other figures from the sport who have passed away in 2024.

Less than four months ago, Afghanistan sprinter Sha Mahmood Noor Zahi proudly carried his country’s flag down the River Seine at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A week later, he became a household name in Afghanistan by setting a national record in the men’s 100m preliminary round, missing a qualifying spot in the heats by just one place. At that moment, Noor Zahi made the biggest decision of his life: choosing to leave his country with a one-way ticket to Germany in hopes of a better future.

In an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, Noor Zahi said he has been living in a shelter in the city of Schweinfurt for the past few months while awaiting his asylum application. Though he does not speak English or German, he can be found training four to (sometimes) five hours a day at Sachs Stadion, the home of the city’s soccer team.

The 33-year-old achieved his dream of running at the Olympic Games through a universality place selection for Tokyo 2020. (The program aims to ensure broader global representation at major championships by allowing athletes from countries with less-developed sports programs to participate). Noor Zahi has taken full advantage of the opportunity, lowering his 100m personal best from 11.04 seconds to 10.64 seconds in the span of three years. Although he does not have a coach, he continues to follow the training plan he received in Iran before the Paris Olympics.

Noor Zahi’s main goal is to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles (his third Olympics), when he would be 37. He has ambitions to become the first person from his country to run under 10 seconds and qualify for an Olympic final. “I’ve run and run to overcome many obstacles,” he said about his challenges. “So why stop now?”

An athlete he has always admired is Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, whom he recalls watching in videos on his mobile phone in his younger days in Afghanistan. Noor Zahi pointed to Bolt’s speed, confidence and the way he graced the track. For Noor Zahi to achieve his goal, he needs to stay in Germany, where he can continue to train and pursue a career in athletics.

The situation in his home country remains dire. The radical Islamist Taliban group regained power in 2021 after the withdrawal of international troops. Since then, the group has been publicly executing people in stadiums, and women are only allowed on the streets when accompanied by men.

Noor Zahi is aware that he is also fighting a battle against time in sprinting, where athletes over 30 rarely set personal bests. His idol, Bolt, set his world record at 23 and was 30 when he won his final Olympic medals in Rio 2016.

British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith has got fans excited over a potential project in the works between her and Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce following her latest social media post.

British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith has got fans wondering if there could be a new project in the works between her and Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Asher-Smith, who is on holiday in Mexico, posted on her Instagram story saying she was waiting for Fraser Pryce and American hurdler Anna Cockrell to join her, leaving fans excited over a potential project involving the two.

Fraser-Pryce has been mum over her next career move since pulling out of her semi-final race at the Paris 2024 Olympics and recently split up with her coach Raynaldo Walcott.

With Asher-Smith, now based in the United States, having started working with coach Edrick “Flo” Floreal ahead of the Paris Olympics, fans are now speculating if the two sprinters could end up training together or if it was something not related to their careers.

Fraser-Pryce is looking to revive her career in 2025 after enduring tough moments in the last two years where injuries and poor form slowed her down.

The 37-year-old recovered from an injury to win bronze and the 2023 World Championships but any hopes of a major comeback in Paris went up in smoke when she withdrew from her 100m race at the Olympics for reasons she is yet to reveal.

She has, however, been in good spirits attending to her Pocket Rocket Foundation, and was recently pictured on holiday alongside her family as she plots her next step.

Asher-Smith, meanwhile, did not meet her desires since her move to the US as she exited the 100m at the semi-final before finishing fourth in 200m with her saving grace being the 4x100m relay silver with Great Britain.

Justin Gatlin has heaped praise on his long-time arch-nemesis Usain Bolt, thanking him for making him the athlete he ended up becoming after returning to the sport.

American sprint icon Justin Gatlin has revealed the profound impact Usain Bolt had on his career, acknowledging how the Jamaican legend pushed him to reach new heights.

 Known for a rivalry that defined an era of sprinting, Gatlin and Bolt clashed in numerous unforgettable races, showcasing contrasts in style and personality. Yet, despite the fierce competition, Gatlin now reflects on their encounters with admiration, crediting Bolt for inspiring him to be his best.

“Competing against someone like him, he brought the best out of me,” Gatlin said on The Higher Perspective Talks.

 His comments came just over a week after Bolt himself recognized Gatlin as his toughest competitor. Gatlin expressed that Bolt’s presence on the track forced him to elevate his approach to training, nutrition, and overall athletic dedication.

“He made me wanna train harder. He made me wanna be a different athlete. He made me eat cleaner, work harder, compete harder because that was an athlete that represented a standard, one that I always wanted to get to,” Gatlin explained, underscoring the high benchmark Bolt set with his relentless speed and unwavering confidence.

Reflecting on their head-to-head races, Gatlin noted that he was always ready to face Bolt, eager to test himself against the reigning champion. “When I banged against him, I was ready any time. I wanted to race him every day if I could,” Gatlin shared. His words highlight not only the intensity of their rivalry but also the motivation he found in trying to match Bolt’s prowess.

Usain Bolt also had kind words for Gatlin during a recent appearance on John Obi Mikel’s Obi One podcast. “I think Justin Gatlin, I have to give my hats off to him,” Bolt said. “The last five, six years of my career, it was me and him every season. He kept me on my toes throughout, and I loved the competition.”

Bolt recalled a particularly memorable exchange when he saw a video of Gatlin confidently declaring his intent to win gold.

 “I remember I’m just on Instagram scrolling, and someone sent me a video,” Bolt recounted. “He [Gatlin] was like, ‘Justin, I’m gonna win, don’t worry, and I’m going to wear the gold medal around my neck.’ And I’m like, ‘What? Alright, let’s go then.’”

Recognizing Gatlin’s fierce resolve, Bolt added, “Listen, Gatlin is going to show up. He is that guy in a Championship; no matter what is going on, he is going to show up.”

Their rivalry may have seen Bolt take the lion’s share of victories, but the respect they have for one another transcends competition.

As Gatlin reflects on his journey, it’s clear that Bolt’s influence left a lasting mark, inspiring him to push beyond his limits in pursuit of excellence. Their rivalry brought unparalleled excitement to the sport, and their mutual respect continues to exemplify the power of elite competition.

Known for his iconic celebrations and world-record-breaking times, eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt shared a powerful piece of advice from his long-time coach on this week’s episode of the High-Performance Podcast.

Bolt credited his coach, Glen Mills—who led the Jamaican Olympic track and field team for two decades—for the advice that shaped the rest of his career. Mills began coaching Bolt after his Olympic debut in Athens 2004, where Bolt, then a rising talent, failed to advance from the men’s 200m heats.

After that, Mills told Bolt, “You have to learn how to lose before you can learn how to win.” As a teenager, Bolt didn’t fully grasp what Mills meant by it, but it became clear. “You will fail at some point,” Bolt said on the podcast. “What’s important is what you take away and learn from it. If you can be truthful and honest with yourself, you’ll realize what you need to do to get better.”

Bolt came to Mills as a 200m specialist and credits his coach with developing his explosive power in the 100m—a distance in which Bolt set a world record of 9.58 seconds in 2009, a record that remains unbroken.

Bolt went on to become the seventh man in history to win Olympic gold in both the 100m and 200m at the 2008 Games in Beijing, a feat he accomplished twice more in his career, at London 2012 and Rio 2016—making him the only athlete in history to achieve a three-peat in these two sprint events.

The 38-year-old officially retired after the 2017 World Championships and briefly tried his hand at professional soccer with Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in 2018.

The Grade 11 sprinter’s running style and tall frame have been compared to that of the legendary Usain Bolt.

Australia’s sprint sensation Gout Gout has signed a professional contract with Adidas at just 16.

The high schooler made headlines after he cruised to a 20.77-second win in the qualifying rounds of the 200m at the World U20 Championships this past August. The clip went viral in the athletics world, and track and field fans drew comparisons from his tall stature and running style to those of Jamaican track legend Usain Bolt.

“Usain Bolt is that you?” one comment said.

“Gout Gout reminds me of Usain Bolt. He will definitely level up with him,” said another.

The following day, Gout ran another personal best of 20.60 seconds in the 200m final, setting an Australian U18 record and winning silver. He was outrun by South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza who took home double golds in the World U20 100m and 200m and won silver in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics earlier that month. Walaza is two years older than Gout, who was competing against athletes three to four years older.

The Aussie’s performance surpassed Bolt’s own winning time from the 2002 Junior World Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, where the 16-year-old Jamaican clocked 20.61. “It’s pretty cool because Usain Bolt is arguably the greatest athlete of all time, and just being compared to him is a great feeling,” Gout said.

Like Bolt, the 200m isn’t Gout’s only event. He also holds a personal best of 10.29 in the 100m and has held the Australian U18 200m record since last year, at just 15.

In 2005, Gout’s parents moved from South Sudanese to Brisbane, Australia where Gout was born in 2007. The athlete attends Ipswich Grammar School, an all-boys boarding school, in Queensland, Australia, where he first showed off his athleticism in rugby. He’ll only be 24 when the Olympics come to his hometown of Brisbane in 2032.

After a busy summer on the track that saw him win his second consecutive national title in the 1,500m and make his Olympic debut for Team Canada in Paris, Vancouver’s Kieran Lumb is not ready to call it a season just yet. The 26-year-old is set to step up in distance, making his half-marathon debut at the B.A.A. Half on Sunday, Nov. 10 in Boston.

After a busy summer on the track that saw him win his second consecutive national title in the 1,500m and make his Olympic debut for Team Canada in Paris, Vancouver’s Kieran Lumb is not ready to call it a season just yet. The 26-year-old is set to step up in distance, making his half-marathon debut at the B.A.A. Half on Sunday, Nov. 10 in Boston.

The half marathon is 14 times longer than Lumb’s usual 1,500m event, but he’s embracing the challenge. “My coach and I wanted to try something different this fall and emphasize strength,” Lumb told Canadian Running. “It’s been refreshing to mix things up.”

Lumb has been training at altitude in Park City, Utah, for the past few weeks—something he hasn’t been able to do since turning professional in 2023.

In the past two years, Lumb has represented Team Canada in the men’s 1,500m at the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, though he did not advance past the heats at either event. Earlier this year, he reached the men’s 1,500m final at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, finishing 13th.

He has had success on the roads so far in his career, placing fifth in the men’s road mile at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia last October.

Lumb says he’s excited to compete against Flanagan and Fafard, two athletes he rarely faces. Flanagan, a former Canadian half-marathon record holder, briefly held the accolade in 2022 after running 61 minutes at the Valencia Half Marathon. Flanagan’s record was surpassed by Cam Levins at the Vancouver First Half in February 2023, with Levins’ time of 60:18 still standing as the top Canadian mark.

The scenic Boston Half course winds through the city’s Emerald Necklace Park System, passing landmarks such as the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond and Franklin Park Zoo. The finish line is in Franklin Park, just south of the city.

Yohan Blake has unveiled an exclusive new way for fans to follow his personal journey offering unique behind-the-scenes access.

Jamaican sprint icon Yohan Blake has introduced an innovative fan app that provides his supporters with unprecedented access to his training journey, mental preparation and personal reflections as a world-class athlete.

The app, available now for iOS and soon to be launched on Android, gives fans a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the sprinter’s career, offering exclusive content and updates straight from Blake himself.

The app aims to connect fans more closely with Blake's experiences, offering a real-time window into his daily training regimen, diet, and the mental resilience it takes to compete at the highest level of track and field.

"Hey guys! ? I’ve just launched my official fan app, available now on iOS and coming soon to Android! Stay connected with me for exclusive updates, content, and more. Download today and be part of the movement!" Blake announced in a message to his fans.

For Blake, the app is not just a platform to share his achievements, but also a tool to inspire others through the ups and downs of his athletic journey.

His fans will gain a close-up view of the hard work, dedication, and discipline required to reach the pinnacle of sprinting.

With the app, Blake shares both the highs and the lows of his pursuit for greatness, something that has been a hallmark of his career.

"What keeps me focused is the hunger and the drive to do much better than I’ve done in the past. I want to leave a mark and a legacy. I am running for a cause," Blake said in a past interview.

At 34, Blake’s storied career includes some of the most remarkable achievements in the history of track and field.

He famously shares the record for the second-fastest 100m time in history with American sprinter Tyson Gay, both clocking in at an astounding 9.69 seconds.

Blake’s prowess on the track has earned him two Olympic gold medals from the 4x100m relays at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games, alongside two silver medals in the 100m and 200m sprints in London.

Despite his extraordinary success, Blake has faced his fair share of adversity.

In 2014, a career-threatening injury left many questioning whether he would ever return to his peak form.

But through resilience and determination, Blake overcame the setback, proving his dedication to his sport.

Now, he seeks to use his app as a way to connect his journey with fans, giving them a deeper understanding of what it takes to bounce back and thrive in the face of challenges.

"I want people to remember Yohan and be inspired to put their best foot forward in spite of," said Blake in a past interview in March.

After months of trash talk between Olympic and world 100m champion Noah Lyles and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill about who would win in a 100m race, the debate will finally be settled. According to a report in Ad Age, both athletes have committed to a race organized by actor and America’s Got Talent host Terry Crews.

The competition will be part of “Super Serious on Sight”–an elimination-style tournament between Olympic runners and pro athletes co-founded by Crews. Super Serious did not reveal the date of the high-profile race, but it would presumably be after the 2024 NFL season and before the 2025 summer track season .

“I wouldn’t beat him by a lot, but I would beat Noah Lyles,” the NFL player said after the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 30-year-old is known for being one of the fastest players in pro football and comes from a track and field background. Hill represented Team USA at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona, winning gold in the men’s 4x100m relay and bronze in the 200m, with a personal best of 20.54 seconds.

In response, during an interview with NBC Sports, Lyles said he didn’t know who Hill was, referring to him only by his nickname, “Cheetah.”

“What’s the Cheetah guy from football, what’s his name? I can’t remember his name,” Lyles said. “What’s the football player who thinks he’s fast name?”

Lyles has a history of being overconfident while mocking other athletes–the 27-year-old also pretended he didn’t know who Team Canada was (in the men’s 4x100m relay) ahead of the Paris Olympics, where Canada brought home gold.

Lyles announces engagement to Junelle Bromfield

In other Noah Lyles news, on Sunday, the 27-year-old announced his engagement to fellow Olympic sprinter Junelle Bromfield. The celebrated sprinter went all out with the setup–posts on social media showed a rose-petal-covered walkway, with friends and family in attendance. In his post, Lyles wrote “To My Future Wife I Will Love You Forever.”

The walkway was surrounded by bouquets of flowers and sparklers, and led to a heart-shaped sign lit with the words “Will you marry me?” The popular couple’s posts on social media have received overwhelming support and congratulatory messages from fellow international track sensations.

The pair has been dating for two years after meeting through social media, and share a passion for track. Lyles, who is known for his bold personality, holds Olympic gold in the 100m and two bronze medals in the 200m. Bromfield, 26, won a bronze medal for Team Jamaica at Tokyo 2020 in the 4x400m relay.

The former world champion is raring to go again after enduring a lot of difficulties in recent years that have locked him out of major championships.

Former world champion Yohan Blake is promising a strong comeback after enduring a frustrating 2024 season.

Blake has not raced since July when he finished eighth at the London Diamond League, an outcome that saw him claim a lack of respect from Jamaicans.

That was after missing a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics when he could not go past the preliminary round of the 100m at the Jamaican trials and there has been uncertainty over his athletics future, especially after he opened a restaurant in Florida, early this month.

However, the 34-year-old seems not ready to hang his spikes just yet and remains determined to revive his career heading into the 2025 season.

“The journey continues. Focused, determined, and back where I belong. Stay tuned for what’s next. With God, all things are possible,” Blake posted on social media.

Blake, who has two Olympics silver medals in 100m and 200m and as many gold in 4x100m relay, has been struggling to get back to his former glories.

The sprinter was regarded as one of the big prospects when he burst onto the scene but after an early promise, his powers have been waning in recent years, casting doubts on whether he will return to winning ways.

His main task now is to be fit and qualify for next year’s World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Olympic legend Usain Bolt has seen his sprint times beaten by youngsters Gout Gout and Nickecoy Bramwell in recent months, but he remains philosophical on his achievements being topped.

Usain Bolt has already made his feelings clear on young athletes breaking his records by declaring that he is excited by emerging "personalities" in the sport.

Following Nickecoy Bramwell's record-breaking feat earlier in the year, another record held by the Jamaican icon was smashed this week as 16-year-old Gout Gout produced a silver medal-winning time of 20.60 seconds in the 200m at the U20 World Championships in Peru. The young Australian narrowly edged out Bolt's 2002 time in the same race when he was almost 16 years old.

The Olympic legend clocked 20.61 in the final, although he had a quicker time of 20.58 in the first round. More than two decades on from Bolt's heroics, South African Bayanda Walaza clinched gold with a time of 20.54, while Britain's Jake Odey-Jordan secured bronze in 20.81.

Back in May, 16-year-old Jamaican hopeful Bramwell took Bolt’s Under-17 400m world record at the Carifta Games in Grenada with the youngster clocking 47.26 seconds to beat the record by just 0.07 seconds. Bolt's record had previously stood for an incredible 22 years.

Speaking after Bramwell's achievements, Bolt hoped that his legendary times being eclipsed meant that athletics would be getting a much "needed" fresh injection of personality. He also claimed that the sport has not been the same since he departed the track.

“After me, it kind of went down because of who I was as a person, and how big my personality was," Bolt said. “But I think over time it will be better. I think young athletes are coming up and I see a few personalities that are needed in sport, hopefully in the upcoming years it will change.”

Who gets to inherit Bolt's heavy crown is another matter altogether, though. While Bramwell has caught the eye at longer distances, it's Gout who seems to be the major contender for Bolt's age-group records in the 100m and 200m.

The young athlete's performance has drawn strong comparisons to Bolt, with Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming among those claiming the young runner could be the next Olympic conquering superstar. Gout has taken such remarks with a degree of calmness rarely seen at such a young age, declaring that the compliment was "pretty cool".

Meanwhile, Bramwell, who has overcome several injury problems to now be discussed in the same breath as Bolt, has stated he now wants more of the legend's records. He said: "It's a wonderful feeling to break the record. Since last summer, I have been eyeing the record.

"So it's a great feeling I could come out here and get it. I just took my mind off it and focused on the record. I'm looking forward to better things.”

Bolt, 37, who retired in 2017, won eight Olympic gold medals and still holds world records in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay. He now spends his athletics retirement with his family while also dabbling in celebrity charity events, like playing in Soccer Aid.

The Olympics bronze medalist is keen to win in style against the likes of Ferdinand Omanyala and Letsile Tebogo at the Rome Diamond League on Friday night.

Olympics bronze medalist Fred Kerley wants to make history at the Rome Diamond League on Friday night.

Kerley is among the headline acts at the Diamond League meeting in the Italian capital as he looks to make it back-to-back wins in 100m after his victory in Silesia last weekend.

The American, known to talk big, is praying that things go even better in Rome after claiming that his win in Silesia was a “trash race.”

“Father God protect and guide on this track today let make history,” Kerley posted on X just hours to the race.

Kerley is up against a star-studded line-up that includes Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala, Olympics 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, Itlian and home favourite Marcell Jacobs as well as fellow American Christian Coleman.

He will hope that lighting strikes twice after clocking 9.87 to win in Silesia ahead of Omanyala, who finished second in 9.88, and Ackeem Blake of Jamaica, whose personal best of 9.89 yielded third place, as Jacobs, clocked 9.93 for fourth place.

Kerley was not impressed by his performance in the Polish city and gave negative reactions post-race.

“Trash race but on to Rome,” Kerley started by posting on X before revealing much more in a post-race interview.

"I know the race was shi**y as hell. I just ran and not being technically sound, but I know I'm about to get an earful once I get to my phone,” he said.

On a cool, crisp evening in the Peruvian capital on Tuesday (27), Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa turned up the heat on her rivals to successfully defend her 5000m title, the highlight of the first day of action at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24. 

Eisa’s winning time of 14:39.71 carved more than 28 seconds off the championship record set by Genzebe Dibaba, which had stood since 2010, and brought her home well clear of her compatriot Mekedes Alemeshete. The two broke away from the field from the outset and alternated pace-setting duties, passing 2000m in 5:58.59 with a 40-meter lead. 

By 3000m, reached in 8:57.28, they’d built a 70-meter lead and from there it only extended, with Eisa breaking clear of her compatriot with three and a half laps to run and lapping most of the field to hand women’s 5000m gold to Ethiopia for the eighth time in the last nine editions.

“I'm very happy with this win and to achieve a championship record after the Olympics,” said Eisa, who finished seventh in the 5000m in Paris. “I wanted to be a champion, I have wanted this for months.” 

Alemeshete followed her home in 14:57.44, with Uganda’s Charity Cherop getting bronze in a PB of 15:25.02. 

The men’s 5000m proved a very different race, with some early moves proving inconsequential and the final boiling down to a sprint finish, with seven clustered together at the bell. As the contenders hit full speed on the final turn it was Kenya’s Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi who soon took flight like a bird, soaring to victory in 13:41.14 ahead of Ethiopia’s Abdisa Fayisa (13:41.56) and Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop (13:41.73). 

Australia reigned supreme in the mixed 4x400m final, their quartet of Jordan Gilbert, Bella Pasquali, Jack Deguara and Sophia Gregorevic controlling the race and hitting the line comfortably in front in an Oceanian record of 3:19.27. Poland claimed silver in 3:20.44 with China coming through strongly for bronze in 3:21.27 courtesy of a big final leg from Liu Yinglan. 

In the men’s shot put, it was no surprise to see gold go to the Netherlands for the first time in 24 years, but it wasn’t the thrower many were expecting, with Dutch U20 record-holder Yannick Rolvink – who topped the entry lists by more than a metre – finishing fifth with 19.88m.

It was his teammate, Jarno van Daalen, who shone brightest, the 18-year-old adding 36cm to his lifetime best with his opening round effort of 20.76m. That was a mark no one else could match in the subsequent rounds, though South Africa’s JL van Rensburg came close, launching a PB of 20.74m in the final round for silver. Germany’s Georg Harpf took bronze with 20.28m. 

With four events completed in the heptathlon, Croatia’s Jana Koscak tops the standings with 3536 points, the 2022 European U18 champion adding to her 13.80 hurdles performance and 1.81m high jump earlier in the day with a 12.01m shot put and 25.12 200m in the afternoon session. 

Second overnight is Switzerland’s Lucia Acklin, who rocketed up the standings during the latter part of the day after throwing 13.42m in the shot put and clocking a PB of 24.42 in the 200m. That leaves her on 3472 points. Australia’s Mia Scerri sits third with 3385, closely followed by Czechia’s Adela Tkacova who is fourth with 3351, aided by her season’s best of 24.14 in the 200m.

"It's been a long day, but I'm happy," said Koscak. "I ran a solid 200m, a good high jump, but the hurdles and shot put could have been a little better. It's been a long process because I've been travelling a lot, with climate changes, times zones. This is the World Championships so I'm not going to complain."

In the women’s 100m semifinals, Jamaica’s Alana Reid was highly impressive when winning in 11.44 (-0.3m/s), easing off the gas far from the line to beat Nigeria’s Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan (11.56) and Aleksandra Stoilova of Australia (11.58), who also advanced. Kishawna Niles of Barbados and Britain’s Nia Wedderburn-Goodison were the quickest qualifiers, both clocking 11.39 in the first semifinal ahead of South Africa’s Viwe Jingqi (11.49). Germany’s Chelsea Kadiri won the third semifinal in 11.52 ahead of Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands (11.59). 

Thailand’s Puripol Bonsoon, who finished fourth in this event two years ago, was the quickest qualifier for the men’s 100m final, clocking 10.30 (-0.6m/s) in the semifinals to edge South Africa’s Bradley Nkoana by one thousandth of a second. Jamaica’s Gary Card qualified in third with 10.39.

Deandre Daley of Jamaica powered to victory in the first semifinal in 10.34 (-0.9m/s) with Japan’s Naoki Nishioka taking the second automatic spot in 10.43. South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza recovered from an early stumble to win the third semifinal in 10.33 (-0.2m/s) ahead of Britain’s Teddy Wilson (10.35) and China’s He Jinxian (10.36), who also advanced. 

China’s Wang Xiaobo led the way in men’s javelin qualification, launching 73.83m with Slovenia’s Tom Tersek next best with 73.37m ahead of Germany’s Oskar Janicke (73.02m). Ukraine’s Illia Saievskyi was the only other thrower to surpass the 72.50m automatic qualification mark.

In women's pole vault qualification, the automatic qualifying mark of 4.25m wasn't necessary and four athletes cleared 4.10m with faultless performances. One vault was all it took for USA's Molly Haywood to make the final as she entered at 4.10m and cleared that first time. She'll be joined by athletes including Estonia's Miia Tillmann, Australia's Tryphena Hewett and Austria's Magdalena Rauter.

The women’s 3000m steeplechase heats saw a dominant performance from race favourite Sembo Almayew who coasted to victory in 9:30.59 ahead of Kenya’s Diana Chepkemoi and Uganda’s Nancy Chepkwurui (9:49.06). Ethiopia’s Firehiwot Gesese eased to victory in the other heat in 10:00.96 ahead of Uganda’s Loice Chekwemoi (10:01.85) and Kenya’s Sharon Chepkemoi (10:07.59). 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce might have left the Olympic stage without a gold medal but the Jamaican sprint queen surely impacted the lives of many including New Zealand rugby star Michaela Blyde.

New Zealand national rugby sevens player Michaela Blyde has opened up about how Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce impacted her life growing up and how meeting the Jamaican sprint queen at the Paris Olympic Games was a life-changing moment.

Blyde disclosed that growing up, Fraser-Pryce motivated her to dream of winning gold medals on the Olympic stage in the 100m and 200m. In an interview, the 28-year-old added that meeting her idol at the Olympic Games must have been the greatest thing that happened to her.

She added that the three-time Olympic champion going to watch her game against China at the Paris Olympic Games was something she dreamt of and is a memory that will forever be in her mind at the Olympic stage.

“Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is actually the reason why I wanted to win gold in the 100m and 200m at the Olympic Games…that was my initial Olympic dream. When I tell you what it’s like to meet an idol, it’s so hard to explain because for so long, I watched her compete on TV. After all, it’s always about the fastest man on the planet but it's never about the fastest woman,” Blyde said.

“When I saw her in person, my whole soul left my body and was watching me above. And then she said, ‘I’ll come watch you play.’ Even I have said to people that I’ll watch them play…you say that with meaning but you know that deep down you can’t.

“And then all of a sudden, after our China game, I can hear, ‘Michaela’ like from afar, and I was like I can hear my name and so I just kind of looked to my left and there’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, watching us. She came to watch us play,” she added.

Blyde added that Fraser-Pryce sharing on her Instagram stories that she had gone to watch her play was a morale booster at the Olympic Games. She noted that having Fraser-Pryce in the stands changed her life forever.

After exiting the Olympic stage, she explained that it motivated her to be an inspiration to young girls and boys in her home country.

“And then on her Instagram stories, she was cheering on us, she was cheering from little Michaela Blyde who is from Taranaki. It’s just a random to her but to me, she’s someone who made a huge impact on my sporting career,” she said.

“Having her there was unbelievably meaningful. It makes you realise that the job we have as well when we go to club rugby or little Jenny’s school or whatever, they see us on the sideline and they feel just like how I felt there.”

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic 110m hurdles bronze medalist, Ronald Levy of Jamaica, was dealt a four-year ban after an out-of-competition test for GW1516.

On Friday, Ronald Levy, the Tokyo Olympic 110m hurdles bronze medalist from Jamaica, was handed a four-year ban by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) following a positive test for banned substances.

The substance detected in Levy’s sample, taken during an out-of-competition test in October 2023, was GW1516. This black-market drug is known for enhancing endurance and increasing the body’s ability to burn fat, allowing users to train harder and longer. However, GW1516 has not been approved for human use due to concerns about its potential cancer risks and other severe long-term health effects.

Levy said on social media that he was shocked at the positive test result, maintaining he did not knowingly violate any rules: “I am stunned by this turn of events because I have always conducted myself with the highest level of integrity in the sport, which I love dearly, and would never seek to gain an unfair advantage.”

The 31-year-old hurdler won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics behind American Grant Holloway and Levy’s fellow Jamaican, Hansle Parchment. He also won gold in the 110m hurdles at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Levy has not competed since September 2023 and did not qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Levy has the right to appeal the decision and take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). While a successful appeal could overturn the ban, the process could also result in significant financial and physical strain if the appeal is unsuccessful. This is the third high-profile GW1516 case in the past two years, following the positive tests of former Olympic 800m silver medalist Nijel Amos of Botswana and Surinamese sprinter Issam Asinga, the U20 100m record holder. Both men tested positive during out-of-competition tests.

Here are the athletes with the most gold medals at the Olympic athletic games

The track and field events continue to capture the imagination of sports fans around the world, at the Olympics in Paris.

While the current athletes compete for glory, it's worth reflecting on the legends who have set the bar exceptionally high in Olympic athletics.

Here’s a look at the athletes with the most gold medals in Olympic track and field history, showcasing their unparalleled achievements and enduring legacies.

1. Paavo Nurmi (Finland)- 9 Gold medals

Paavo Nurmi, known as "The Phantom Finn," is celebrated for his extraordinary achievements in middle and long-distance running during the 1920s.

Competing in the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Olympics, Nurmi amassed an impressive 12 Olympic medals, including a record nine golds. His incredible versatility was highlighted by his ability to dominate distances ranging from the 1500m to the 20km.

At the 1924 Paris Olympics, Nurmi won a record five gold medals, a feat that remains unmatched to this day.

His career is also marked by his remarkable achievement of setting 22 official world records across various distances.

2. Carl Lewis (U

SA)- 9 Gold medals

American sprinter Carl Lewis is another iconic figure in Olympic athletics, renowned for his dominance in both sprint events and the long jump.

Lewis’s Olympic career spanned from 1984 to 1996, during which he earned a total of 10 medals, including nine golds.

In his debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Lewis matched the achievements of Jesse Owens by winning gold in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and long jump.

His subsequent victories across the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Games solidified his reputation as one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time.

3. Allyson Felix(USA) - 7 Gold medals

Allyson Felix stands as the most decorated female athlete in Olympic track and field history.

Her career, spanning five consecutive Olympics from 2004 to 2020, has seen her win a total of 11 medals.

Felix’s seven gold medals highlight her versatility and dominance in both the individual and relay events.

Felix’s remarkable achievements include gold medals in the 200m and 4x400m relays at the 2012 London Olympics, as well as two more golds in Rio 2016.

Her career continued to shine with additional medals in Tokyo 2020, proving her enduring excellence on the track.

4. Usain Bolt (Jamaica)- 8 Gold medals

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is often hailed as the fastest man in history, and his Olympic success only cements this status.

Bolt’s career is highlighted by his three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay events at the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2016 Rio Games.

Bolt’s unprecedented triple-double achievements and world records in these events have set a benchmark in the sport.

His flair, speed, and charismatic performances have made him a global icon in athletics.

5. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)- 3 Gold medals

Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is another prominent name in Olympic athletics.

Known for her explosive starts and exceptional speed, Fraser-Pryce has won three gold medals in the 100m across the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2024 Paris Olympics.

Her ability to consistently perform at the highest level across four Olympics showcases her remarkable career.

These legendary athletes have not only achieved remarkable success but have also set records that continue to inspire future generations of track and field competitors.

From Paavo Nurmi’s unmatched versatility to Usain Bolt’s record-breaking sprints, their contributions to the sport have shaped the history of the Olympics and continue to captivate the world.

Knowing the average pace can help you set new goals.

The best way to find your average running speed is by tracking your mile pace.

For example, say you go out for a three-mile race. You might start off running fast because of an adrenaline rush, then slow down once you realize you’re running too hard. But toward the end, when the finish is in sight you might catch a second wind and pick up speed again. This all results in different mile times.

Your average mile time, which will be the sum of all your mile times divided by the number of miles completed, may look different than each individual mile. The more you train, not only will your average mile pace drop, but each individual mile time will likely become closer in time to the others.

That’s why tracking your average mile time is a great way to monitor your progress. Plus, when you reach a new barrier—like the first time you run faster than a 10-minute mile, for example—it allows you to search out new goals in your running journey and also scope out your competition.

How long does it take to run a mile on average?

Based on real-life data from all public uploads to Strava from August 1 2022 to July 30 2023, the average mile time across the globe is 10 minutes and 25 seconds (10:25). That number adjusts based on gender: 10:02 for men and 11:17 for women. In the U.S., the average running speed is 9:54 and breaks down to a 9:32 mile pace for U.S. men and 10:37 for U.S. women.

These paces have changed since 2018 when the average global mile pace hit 9:48 and U.S. pace averaged 9:44.

Don’t fret if your current average time is a little off from those marks. Keep in mind that, while sizable, the dedicated Strava community doesn’t represent the entire running community.

What factors affect average running speed?

The following factors play a big role in every runner’s mile speed:

Gender

Age

Weather/wind

Nutrition and hydration

Injuries

Height

Weight

Terrain

The list could go on. Even what you think about or your mindset can affect how fast you run, and that’s under your control. Other factors, however—such as height and age—are things you obviously can’t change.

Also, according to recent number crunching at Runner’s World, based on data from platforms like MapMyRun, even the type of year you’re having has an effect on one’s average mile time and pace. From mid-April to mid-September—during the start and midpoint of the coronavirus pandemic—the average mile pace recorded was 8.5 percent slower compared with the same range in 2019, which the MapMyRun team attributes to a new or returning runner effect.

When it comes to age, one data analysis performed in 2010 and based on 10,000 U.S. runners who completed a 5K showed the average minutes per mile for runners of different ages. The average overall was 11:47 per mile. Men in the 16- to 19-year-old age range finished the run with an average pace of 9:34; women in the same age group finished in 12:09. The numbers gradually increased as the age groups got older.

In most cases, though, the gaps between the finishing times of the different age groups weren’t drastic. And you might not necessarily get slower with age. As Runner’s World has reported, many pro runners and average runners peak in their 30s, and even runners in their 70s can keep getting better with age.

Because of the many variables associated with running pace, it can be difficult to establish an across-the-board average running speed.

How fast should you run a race?

If you’re looking to find out what your average running pace should be to hit a specific time goal in a race, you’re in luck. Our Runner’s World Pace Charts (in both minutes per mile and kilometer) show what time a given pace will produce for six common race distances: 5K, 5 miles, 10K, 10 miles, half marathon, and marathon. As an example in the chart below, if you want to run under 1 hour and 45 minutes for a 10-mile race, you’d need to have an average pace of 10 minutes and 29 seconds per mile to accomplish your goal.

Use our charts as a reference point after you start training so you can know what average pace is necessary (and realistic) for your upcoming goal race.

How can you boost your average running speed?

If you want your average running pace to be faster, there are several steps you can take to improve, like figuring out how to breathe properly and mixing up your types of runs. You should also recognize the importance of nutrition and hydration.

Adopt a holistic approach to your training, doing regular conditioning workouts to improve your strength and flexibility in addition to running, as a stronger, mobile body can help you run faster and avoid injury.

What’s the fastest ever mile speed?

The fastest mile ever recorded was set by Hicham El Guerrouj, a Moroccan runner who ran a mile in 3:43.13 in 1999. Guerrouj was 24 years old at the time.

For women, the fastest mile ever was run by Faith Kipyegon, which she snagged just this month, with a time of 4:07.64.

If you’re looking for the fastest average running paces over the course of 26.2 miles, look no further than the world record holders in the marathon—Eliud Kipchoge (4:37.2 per mile) and Brigid Kosgei (5:06.8 per mile).

And just for fun, if Usain Bolt were to ever keep his jaw-dropping sprint going for a full mile at his peak ability, the Jamaican’s top speed in 2009 during his 9.58 world record 100-meter dash would have put him just over 27 miles per hour.

Grant Holloway has finally clinched gold at the Olympics stage following a dominating 110m hurdles victory.

America's Grant Holloway has finally added an Olympic title to his collection after winning the final of the 110 meters hurdles at the ongoing Paris games.

Holloway’s victory marks the first time an American has won gold in this event since Aries Merritt's triumph at the London 2012 Olympics. Holloway’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, as he maintained his unbroken winning streak and solidified his status as one of the greatest hurdlers in recent history.

In a close race for the remaining podium spots, U.S. teammate Daniel Roberts captured the silver medal with a time of 13.09 seconds, narrowly edging out Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell in a photo finish for the bronze. This marks Roberts' first Olympic medal, adding to the U.S. team’s success in the event.

Holloway’s gold medal not only adds to his impressive collection of accolades but also underscores his dominance in the 110m hurdles.

Thursday's victory also brings some redemption for Holloway after a disappointing showing at the Tokyo Games in 2021 where he entered as the favorite but was upset by gold medalist Hansle Parchment of Jamaica. He began the race with a lead through the first 60 meters but surprisingly stumbled over the seventh hurdle, causing him to fall behind and finish in second.

"You guys think about Tokyo a lot, but we're in Paris," Holloway told reporters prior to the race. "I'm looking forward to continuing to show the great form that I'm in. … Everybody is talking about a world record. If it comes, it comes. The first thing we have to take care of is winning."

Holloway did just that, continuing USA's dominance in this year's Track & Field competitions. He is now the sixth American gold medalist runner, joining Noah Lyles (men's 100m), Quincy Hall (men's 400m), Cole Hocker (men's 1,500m), Gabrielle Thomas (women's 200m) and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (women's 400m hurdles).

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone overcomes Femke Bol to succesfully defend 400mH title & set new world record.

Lyles was pushed to another personal best by Jamaican Kishane Thompson, who took silver in a photo finish.

The men’s 100m final was a race for the ages on Sunday as the double world champion, Team USA’s Noah Lyles, took the gold medal in a blazing 9.79 seconds, but it was not without a nail-biting photo finish. Lyles was pushed to run the fastest time of his career by Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, the fastest man in the world over 100m this year, who also ran 9.79 and was awarded the silver medal. Fred Kerley of the U.S. took the bronze medal in a season’s best 9.81 seconds.

Akane Simbine of South Africa was fourth with a new national record of 9.82, leaving the defending Olympic champion, Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, languishing in fifth place, with 9.85. Canada’s Andre De Grasse, the two-time Olympic bronze medallist, did not make the final, finishing fifth in his heat of the semi-final earlier on Sunday.

Men’s 100m final results

Noah Lyles (USA) 9.79 PB

Kishane Thompson (Jamaica) 9.79

Fred Kerley (USA) 9.81 SB

Akani Simbine (South Africa) 9.82 NR

Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Italy) 9.85 SB

Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) 9.86 NR

Kenny Bednarek (USA) 9.88

Oblique Seville (Jamaica) 9.91

Lyles took his personal best down another two hundredths of a second in the race, having just run 9.81 at the London Diamond League on July 20.

Lyles’s coach, Lance Brauman, said he predicted Lyles would run a PB in the final: “I know his fitness level, and I was pretty confident he was going to run a PB, I have for the past three weeks. It was just a matter of, was he going to run a big enough PB to win the race?” 

The American said earlier this summer that his goal is to earn four medals at the Paris Games, i.e., the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay. Time will tell whether he can make good on his goal; the men’s 200m heats are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 6, with the 4x100m relay heats going on Thursday, Aug. 8, and the 4x400m on Friday, Aug. 9.

Athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are taking place from Aug. 1-11. Today’s coverage is brought to you by Canadian Running and PUMA Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.

IN TRACK AND FIELD, tenths (and even hundredths) of a second can make or break a race. Performance depends on extremely precise measurements and time rules all. So it makes sense that luxury watch brands would look to those athletes as natural billboards, placing their timepieces on the wrists of some of the sport's top performers.

When Noah Lyles, the fastest man in the world, settled into the blocks for the 200-meter finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, 4.5 million viewers tuning in via NBC and Peacock could see the glint of the sun off what appeared to be a $50,000 Omega watch.

Wearing this type of timepiece during a 19.53-second sprint is clearly a flex, since “there’s no performance reason for [these athletes] to wear luxury watches,” explains Aaron Rapf, the founder and CEO of Advantage Sports Marketing Group, a sports agency that connects brands with athletes.

Runners are no stranger to pricy performance watches (a high-end Garmin can cost upwards of $900), and luxury watch companies are increasingly aligned with elite runners to “connect their company values to the sports landscape—which is one of the last bastions of true culture,” he adds. “If you want to be in a moment where you attract millions of people’s eyeballs at one time, it’s sports.”

These race day cameos are part of a more subtle approach to marketing, says Pierre-Loïc Assayag, CEO and co-founder of Traackr, an influencer marketing software company. “In the past, luxury brands were more focused on the product and the luxury associated with that product,” he says. “Now, these companies are taking the top athletes and putting them in front of their target audience, or one close to it, to demonstrate by proximity that ‘we are the precision brand’ or ‘we are the endurance brand.”

The kind of maneuvering uses a third party—one that’s fast, flashy, and accomplishing amazing feats—to craft an image the brand wants audiences to respond to. And by choosing athletes as brand champions, companies deftly align themselves with the hallmarks of high performance: precision, prestige, innovation, exclusivity, heritage, and craftsmanship.

In the past, those buzzwords were more likely to call to mind country club-esque activities (think: tennis or horseback riding) or auto racing, where the traditional consumer has been very upper class, living a high-cost lifestyle. But as culture skews more towards sport, health, and wellness, leaning into the popularity of running opens companies up to a new class of consumers, says Jessica Quillan, a luxury fashion brand and content strategist. “Track and field seems more accessible, because even though these athletes are performing at a super elevated level, anyone can go out and run,” she explains.

By association, watches become a more accessible form of wearable luxury. You may not wear one to train or on race day like the elite, sponsored atheltes, but a sporty aesthetic can translate into your everyday life; post-run, you can still swap your COROS smartwatch for a sleek, sporty timepiece from a brand like Omega (which happens to sponsor the Diamond League, an annual series of pro track and field competitions). And though you may not be ready to buy a five-figure watch now, these companies are playing the long game; by connecting themselves with major players in sport, they’re hoping to build brand recognition and loyalty among potential future customers.

The Watch Brands Olympic Runners Are Wearing

For those looking to upgrade their Garmin—now or as a future reward for finally achieving that personal best—these are a few of the luxury watches your favorite track and field stars have been sporting.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who will represent Team USA in Paris again after breaking her own World Record in the 400-meter hurdles in June, has been sponsored by Tag Heuer since 2021.

Tag Heuer is often considered the Cadillac of luxury watches, and McLaughlin-Levrone’s preferred watch, the Connected Calibre E4, is closest to the average runner’s GPS smartwatch: It operates on Wear OS by Google; has a 1.28-inch AMOLED display with crisp resolution; houses a heart rate sensor, barometer, and compass; and holds a 24-hour charge, including a one-hour sports session. The basic model, which includes a rubber strap, starts at $1,250.

Olympic bronze medalist Josh Kerr is a double World Champion—in the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter—which made him a natural representative for Swiss watch brand Longines, the official partner and timekeeper of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Kerr, who is not currently working with Longines, recently ran a 3:45.34 in the Bowerman Mile, a historic and prestigious race held annually at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, OR, to set a new world-leading time in the event and a new British record. Back in 2022, Kerr wore the-limited edition HydroConquest XXII Commonwealth Games, a sporty steel dive watch with an automatic caliber, or engine, one-directional ceramic bezel, luminescent indices and hands, and an anti-reflective coating for crystal clear readability in any situation.

In addition to their Paris 2024 partnership, Omega is the official sponsor of the Diamond League (an annual series of elite track and field competitions) and counts Noah Lyles—one of the biggest personalities in track and field—as an ambassador. Lyles, who earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter race at the 2020 Tokyo Games and has his sights on breaking Usain Bolt’s records in the 100- and 200-meter races, wears Omega’s iconic Speedmaster Moonphase.

This style was introduced in the 1980s, but the latest model—an oversized, steel-on-steel timepiece—was the first to earn a Master Chronometer certification thanks to a self-winding engine designed to withstand temperature fluctuations, water immersion, and electromagnetic frequencies. The timepiece can also hold up to the shock that comes with covering 100 meters in less than 10 seconds (when it's on Lyles's wrist, at least).

Sprinter Dina Asher-Smith is the fastest British woman on record, with two Olympic bronze medals from the 4 x 100-meter relay to her name. She’s also no stranger to luxury partnerships, having previously modeled for Louis Vuitton, Valentino, and Off-White, and has been working with Hublot since 2018. Asher-Smith has promoted a variation on Hublot’s flagship model, the Big Bang One Click, which starts at $14,200.

Its smaller face was designed for slimmer wrists, and uses the brand’s patented “One Click” fastening system so wearers can swap out the straps for other colors or materials. The sporty, semi-skeletonized hands balance out flashiness of the diamonds on the bezel, and a self-winding caliber packs plenty of power into the compact timepiece.

Ahead of what she says will be her final Olympic Games, Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce—the most decorated athlete in 100-meter history—announced a partnership with Richard Mille. Fraser-Pryce wears the RM 07-04 Automatic Sport, the first women’s sports watch from the McLaren of watch brands, which retails at $185,000 (it’s the same watch Nafi Thiam, a double Olympic champion from Belgium, wore while setting a new pentathlon world record in 2023). The skeletonized aesthetic is housed in a compact case with rigid finishings for shock-resistance, and the button on the side allows the wearer to switch between winding, neutral, and time setting modes for the crown. While it would be nearly impossible to read during a race, at 36 grams it’s lighter than most standard running watches.