Running News Daily

'Women are valued'- Hellen Obiri shares why she prefers staying in the US rather than Kenya

Hellen Obiri is loving it in the US so far as she revealed some of the good things she has experienced that would never have happened to her if she chose to stay in Kenya.

Hellen Obiri has opened up about how her life has changed since she relocated to the US in 2022 with her husband, Tom Nyaundi, and their daughter, Tania.

The two-time Olympic 5000m silver medalist revealed that she has found many opportunities that would never have happened to her if she was still staying in Kenya. Obiri disclosed that in the US, women are valued highly unlike where she grew up, Kenya.

Hellen Obiri lamented that in her village, men are always given a platform but women are advised to stay at home and be humble, a way to protect them but instead, that kills the potential and dreams of many women.

She revealed that relocating has opened her eyes and she now believes that women can do anything and gender does not play any role in what women can do better. She urged women to come through and support each other since that is the only way they are able to grow.

“They say that in life, opportunities knock at your door only once. Had I stayed in Kenya, I could have been in a rural community, even running, but the spotlight is always on men. In the United States, however, women are valued,” Hellen Obiri said as per Foot Boom.

“My mindset expanded greatly while living in the U.S. You feel appreciated and strive to work harder and to grow. Women need to support more women. Today, I feel truly honored.”

She also touched on how signing with On running has been life-changing for her as she looks to make a mark in the world of marathon running. She has been impressive since her debut at the 2022 New York City Marathon where she finished sixth.

Hellen Obiri then proceeded to win the Boston Marathon in 2023 and capped off her season with a win at the New York City Marathon. She opened her 2024 season with a win in the Boston Marathon before claiming the bronze medal in the Olympic marathon. She ended her season with a second-place finish at the New York City Marathon.

“It was shortly after Tokyo. Having the chance to work for a major company is a privilege, a real opportunity for me. I've been wearing running shoes for over ten years, and there’s always a better shoe, a better technology available. How can I help improve these shoes? I ran those marathons as if I were wearing spikes on the track,” Hellen Obiri said.

“It’s incredible because I trust On and believe in the brand's shoes. I won two times in Boston and once in New York, and the Olympic marathon medal while wearing the On Cloudboom Echo. It’s amazing, it’s comfortable and doesn’t cause injuries or discomfort.”

Daniel Ebenyo, Benson Kipruto confirmed for high-profile race in India

Daniel Ebenyo and Benson Kipruto are among top runners scheduled to compete in India this weekend.

If you think athletes are taking a break from running since the festive season is here, maybe you should fasten up your seat belt because things are just getting started.

The track season is now over and the runners have shifted focus to the road races to continue chasing the bag and staying in the loop as far as fitness is concerned. Top athletes have since been confirmed for the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, the World’s 1st Gold Label 25K scheduled for December 15.

Daniel Ebenyo is not resting on his laurels and he is just fresh from racing in the senior men’s race at the Athletics Kenya cross-country leg in Bomet. Ebenyo has had a mixed season and he was just taking some time off before coming back into the grind, ready to show the world what they have missing out on.

He was hoping to make his Olympic debut in Paris, France but a tragic fall during the 10,000m trials at the Prefontaine Classic saw him miss out on a podium finish, something that still haunts him to date. Daniel Ebenyo insisted that he was in the form of his life and would have won Kenya a medal.

The world 10,000m silver medallist made a huge milestone later in the season, making his full marathon debut at the Chicago Marathon where he placed fifth. He returns to a familiar course where he threatened the 25km world best last year with his dominant win. He won the race in a new course record time of 1:11:13.

“The Kolkata roads are fast, and conditions are ideal; it is a perfect opportunity for me to defend my title and better my timing,” the reigning champion Daniel Ebenyo revealed.

He will be challenged by Benson Kipruto, a master in road running who will be out to continue his dominant form in India. Kipruto won the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year, beating Eliud Kipchoge and then proceeded to claim the bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the women’s defending champion, Sutume Kebede also returns after winning last year’s race dominantly in 1:18:47. Kebede has been impressive this season, improving her personal best times in the half marathon (1:04:37) and marathon (2:15:55) to take initial world leads in both events this season.

US $142,214 prize money has been set aside for the top finishers. The top three finishers will win $15000, $10000, and $7000, respectively.

Olympic 100m final track invader given €8,000 fine

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.

Soh Rui Yong and Rachel See shine at the 2024 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon

The 2024 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) saw familiar champions reclaim their titles in a showcase of endurance and determination. Soh Rui Yong captured his fifth consecutive men’s national title, while Rachel See defended her women’s national title, solidifying their positions as Singapore’s top marathoners.

With over 55,000 participants, including 13,000 international runners, the 2024 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) highlighted Singapore’s growing enthusiasm for endurance sports.

The marathon also featured familiar champions reclaiming their titles in a display of perseverance and excellence. Soh Rui Yong captured his fifth consecutive men’s national title, while Rachel See successfully defended her women’s national title, cementing their status as Singapore’s top marathoners.

Soh Rui Yong: A Dominant Fifth Victory

Soh Rui Yong crossed the finish line at the Anderson Bridge in 2 hours, 46 minutes, and 5 seconds, edging out Benjamin Khoo and Richard Heng in a tightly contested race.

Celebrating his fifth national championship, Soh reflected on the competitiveness of the event, stating, “The fight for the podium was very close, which bodes well for the depth of marathon running in Singapore.”

Praising the camaraderie among participants, he added, “We conquered together as a community. Win or lose, tomorrow a new season begins.”

Soh took to Facebook after the race, expressing his gratitude and reflecting on the challenges of the event. “It was an honour to race a marathon on home soil again, and an even bigger one to win the national championship for the fifth consecutive time,” he wrote.

Soh, 33, continues to set his sights high, targeting a marathon treble at the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok. “If I win two gold medals 10 years apart, that’s pretty good,” he remarked.

Despite challenges with the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) over previous SEA Games and Asian Games exclusions, Soh remains determined to represent Singapore and excel on the international stage.

Rachel See: A Class of Her Own

Rachel See retained her women’s national title with a time of 3 hours, 45 seconds, finishing ahead of Goh Shing Ling and Sharon Tan.

At 42, See continues to defy age with consistent performances that inspire the running community.

Reflecting on her victory, she said, “This year I was very aware and alert, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I came with an open mind to do my best.”

Despite a more relaxed approach to training compared to 2023, See’s strategic pacing and experience proved decisive.

Her back-to-back titles reinforce her reputation as one of Singapore’s premier female distance runners.

A Journey of Determination for Soh

Soh’s athletic journey has not been without hurdles. Over the years, his relationship with the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) has been fraught with challenges, including disputes that led to his exclusion from the SEA Games in 2019 and 2021.

His selection for the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games marked a turning point, where he secured a silver medal in the 10,000m and gained international praise for sportsmanship by offering his drink to Indonesia’s Rikki Marthin Luther Simbolon, who had accidentally missed his cup at the water point.

However, challenges persisted. In 2023, Soh faced exclusion from the Asian Games in Hangzhou due to alleged failure to honor commitments made to the SNOC.

The council cited disparaging remarks he made in public as undermining his assurances to conduct himself professionally.

This controversy followed earlier disputes, including a defamation case involving a former teammate, which further complicated his path to international competitions.

Despite these setbacks, Soh continues to focus on his athletic ambitions. His recent marathon victory and his effort to meet SEA Games qualifying marks demonstrate his resilience and dedication to the sport.

Hassan and Tebogo named World Athletes of the Year

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.

Marathon world lead for debutant Sawe in Valencia

Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe set a world lead on his marathon debut, while Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu also captured a solid victory at the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso – a World Athletics Elite Platinum Label event – on Sunday (1). 

Sawe’s winning time was 2:02:05, just 12 seconds off the fastest ever debut set by his compatriot Kelvin Kiptum two years ago and a mark that moves him to fifth on the world all-time list, while Alemu ran 2:16:49, just 15 seconds outside her lifetime best.

The men’s event had been billed as a thrilling showdown between experienced specialists such as Sisay Lemma, Deresa Geleta and Kenenisa Bekele, versus some promising debutants including Sawe and Hillary Kipkoech. Perfectly paced by a trio of pacemakers – Kenya’s Samwel Mailu, Erick Sang and Vincent Nyageo – the leading men went through the opening 5km in 14:31. That cadence was maintained until the leading pack reached the 10km checkpoint in 29:04 and 15km in 43:39. By then, nine athletes remained at the helm including all the favourites, Geleta and Lemma running closest to the pacemakers. 

The halfway mark was passed in 1:01:17, 42 seconds slower than last year’s split when Lemma set the course record of 2:01:48. Unlike last year, when he performed conservatively over the first half, Bekele was running quite bravely as the 42-year-old travelled in third or fourth place. But some two kilometres later, the multiple Olympic and world champion began to lose ground and by the 28th kilometre the relentless 2:55/km rhythm whittled down the leading pack to five: Kenya’s Mateiko and Sawe plus Ethiopia’s Geleta, Lemma and Birhanu Legese. 

Once the last pacemaker dropped out with the clock reading 1:33, Lemma began to falter to lose any chance of retaining his title. At the front, Mateiko and Geleta broke away from Sawe and Legese, those pairs separated by 30 metres inside the 32nd kilometre. It was Mateiko, who was not able to finish the Chicago 2023 and London 2024 marathons, who seemed to decide the victory was in his favour shortly afterwards as he became a lonesome leader. The three-time Valencia half-marathon podium place finisher had built a five-second gap on Sawe and Geleta, while Legese could not maintain that pace and travelled in fourth place way back.

Mateiko’s getaway proved to be short-lived as he was reeled in by Sawe and Geleta at the 36th kilometre, when the predicted final time remained at 2:02:35. It was then that the eventual winner found another gear to speed away easily from Mateiko and Geleta, who finished fifth at the Paris Olympics. Sawe, who has completed all his nine half marathons under the 60-minute barrier, upped his pace to the 2:48/2:50 range to gradually extend his lead. By the 40km point he clocked 1:55:42, 20 seconds ahead of Geleta, while a tired Mateiko travelled another 35 seconds in arrears. 

Sawe showed a magnificent display of solo running over the closing kilometres, going faster and faster as the end was approaching to finally finish unopposed in a world leading performance of 2:02:05, including a 14:06 closing five kilometres.

Geleta, the Seville Marathon winner, improved his career best to 2:02:38 for second place, while Mateiko slowed dramatically over the final stages but still managed to finish the distance at the third time of asking in 2:04:24, holding off a late challenge from Tanzania’s 2017 world bronze medallist Alphonce Simbu.

Simbu achieved a perfectly balanced two halves (1:02:13/1:02:25) to finish fourth in a PB of 2:04:38, two seconds clear of the 42-year-old Swiss athlete Tadesse Abraham, who clocked a lifetime best and national record of 2:04:40 for fifth. In a race of an incredible depth, 10 men ducked under the 2:05 milestone while Bekele dropped out shortly after the 31st kilometre.

Sawe, the world half marathon champion, has won seven out of his nine half marathon appearances, topped by a 58:02 time in Rome in 2022. His two defeats came in Valencia, so Sunday’s performance marks his first victory in the city. 

The winner, whose two halves were timed at 1:01:18 and 1:00:47, said: “Honestly, I had built up very good for this debut and was quite confident of doing well. It’s an amazing day, I’m so happy to be here and win in Valencia, which is so beautiful.  

“I was used to running the half marathon event, I was comfortable during the first half, then I was close to the helm of the race and I thought I could go faster and I just did it. I dedicate this win to the victims of the Valencia floods, I pray for them.”

Alemu confirms she is the strongest 

Following the withdrawal of Ethiopia’s course record-holder Amane Beriso due to a stress fracture, the women’s contest kicked off at the scheduled 3:12 rhythm on an attempt to lower the current 2:14:58 course record set in 2022. The opening five and 10 kilometres were covered in 16:02 and 32:03, respectively, and by then all the favourites stayed in the leading pack, with Alemu joined by her compatriot Tiruye Mesfin, Uganda’s Stella Chesang and Kenya’s Evaline Chirchir. The clock read 47:56 for the 15th kilometre and that cadence proved to be too quick for Mesfin and Chirchir, that pair running 18 seconds in arrears by then.

Running alongside lots of male athletes, Alemu and the Paris Olympics eighth-place finisher Chesang went through halfway in 1:07:15, well on schedule to break Beriso’s record, with Mesfin and Chirchir some 300 metres back timed at 1:08:06 but quick enough to set respective career bests. Chesang’s resistance came to an end some 1:11 into the race when she just could not stay with Alemu’s pace. The Ethiopian managed to maintain her speed until the 30th kilometre, which she reached in 1:35:55, but from then on the 27-year-old dropped her rhythm as she timed 16:48 for the following two five-kilometre sections (30-40km) and her chances of a course record clearly vanished. 

Even so, Alemu’s win was never in jeopardy as she strengthened gradually her advantage on Chesang to 40 seconds by the 30th kilometre and a massive 1:21 at the 40km checkpoint, while Mesfin easily got rid of Chirchir just before reaching the 25th kilometre. At the tape, Alemu posted her second quickest ever time thanks to a 2:16:49 clocking, while the runner-up Chesang broke the 2:20 barrier for the first time in a national record of 2:18:26. Mesfin completed the classy podium, also improving her lifetime best by 12 seconds with 2:18:35.

“I know I can do a better mark but I’m happy to win today,” said Alemu. “Between 35 and 40 kilometres I wasn’t feeling good, so I decided to reduced my rhythm. At the finish line, all the people were clapping and that was really special. I can feel today it’s a different day for Valencia.”

It is only in recent weeks that event organisers were able to confirm that the race would go ahead. At the end of October, the province of Valencia was hit by extreme floods, claiming the lives of 229 people. The natural disaster lasted for more than two weeks, causing substantial damage in the area. Organisers confirmed that all the proceeds from the sponsors, the organisation’s own funds and the runners will be donated to one or more projects for the reconstruction of the affected areas.

Leading results

Women1 Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:16:492 Stella Chesang (UGA) 2:18:263 Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:18:354 Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:20:335 Majida Maayouf (ESP) 2:21:436 Chimdesa Kumsa (ETH) 2:21:547 Laura Luengo (ESP) 2:22:318 Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:22:599 Moira Stewartova (CZE) 2:23:4410 Sara Hall (USA) 2:23:45 

Men1 Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 2:02:052 Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:02:383 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:04:244 Alphonce Simbu (TAN) 2:04:385 Tadesse Abraham (SUI) 2:04:406 Chimdessa Debele (ETH) 2:04:447 Maru Teferi (ISR) 2:04:458 Hillary Kipkoech (KEN) 2:04:459 Samuel Fitwi (GER) 2:04:5610 Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:04:59

Sabastian Sawe ready to debut at Valencia Marathon after insightful lessons from mentors

Sabastian Sawe is bubbling with confidence ahead of his marathon debut in Valencia on Sunday as he gears up for a race against legends Sisay Lemma and Kenenisa Bekele.

Sabastian Sawe will be making his full marathon on Sunday at the Valencia Marathon and he expects to have a great outing, racing against a stacked field.

His greatest opposition will come from the Ethiopian duo of Sisay Lemma and Kenenisa Bekele but he is confident in his training and has fingers crossed to post impressive results.

Sabastian Sawe’s previous outings in Valencia have not yielded great results as he was forced to finish outside the podium bracket and as he takes on a greater milestone, he hopes for great results.

The world half marathon champion competed at the 2022 Valencia Half Marathon where he finished sixth before heading to finish fifth at the 2023 edition of the race. He revealed that he will be competing with his mentors in the field and that gives him a lot of optimism that he will run a great race.

“Thank you for inviting me and thank you to the race organizers. My condolences to the tragedy that has happened in Valencia. This time, I hope for good results, I have trained well and I’m well prepared for it,” Sabastian Sawe said in a pre-race press conference.

“I’m eager to run with mentors like Sisay Lemma and Kenenisa Bekele who are strong opponents and I hope they help me to run well and I hope to get good results. It will be my first time running the full marathon and I don’t want to predict any fast times but I’m ready.”

He trains with the likes of Olympic marathon bronze medallist Benson Kipruto and the 2022 New York City marathon champion Evans Kipruto under coach Claudio Berardelli and there is a lot he has picked from them as he prepares for the debut.

He promised to execute everything learnt from his training mates who are also accomplished marathon runners.

“My training mates have encouraged me a lot because they are also my mentors and they have taught me a lot. I’m ready, on Sunday to use everything they have taught me,” he shared.

Father of Ingebrigtsen brothers faces charges involving champion Jakob

The father and former coach of Jakob Ingebrigtsen will stand trial next year on charges of alleged physical abuse against the Norwegian two-time Olympic gold medalist, lawyers for Gjert Ingebrigtsen said on Friday.

Norwegian police earlier this year pressed charges against the elder Ingebrigtsen, and his lawyer said in a statement at that time that they involved only one of his children while other charges were dismissed.

The charges will now extend to incidents involving Jakob, 24, who took the gold medal in the 5,000 meters in Paris this summer, his lawyer Mette Yvonne Larsen told Reuters.

"He is now charged with having abused two of his seven kids ... We had expected that this would happen," she said.

Gjert's lawyers, John Christian Elden and Heidi Reisvang, said in a statement: "Gjert Ingebrigtsen maintains what he has said all along, that he does not admit criminal guilt for the offenses he has been charged with and that he has never subjected any of his children to either physical or mental abuse."

Jakob accused his father of several incidents of abuse, according to Norwegian media, including slapping him twice in 2008 and kicking him in the stomach after he fell off a scooter in 2009.

There were also numerous incidents of verbal abuse and threats in 2015 and 2016, according to Jakob, who said in one incident that his father assaulted him for between 15 and 30 minutes.

The Times reported that, according to the indictment, Gjert allegedly threatened to beat Jakob "to death."

Jakob and his brothers, Filip and Henrik, accused their father of physical violence and abusive behavior in a Norwegian newspaper column last year. The elder Ingebrigtsen has repeatedly denied the claims.

Gjert Ingebrigtsen announced in 2022 that he was stepping down as coach not long after Jakob won gold in the 1,500 meters in Tokyo, prompting widespread speculation over their rift.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen finished third in his much-anticipated showdown with Brit Josh Kerr in the 1,500 meters in Paris this summer as American Cole Hocker took an unexpected gold medal. However, Ingebrigtsen did win gold in the 5,000 meters.

The second coming of Lelisa in Dubai?

Former world champion Lelisa Desisa is returning to the Dubai Marathon, scene of his debut triumph, hoping that the second coming on 12th January will bring him as much success as the first. Desisa’s sprint to victory in Dubai 2013 with four pursuers strung out closely behind him was the first time five men had gone under 2hr 5mins for a marathon anywhere. With 2.04.45, one of the fastest debuts in history the 22 year old Desisa underlined his new elite status by winning Boston barely three months later, and finishing second in the world championships in Moscow in the summer.

The Ethiopian endeared himself to the Boston public that year of the bombing tragedy by returning to the city two months after the event, dedicating his victory to the victims, and presenting his framed medal to the mayor in a much lauded public ceremony. He endorsed his status as a favourite adopted son by winning Boston again in 2015, then finishing second the following year. He may not be as famous as some, but his record after that suggests he had a good case to be considered male marathoner of the decade – he won in New York in 2018, after a second and third in earlier years; all of which led up to his apotheosis as IAAF world champion in the torrid midnight heat of Doha 2019.

Then came the pandemic, a respite after the efforts of the previous six years; and an opportunity to spend time with his young family and start a business back in Ethiopia. According to his manager Hussein Makke, he is now raring to go again. “Desisa took time off to start his business and put staff in place, to ensure if you like his post-racing career,“ said Makke. “He and his wife also welcomed two children. But he is well rested and he told me he is far from finished in competitive running. He’s back to full force training and looking to return to podiums in 2025.“

“It’s great to have such an illustrious winner back,“ said Dubai race director Peter Connerton this week. “Although we’ve had all-time greats like Haile Gebrselassie here in the past, current Olympic champion Tamirat Tola, and women’s world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, all winning in fast times, we’ve also built up a reputation as a race for debutants; and Lelisa and others have certainly proved that point.“

“We suffered with the pandemic, as did all marathons worldwide, but we’re getting back to pre-pandemic interest and entry levels, and looking to make Dubai 2025 the best ever.“

Timothy Cheruiyot reveals when he plans to hang up his spikes & his post-retirement goals

Timothy Cheruiyot plans to retire from the 1500m after a final championship, transitioning to long-distance and marathon races.

Timothy Cheruiyot has expressed his intention to retire from the 1500m discipline after the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

The 2020 Olympic silver medallist aims to transition to long-distance and road racing, marking a significant shift in his illustrious career.

Cheruiyot, one of the most consistent middle-distance runners over the past decade, has set his sights on concluding his 1500m journey with a strong performance in Tokyo.

“My plan is to post good results at the 2025 World Championships. This will be my last 1500m after having done it for 10 years,” said Cheruiyot as per The Star.

“I will switch to 5000m or 10000m and then the marathon.”

The 29-year-old’s track record speaks for itself. His first major breakthrough came at the 2017 World Championships in London, where he secured a silver medal with a time of 3:33.99, finishing just behind fellow Kenyan Elijah Manang’oi.

Cheruiyot elevated his game in Doha 2019, claiming the world title in 3:29.26, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite.

Cheruiyot also earned a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, clocking 3:29.01 in a tightly contested race won by Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

His dominance extended to the Diamond League, where he clinched five titles, and his medal haul includes two silvers each from the Commonwealth Games and African Championships.

However, Cheruiyot’s journey has not been without challenges. In Budapest 2023, he suffered a tendon injury that sidelined him for nine months.

Despite the setback, he returned to competitive form, surprising even himself by securing a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“This season was good for me. Despite tearing both my tendons last year, I am happy I came back strong,” he reflected.

“I started my training later than anyone. Making it to the Olympics surprised me; I did not run with confidence at the trials.”

While Paris didn’t go as planned—Cheruiyot finished 11th in a highly competitive race—he remains optimistic about his future. His focus has shifted to 2024, where he plans to participate in several 10km road races to prepare for his transition.

“I have not done any road race before, but I am hoping to test it next year before Tokyo. I will look for a 10km race to gauge my body,” he explained.

Cheruiyot emphasized the importance of strategic planning with his coach, Bernard Ouma, as he gears up for his sixth World Championships appearance.

“I need to sit down with my coach and plan well on the races I will participate in preparations for the World Championships,” he said.

Having made his global debut in 2015, Cheruiyot’s career has been a mix of highs and lows.

From a seventh-place finish in Beijing to gold in Doha and struggles in recent years, his resilience has been remarkable.

Now, as he nears the twilight of his 1500m career, Cheruiyot is determined to leave on a high note.

His ambition to tackle longer distances and eventually the marathon signals a new chapter for the Kenyan athlete, whose legacy in middle-distance running remains firmly intact.

Winners presented with live geese at Chinese marathon

Most marathon winners receive a medal, and maybe some prize money, but the 2024 Lu’an Marathon in Anhui, China, stands out for its unique prizes. This year, winners Mathew Kiprotich and Naomi Kakoko, both of Kenya, each received a live goose after breaking the tape.

Kakoko told China’s Jimu News that she was completely shocked by the reward and “wasn’t sure” what to do with it, since she couldn’t bring a live animal on the plane or train she arrived on.

The gift of a live goose is a tradition in the Anhui province, and dates back several centuries. It’s a specialty Anhui white goose, symbolizing fidelity and prosperity. “This is a reward other than the bonus, and it is a little bit of our heart,” said the organizers.

In recent years, the organizing committee has continued this tradition, though it may not consider the difficulty for international athletes to take the geese home. Recently the tradition has been roasted, as the race winners in the last three years have not been from China. However, organizers have stuck to it, saying they cannot predict where the winners will be from.

The winners can keep the goose, sell it, or take it to a restaurant to be slaughtered, stewed and eaten. (Locals will reportedly pay between $7 and $15 for a bird.)

Kiprotich and Kakoko opted to sell their birds. In addition to the live animal, the top three men and women in the marathon are awarded trophies, medals and other prizes.

The Lu’an Marathon isn’t the only race to reward its champions with live animals. The 8.1-kilometre Bulloise Bullfight race in Bulle, Switzerland, awards cattle to its male and female winners. These animals are returned to the farm they came from, but are named after the athletes.

Ugandan distance star stands up against gender-based violence

Ugandan middle-distance runner Halimah Nakaayi, the 2019 800m world champion, is using her platform to raise awareness about gender-based violence in East Africa. In a powerful video released by Uganda Athletics on UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Nov. 25), Nakaayi underlines the struggles many women (including herself) face outside of running.

The video portrays Nakaayi training, with the message: “On the track, she runs for gold… At home, she runs for her life.” It also depicts a man threatening her with violence–a threat millions of women endure. According to global statistics, one in three women will experience gender-based violence in their lifetime. The campaign, supported by the Ugandan Olympic Athletes Commission, aims to spark conversations and push for systemic change to protect women and girls.

This campaign comes in the wake of a shocking incident involving Ugandan Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei. In August, Cheptegei was attacked by her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who doused her in gasoline and set her on fire. She succumbed to her injuries on Sept. 5, with burns to 80 per cent of her body. Ndiema also died, days later, from burns sustained during the attack. The incident devastated the athletics community and highlighted the urgent need to address domestic violence in East Africa.

In 2021, Kenya’s Agnes Tirop, a two-time 10,000m world championship bronze medalist, was found stabbed to death at her home. Her husband was arrested and charged with her murder. These incidents underscore the prevalence of violence against women, including among some of the world’s most high-profile athletes.

Nakaayi’s commitment to advocacy stands beyond her athletic career. Fans have praised her for standing up in a region where gender-based issues are often underreported. The campaign, launched by the Ugandan Olympic Athletes Commission, serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight against femicide and gender-based violence, and urges communities and governments to take stronger action.

Visiline Jepkesho will be gunning for marathon title as she leads the women’s elite field at the Shanghai Marathon

The 2018 Rotterdam Marathon champion Visiline Jepkesho will be gunning for her first marathon title of the year as she leads the women’s elite field at the Shanghai Marathon on December 1.

The event promises to be a thriller with race organisers confirming that the world’s top marathoners will compete for glory in the Chinese city.

“This year’s Shanghai Marathon is a star-studded event with an elite gathering,” race organisers said.

“We have invited 27 international special athletes, including eight platinum athletes and 11 gold athletes. Let us just say all the “strongest” runners we know will come to Shanghai Marathon.”

Jepkesho, 36, has had a solid year so far, finishing third in both the Seoul Marathon on March 17 ( 2:22:52 ) and the Gold Coast Marathon on July 7 ( 2:26:17 ) .

In Seoul, she was narrowly edged by Ethiopia’s Fikrte Wereta ( 2:21:32 ) and Bahrain’s Desi Mokonin ( 2:22:19 ).

At Gold Coast, she trailed Japan’s Yuki Nakamura ( 2:24:22 ) and Ethiopia’s Sichala Kumeshi ( 2:25:25 ).

Her credentials are, however, impressive.

Besides her Rotterdam win in 2018 ( 2:23:47 ), she claimed titles at the Paris Marathon in 2016 ( 2:25:53 ) and Ljubljana in 2018 ( 2:22:58 ).

In 2017, Jepkesho finished second in Istanbul ( 2:22:40 ), just behind world record holder Ruth Chepngetich ( 2:22:36 ).

Jepkesho clocked 2:22:58 for a runners-up finish at the Nagoya women’s marathon and placed third ( 2:24:44 ) at the 2015 Paris Marathon.

Joining Jepkesho in Shanghai is Naomi Tuei, the 2024 Huai’an Marathon champion, who claimed victory in 2:34:14.

The duo will face stiff competition from the Ethiopian trio of Belay Bedada— the 2019 Seville marathon runners-up, Masresha Bere —the 2021 Hamburg marathon runner up and Aberu Ayana, the 2024 Lisbon marathon champion.

The men’s field features a strong Kenyan contingent spearheaded by 2024 Tokyo marathon runners-up Timothy Kiplagat.

Kiplagat clocked 2:02:55 for second place in Tokyo behind Olympic bronze medallist Benson Kipruto ( 2:02:16 ) and just ahead of Vincent Ngetich ( 2:04:18 ).

His accolades include a victory at the 2022 Abu Dhabi marathon ( 2:05:20 ), a second-place finish at the 2023 Rotterdam marathon ( 2:03:50 ) and third-place finishes at the 2021 Eindhoven ( 2:07:01 ) race.

Kiplagat will be joined by 2022 Milano Marathon champion Titus Kipruto and 2021 Enschede Marathon runner-up Jonathan Kipleting.

Adding to the race is 2023 Buenos Aires Half Marathon champion Roncer Konga who will be making his full marathon debut.

U.S. Olympian Jenny Simpson completes 7 marathons in 7 days

Two weeks after finishing 18th at the New York City Marathon in 2:31:54, U.S. Olympian Jenny Simpson tackled one of the most gruelling challenges: the Great World Race, which involves running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

The decorated middle-distance runner was a late addition to the event that offered a fitting end to her storied career. Over her career on the track, Simpson won four medals at major championships, including an Olympic bronze in the 1,500m at Rio 2016 and a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

The Great World Race kicked off on Nov. 14 at Wolf’s Fang, Antarctica and concluded on Nov. 20 in Miami. Simpson completed the challenge with the following times:

Antarctica: 3:31

South Africa: 3:15

Australia: 3:12

Turkey: 3:11

Istanbul (overlap leg): 3:15

Colombia: 3:16

Miami: 5:15

Simpson finished fourth in the women’s competition. The week-long-race was won by Ashley Paulson, a two-time Badwater 135 champion, while the men’s race went to David Kilgore after Ireland’s William Maunsell withdrew on the fifth day–four days after he set a continental marathon record on Antarctica. 

Reflecting on her last-minute decision to join, Simpson said the invitation was an irresistible opportunity to challenge herself one last time. Initially, it was announced the New York City Marathon would be her final race, but the chance to “run around the world” was too much to pass up for Simpson.

“I have never in my life been so happy to see a finish line,” Simpson wrote on Instagram. “Seven marathons in seven days, plus around the world in one week! My body is surprisingly resilient and I’m so glad I did it.”

Participation in the jet-setting event doesn’t come cheap—the USD $52,000 entry fee covers charter flights, in-flight meals and emergency evacuation coverage for the Antarctica leg. Despite the cost and the gruelling schedule, the event is a bucket-list challenge for many hardcore marathoners.

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon receives honorary doctorate degree

The back-to-back-to-back Olympic 1,500m champion was given an honorary doctor degree in Education on Wednesday.

It has been a monumental year for Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who in August became the first female athlete in Olympic history to win three consecutive gold medals in a single track discipline. On Wednesday, her achievements were celebrated in her home country when she received an honorary doctorate degree in education from the University of Eldoret.

“I am greatly honoured to receive an honorary doctorate degree in education from the University of Eldoret,” Kipyegon shared on Instagram, signing off as “Dr. Faith Kipyegon.”

Honorary doctorates are typically awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their fields. Kipyegon’s recognition highlights her trailblazing career in women’s distance running, where she has inspired countless athletes by returning to elite competition and breaking records after giving birth to her daughter in 2018.

Kipyegon’s 2024 season

This year has been one of the most successful of Kipyegon’s career. At the Paris Diamond League in July, the 30-year-old broke her own world record in the 1,500m, running 3:49.04. The following month, she defended her Olympic 1,500m title at the Stade de France, setting a new Olympic record of 3:51.29.

Kipyegon also earned a silver medal in the 5,000m, an event she contested for the first time at the Olympics. Initially disqualified for an obstruction involving Ethiopian runner Gudaf Tsegay, Kipyegon was reinstated after a successful appeal. Her compatriot, Beatrice Chebet, won gold in the event.

Accolades and recognition

Kipyegon was among six nominees for the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year award by World Athletics, a title she won in 2023. Additionally, she was shortlisted for the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year, an honour recognizing the year’s greatest female athlete. This year, the award was won by Spanish footballer Aitana Bonmatí.

Firenze Marathon 2024: Top runners

Florence - Writing one's name in the roll of honour of a noble event and doing it on the occasion of the 40th birthday, the challenge of the 40^ Estra Firenze Marathon is therefore even more electrifying and the task of making it so is entrusted to twelve men and eight women.

Top runners – Men

Five from Kenya and Italy, one from France and Burundi to beat the record to be beaten currently in the legs of the Kenyan James Kipkogei Kutto who in 2006 crossed the finish line in 2h08'40". The Kenyan Dikson Simba Naykundi (Caivano Runners) could succeed in his debut on the queen distance. Dikson Nyakundi brings with him the excellent record of 60'39" on the half marathon distance that earned him victory in Treviso in 2022 and has racked up several podiums in Italy, as stated in his curriculum in which we find, among others, the victories in Cremona in 2021 and at the last edition of the Neapolis Half Marathon.

In the race, however, there are those who already have experience on the queen distance and will try to have their say having already run below the record of the event. This is the Kenyan Edwin Kimutai Kiplagat who with 2h08'21", detached in Geneva in 2021, could captain the leading group.

Just over a minute away, the winner of the last edition of the Neapolis Marathon, the Kenyan Samuel Naibei Kiplimo who has already stopped the clock of the 2022 Run Rome The Marathon at 2h09'41", when he conquered the seventh position overall. Behind him is the first on the home list, the Moroccan with an Italian passport Hicham Boufars (Asd International Security) who participated in Florence in 2019 (third overall with 2h13'29"), in 2018 with a personal best (second overall with 2h12'16"), 2015 (2h13'36") and 2014 (2h17'12"), followed by the Kenyan Hyllry Chemweno who this year snatched the personal best of 2h13'28" by winning the Skopje marathon (Macedonia).

A little further behind is Lhoussaine Oukhrid (ASD AT Running) with a personal best of 2h16'25" followed by the Algerian with a French passport Menad Lamrani, last year at the personal best of 2h16'45" at the Rennes marathon (France).

At the start, with the task of acting as a hare, the Kenyan Simon Dudi Ekidor who brings the time of 2h18'58" from the 2019 Nairobi marathon.

Closing the ranks are three Italian regulars of this event, the Moroccan Khalid Jbari (Athl. Club 96 Alperia), capable of 2h21'32", his personal best, in 2022 and Andrea Soffientini (Dinamo Running), for him already three medals in the Firenze Marathon, in 2022 (2h26'36"), in 2021 (2h22'29") and in 2021 (2h26'36") and Kabir Hicham (Pol Moving SSD ARL) who in Florence conquered his best time with 2h22'44" last year, when he showed up sixth at the finish line, improving on the 12^ position of 2021 (2h27'24").

Burundian Jean Marie Bukuru makes his debut with the record of 63'03" in his legs at the 2023 Arezzo half marathon.

Top runners – Women

Five from Kenya, two national standard-bearers and one from Morocco for the glory of the 40^ Estra Firenze Marathon, although, barring surprises, it does not seem that the women's record of the route that belongs to the Olympic Lonah Chemtai Salpeter can waver, in 2018 she had lowered it by four minutes compared to the previous one bringing it to 2h 24'17".

On paper, the victory goes to the Kenyan Vivian Cherotich to whom the Italian roads bring luck, as told by the record with victory conquered at the last edition of the Romeo & Giulietta Half Marathon with a time of 1h09'18" which is on a par with the victory of the last marathon in Eindhoven (Netherlands) when she set her personal best of 2h26'41". Watch out for the Moroccan Souad Kabouchia who here in Florence, in 2021, has already taken fourth place running in 2h27'49", a handful of seconds from the personal best that gave her the victory of the last marathon in Enschede, which ended in 2h27'16".

Three minutes behind her it is possible to see the stride of her compatriot Dorine Cherop Murkomen who this year in Seville set her best time with 2h29'39".

The breath on the neck is of the Kenyan Teresiah Kwaboka Omosa (Caivano Runners) who has racked up several victories, including the half marathons of Udine (2021), Wachau (2022) and Nancy (2024) as well as that of the Salzburg marathon in 2018. For her, the record on the queen distance is from 2021 when in Fürstenfeld (Austria) she stopped the clock at 2h30'12".

A little more detached is the Kenyan Hellen Chepkorir who brings 2h34'16" scored in Kosice (Slovakia) in 2017. In the group of pursuers the Kenyan Lucy Chepoghon Chelele who boasts the time of 2h38'12" a few weeks ago in Nairobi, the blue of Kenyan origin Maria Gorette Subano (Cus Pro Patria Milano), last year able to snatch the bronze medal of the 39^ Firenze Marathon and recently improved at the Berlin marathon (Germany) where she finished her efforts in 2h38'45". For Italy also her teammate Sarah Giomi with the time of 2h40'22" set in Amsterdam in 2018.

Hall of Fame

The ranking by nations still sees the colors of Italy in the lead with 22 victories (11 among men and 11 among women), followed by Kenya with 16 successes (12/4), then Ethiopia which with 15 victories (7/8) extends its lead over Great Britain with 9 victories (3/6); then at 2 there are Bahrain (2/0) and Hungary (0/2). Austria (0/1), Belgium (0/1), Brazil (1/0), Israel (0/1), Yugoslavia (1/0), Morocco (1/0), Norway (0/1), Czech Republic (0/1), Russia (0/1), Rwanda (0/1), Slovenia (0/1) and Ukraine (1/0) all have one win each. There are 18 nations that can boast at least one victory in the roll of honour.

Victories of 9 different nations among men and 13 different nations among women. Men: Kenya 12, Italy 11, Ethiopia 7, Great Britain 3, Bahrain 2. Brazil, Yugoslavia, Morocco and Ukraine: 1. Women: Italy 11, Ethiopia 8, Great Britain 6, Kenya 4, Hungary 2. Austria, Belgium, Israel, Norway, Czech Republic, Russia, Rwanda and Slovenia: 1.

The 2023 edition of the Florence Marathon brought the tricolor back to the men's podium with Said El Otmani (CS Army), in the women's victory of Clementine Mukandanga who signed the national record for Rwanda while the last Italian who had the national anthem sung is Giovanna Volpato who in 2008 cut the ribbon in 2h34'13".

Afghan sprinter homeless in Germany after Paris Olympics

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.

Mary Moraa 'back to the grind' ahead of tough 2025 season

Mary Moraa has resumed training as she plans to defend her world title amid the rise of strong 800m runners including Keely Hodgkinson and Athing Mu.

Mary Moraa has resumed training ahead of a tough 2025 season where she has a huge task of defending her world title at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

The reigning world champion will battle for the title alongside very formidable 800m runners who have emerged this season. The Commonwealth Games champion lines up against Keely Hodgkinson, Tsige Duguma and Athing Mu alongside other 800m athletes.

Mary Moraa had a mixed season this year and she will be looking to work on the finer things so as to be ready next season. She was off to a great start to her season, winning the 400m at the African Games then anchored the 4x400m mixed relay team to a bronze medal.

The Kenyan 800m star then proceeded to claim the win at the Kip Keino Classic before reigning supreme at the Diamond League Meeting in Doha and finished second at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix and Prefontaine Classic.

Moraa then finished second at the Kenyan Olympic trials and then won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. She bounced back to take the win at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne and finished third in Silesia. She won the 600m in a world best time at the ISTAF 2024 and then claimed wins in Zurich and the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.

Mary Moraa rounded up her season with a second-place finish at the Athlos NYC. Going back into training, she hopes to polish a lot of things and bounce back stronger to maintain a winning streak in 2025.

“It's about time...back to the grind ?,” Mary Moraa shared in a post on her Facebook page, adding, “Nice morning cruise with Brandon and the gang after a deserved break.”

Her competitors are also not resting on their laurels with Keely Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic champion, making it clear that she will be going for the world title since it’s one of the titles she has yet to win.

Her coaches, Jenny Meadows and Trevor Painter have also revealed that she will be attacking both the indoor and outdoor world records in the near future.

“There’s no silvers and bronzes, now we have to do gold all the way forward, we don’t want to take any backward step and I just hopefully think that Keely can dominate and we’ve got the indoor world record to go at and in the next couple of years we’ll go after the tough world record. I think she can do it,” Jenny Meadows said.

“If she’s got the leg speed to get closer to her rivals, then they can’t out strength her so it was magic. The indoor one is easier to get than the outdoor but we’ll have a crack of both and see what happens,” Trevor Painter added.

On her part, after a heartbreaking 2024 season marred with injuries and missing out on the Paris Olympic Games, Athing Mu has already started preparation for the 2025 season.

The former world champion noted that the World Championships are her major target for the season and she is working towards making it through the trials and then heading to Tokyo.

“Well, trackwise we have the World Championships in September next year and it’s in Tokyo…first of all I pray we make it through trials and then we make it to that race,” Athing Mu said.

“I feel like it’s going to be a circle moment for me because that’s basically where I started and then I had some highs and lows.”

World half marathon champion Sabastian Sawe to lead Kenyan quartet against star-studded Ethiopian lineup at Valencia Marathon

The debuting quartet of Sebastian Sawe, Daniel Mateiko, Mathew Kimeli, and Hillary Kipkoech will attempt to challenge the Ethiopian dominance at the Valencia Marathon

The Kenyan athletics scene will once again be in the spotlight as four formidable runners Sebastian Sawe, Daniel Mateiko, Mathew Kimeli, and Hillary Kipkoech gear up to challenge Ethiopia's dominance at the Valencia Marathon on December 1.

Each member of this Kenyan quartet has established themselves as a powerhouse in road running and half marathons, promising an electrifying race against a star-studded Ethiopian lineup.

Leading the charge for the Kenyan team is Sebastian Sawe, the reigning World Road Running champion.

Sawe has completed all nine of his half marathons under the coveted 60-minute mark, boasting a personal best (PB) of 58:02.

Close on his heels is Mateiko, another consistent performer who has clocked sub-59-minute times on seven occasions, making him one of the most reliable half-marathoners in the world.

Kipkoech, who holds a PB of 59:22, enters the marathon as a serious contender after previously pacing Ethiopian course record holder Sisay Lemma in 2023.

Kimeli who triumphed at the 2023 Bangsaen21 Half Marathon in Thailand with a time of 1:03:39, adds another layer of depth to Kenya’s challenge.

The Kenyan quartet will face stiff competition from a stellar Ethiopian team led by Sisay Lemma, the Valencia Marathon course record holder.

Lemma’s breathtaking 2:01:48, set last year, ranks as the sixth-fastest marathon time in history.

Following his Valencia triumph, Lemma claimed the Boston Marathon title earlier this year with a time of 2:06:17.

Joining Lemma is Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele, whose PB of 2:01:41 makes him the fastest man in the field.

Bekele, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion, continues to be a force at the marathon distance, ranking third on the all-time list.

The Ethiopian roster further includes two-time Tokyo Marathon champion Birhanu Legese, winner of the 2021 Berlin Marathon Guye Adola and Olympian Deresa Geleta who placed fifth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Mo Farah catches a moving vehicle after thieves steal his phone

Typically, runners are confident they can outrun anyone (or anything) in a non-race scenario. Missed the bus? No problem–you’ll catch it at the next stop. Someone snatched your purse? They won’t get far. Last week, four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah confirmed this theory–while on foot, the athlete reportedly pursued and caught thieves who drove away with his phone.

A year of retirement from competition seems to have had little impact on Farah’s top-tier fitness. While jogging with his wife, Tania, through his estate in Surrey, U.K., Farah set his phone down by the side of the road to collect it at the end of his run. (Farah and his family reside in a 964-acre gated community with extensive security.)

According to the Daily Mail, two men in a white van somehow slipped by the guarded entrance and nabbed the phone. Farah sprinted after the trespassers as they drove away, successfully catching them and taking back his device. Sources say he is angry about the security breach and an investigation has been launched.

This isn’t the first time Farah has faced members of the public in a “race.” Last year, he competed in a 100m dads’ race at one of his kids’ schools. But in that instance, even wearing track spikes, he finished third, losing to a dad who was wearing jeans.

Alongside his four Olympic golds, Farah has six world championship titles in the 5,000m and 10,000m events, and was the second runner in history to win the 5,000 and 10,000m at back-to-back Olympic Games. In 2016, he moved up to the marathon, winning the Chicago Marathon in 2018 and finishing third in London the same year. The British athlete retired last September; the 2023 Great North Run in Newcastle, U.K., marked his final competition.

Chebet and Ndikumwenayo victorious in Seville

Kenya’s double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet and Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo were the winners at the Cross Internacional de Itálica – a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting – held on the outskirts of Seville on Sunday (17).

While two-time world cross-country champion Chebet was a dominant winner of the women’s race, European 10,000m bronze medallist Ndikumwenayo prevailed in a much tighter finish over Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and pre-race favourite Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi in the men’s contest.

Chebet set a swift pace from the outset, and after just one minute of running she already had a lead over a chase quintet comprising Kazakhstan’s Deisy Jepkemei, Uganda’s Charity Cherop and Kenya’s Mercy, Diana and Sharon Chepkemoi. European 5000m bronze medallist Marta García and fellow Spaniard Carolina Robles were a few metres back, alongside Sweden’s Sarah Lahti.

Chebet covered the opening 2.5km loop in a brisk 7:36, six seconds faster than Jepkemei, herself another three clear of Cherop. The world 10,000m record-holder almost matched that pace on the second lap (7:44), by which time she had doubled her leading margin to 12 seconds.

Over the closing circuit, Chebet maintained her cadence and produced a 7:42 lap to seal the victory. By the time she crossed the finish line in 23:32, her lead had grown to 27 seconds over Jepkemei with Cherop holding off her pursuers to secure third place.

“It was my third appearance here and I managed to triumph at last so I’m very satisfied,” said Chebet. “It has also been very nice to share the weekend with my young compatriots Mercy, Diana and Sharon Chepkemoi.”

Unlike the women’s contest, the men’s race opened at a moderate rhythm. Morocco’s Younes Kniya was the surprise early leader, covering the opening lap in 7:13 while a large chase pack followed in 7:16.

European half marathon champion Crippa caught Kniya shortly after the fourth kilometre. At the bell – with the second lap having been covered in 7:03 – Crippa headed a group of eight men which included Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Berihu Aregawi. The 23-year-old Ethiopian took command for the first time about 18 minutes into the race but his lead proved to be short-lived as Kwizera and Ndikumwenayo moved to the front and began to push hard.

Crippa lost ground with about 700m left. Then, over the closing 500m, Ndikumwenayo’s fierce attack paid off as he managed to build a slight advantage on Kwizera while Aregawi struggled and just couldn’t follow their pace.

With the final lap covered in 6:36, Ndikumwenayo crossed the finish line ahead of his training mate Kwizera, though both were given the same time (21:24). Aregawi took third spot in 21:27 with Crippa another five seconds in arrears.

“I didn’t expect to win as my only target today was to help my club (Playas de Castellón) to win the national team title but I felt strong throughout and decided to go for the victory over the last lap,” said Ndikumwenayo, the winner here two years ago. “I’m now going to return to the altitude of Sierra Nevada where I’m building up for the European Cross Country Championships which will be next competition.”

Leading results

Women

1 Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 23:32

2 Daisy Jepkemei (KZK) 23:59

3 Charity Cherop (UGA) 24:35

4 Diana Chepkemoi (KEN) 24:38

5 Mercy Chepkemoi (KEN) 24:46

6 Marta García (ESP) 24:50

Men

1 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 21:24

2 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 21:24

3 Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 21:27

4 Yemaneberhan Crippa (ITA) 21:32

5 Kenneth Kiprop (UGA) 21:41

6 Adel Mechaal (ESP) 21:42

Etienne Daguinos sets European 10km record in Lille

The distance runner clocks 27:04 and takes three seconds off Jimmy Gressier’s mark with super run in French city

Etienne Daguinos set a European 10km record with a sensational performance at Urban Trail de Lille (November 16).

Daguinos, who was part of the French under-23 team that claimed silver at the 2022 European Cross Country Championships, went into the 10km off the back of a personal half-marathon best of 59:46, which put him joint-10th on the European all-time list over 13.1 miles.

“I cannot believe it,” Daguinos said. “Some people might have predicted it [10km record] but I didn’t believe it. I knew that I was in good shape after my half-marathon in Valencia. I wanted to run faster than 27:30 and I am still in shock.”

Not only did Daguinos defeat a strong and deep field in Lille but he did so by running identical 5km splits of 13:32.

World 1500m bronze medallist Narve Gilje Nordas broke the Norwegian 10km record with 27:31, while Mohamed Abdilaahi clocked 27:40, the fastest time by a German in history.

That put the pair seventh and joint-10th on the European 10km all-time list respectively.

It means that Mo Farah, who ran 27:44 in 2010 and held the European 10km record until Julien Wanders recorded 27:32 in 2018, is now 13th on the rankings.

With six out of the eight fastest 10km times by European male athlete occurring this season, expect the record books to tumble once again next year.

Daguinos, who occasionally trains in Font Romeu and also has a background in trail running, is now in prime position to be the first European athlete to break the 27-minute barrier in the 10km.

Only 29 athletes have ever achieved the feat and they are all from Africa.

Robots are taking over marathons in China

A surprising number of robots have been spotted participating in marathon events in China in just one week. At the Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing on Sunday, Tiangong the Humanoid Robot was spotted cheering on participants before joining the race with 100m to go, crossing the finish line and earning a medal. At the Hangzhou Marathon in Hangzhou, China, on Nov. 3, two quadruped robots acted as official pacesetters and cheerleaders while running alongside participants.Tiangong is the world’s first full-sized fully-electric humanoid robot, weighing in at 43 kg and standing at 163 cm. Its functions included waving, shaking hands and posing, according to Global Times.

The quadruped robots, Go2 and B2, were showcased in Hangzhou with different roles. Go2 provided runners with music, messages of encouragement and safety tips along the race course. It is also reportedly capable of shaking hands and performing backflips and handstands.B2 set out at a steady pace for the half-marathon, providing runners with a reliable gauge of their pace. Tests were conducted to assess the machine’s ability to respond to humans and obstacles on the course. During the race, B2 wore bunny ears to emphasize its role as a pace-setting rabbit.The robots’ abilities are not limited to running and maintaining steady paces. The machines can reportedly provide runners with real-time feedback on factors such as temperature and heart rate. The androids are also useful for upholding and enhancing safety measures during the event, facilitating real-time monitoring and detection of security or medical emergencies–even transporting medical supplies quickly across the venue when needed.The benefits of the two- and four-legged robots suggest their prevalence at marathon events will continue to increase in coming years.

Chebet and Aregawi poised to strike in Seville

The Cross Internacional de Itálica in Santiponce on the outskirts of the Spanish city of Seville – the fifth Gold standard meeting in the current World Athletics Cross Country Tour – always boasts a quality line-up, and this year’s race on Sunday (17) features the most prominent line-up so far this season.

Entries for the women’s race, contested over 7.5km, are headed by Kenya’s two-time world cross-country champion and double Olympic gold medalist Beatrice Chebet. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a superb season, topped by her 5000m and 10,000m titles at the Paris Olympics, three months after becoming the first woman to dip under the 29-minute barrier for the latter distance thanks to a 28:54.14 clocking in Eugene on 25 May.

Chebet, who is also the reigning world champion and world record holder for the road 5km, will be making her third appearance here following her runner-up spot in 2020 and her third place in 2021. It will be her first race since her 14:09.82 5000m victory at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

She will start as the overwhelming favourite for the victory, though she’ll face quality opposition in the form of compatriot Mercy Chepkemoi and Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei. The latter finished seventh at this year’s World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, and more recently she captured a commanding win in Atapuerca last month.

Chepkemoi is fresh from a fine win in Cardiff last Saturday. She placed fourth over 5000m at the World U20 Championships in Lima in August, finishing just behind bronze medalist Charity Cherop of Uganda, who will also be racing in Santiponce this weekend.

The line-up also comprises Diana and Sharon Chepkemoi, who finished third and seventh respectively in the steeplechase in Lima. Both also competed in Soria last Sunday where they finished third (Diana) and fourth (Sharon).

Meanwhile, France’s Alice Finot, who set a European record of 8:58.67 when finishing fourth in the steeplechase at the Paris Olympics, will be contesting just her second cross-country race in the past seven years.

Portugal’s Mariana Machado recently finished sixth in Atapuerca, sandwiched between Spanish cross-country champion Carolina Robles and Olympic 1500m finalist Agueda Marques who finished fourth and seventh respectively there, closely followed by Maria Forero, the 2022 European U20 cross-country champion. All of them will renew their rivalry this weekend.

European 5000m bronze medalist Marta García, meanwhile, will be making her only cross-country outing of the winter before focusing on the indoor season.

The men’s race has been reduced to 7.5km which plays into the hands of the middle-distance specialists. But that shouldn’t be a problem for Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Berihu Aregawi, as the Ethiopian is also the third-fastest man in history over 3000m.

The 23-year-old opened the year in style by retaining his silver medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade before setting a 10,000m PB of 26:31.13 in Nerja. Following his Olympic silver in Paris, he clocked an Ethiopian record of 7:21.28 for 3000m and won the 5000m at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

Sunday’s race will be Aregawi’s first cross-country outing this season, but fellow Etiopians Ayele Tadesse and Wegene Addisu have already made a mark on the tour, finishing second and fourth respectively in Soria last weekend.

Yet Aregawi’s fiercest opposition should come from Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo. Kwizera is still unbeaten this cross-country season, having won in Amorebieta, Atapuerca and Soria. He has successively finished first, second and third on his appearances in Seville over the past three years.

Meanwhile, his training partner Ndikumwenayo – winner in Seville in 2022 – is the European 10,000m bronze medallist and lowered his 10,000m PB to 26:49.49 for ninth place at the Paris Olympics. Ndikumwenayo will travel to Seville from his altitude stint in Sierra Nevada where he’s building up for the European Cross Country Championchips in Antalya on 8 December.

Watch out too for Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe. He boasts PBs of 7:37:15 for 3000m and 13:05.95 for 5000m and was a surprise winner in San Sebastian two weeks ago when he kicked away from Uganda’s Martin Kiprotich, who’ll also be in contention on Sunday.

Kiprotich will be joined by his compatriots Kenneth Kiprop, Dan Kibet and Hosea Kiplangat. The former is the world U20 5000m bronze medallist and triumphed in Cardiff where Kibet had to settle for third.

The Spanish charge will be led by European indoor 3000m silver medallist Adel Mechaal, US-based Aarón Las Heras, national 10km record-holder Abdessadam Oukhelfen, and the always consistent Nassim Hassaous.

Past winners in Seville include Fernando Mamede (1984 and 1985), Paul Tergat (1998 and 1999), Paula Radcliffe (2001), Kenenisa Bekele (2003, 2004 and 2007), Faith Kipyegon (2016), Joshua Cheptegei (2018) and Jacob Kiplimo (2019).

Temperatures between 22-24C are predicted for the time of the elite races on Sunday.

'The track is my escape' - Kenny Bednarek reveals how racing connects him to his lost family

Kenny Bednarek has a mission beyond medals at the Paris Olympics, seeking to reconnect with his biological family through victory.

Double Olympic silver medalist in the 200 meters Kenny Bednarek embarked on a journey to the Paris Olympics fueled not only by his ambition to win but by a profound personal quest.

While athletic triumph was a priority, Bednarek’s deeper mission was to reconnect with the family he lost as a young child.

Abandoned by his biological parents and placed in foster care, Bednarek has often spoken about his childhood, growing up under the love and guidance of his foster mother, Mary.

Though grateful for the family he found, his past remains a powerful motivator driving him toward the top of the podium.

“The track was, uh, a way to, I guess, escape my worries. That’s where I felt most free," said Bednarek in Sprint docu-series season 2.

For the 26-year-old, every race is not just an athletic endeavor—it is a search for a deeper sense of belonging.

As a child, Bednarek’s life took a dramatic turn when he was separated from his biological family and entered foster care.

Although he found a home and a mother who offered him unconditional love, the mystery of his roots has lingered.

His adoptive mother, Mary, has been an unwavering source of strength, cheering him on from the stands at every major competition, from U.S. trials to international meets.

“My mother loves to scream,” Bednarek joked in the interview, highlighting her enthusiastic support.

Bednarek also opened up about the emotional layers tied to his Olympic dreams.

“Winning the Olympic gold could help me find out more about myself, my heritage, and, you know, my biological brothers and sisters that I’ve had. They’re out there somewhere, and, you know, maybe after winning this gold medal could help me find that out, find where they’re at,” he shared in episode 4.

For Bednarek, the stadium is not merely a venue for competition but a place of solace where he feels closest to his heritage.

“When I always step on the track and the gun goes off, that’s where I most feel like. This is the only thing I have so far of, like, my heritage," he admitted.

Since he was young, racing has been his escape, a place where he felt free and connected to his roots.

Now, as he fights for a gold medal, he hopes that standing atop the podium might spark new opportunities to trace his biological family.

The two-time Olympic silver medalist’s rise in the sprinting world has been meteoric, with victories in Diamond League races, World Championships, and the Olympics.

But even with his accomplishments, he has often felt overlooked.

“You know, the media hasn’t really paid attention to me as much as everybody else,” he shared.

With his foster mother Mary cheering from the stands, Bednarek’s quest for victory in Paris is a personal mission.

“I’m going to be the top dog when the gun goes off,” Bednarek confidently asserted, embodying his determination and resolve.

For him, this race is more than just another competition—it’s a step closer to piecing together his story.

The Olympics, for Bednarek, is an opportunity not only to prove himself on the global stage but to finally bridge the gap between his past and present.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo criticizes Netflix series SPRINT for American bias

As Season 2 of the Netflix track and field series SPRINT premiered on Wednesday, one of the star athletes featured, Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, has already voiced his disappointment. The 21-year-old sprinter was frustrated with what he saw as an American bias in the docuseries, which follows the world’s top sprinters and their journey to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Tebogo, who made history for Botswana by winning two medals at the Olympics—one of them being the nation’s first-ever gold—doesn’t appear until 22 minutes into the final episode. The series had promised to feature Tebogo, alongside notable Olympians such as Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas, Fred Kerley, Kishane Thompson, Julien Alfred, Kenny Bednarek, Shericka Jackson and Oblique Seville. However, Tebogo felt the focus skewed heavily toward the four American athletes, particularly Lyles.

Tebogo took to X to share his disappointment, sharing he was excited to watch but felt the show was overly focused on American athletes, with him portrayed more as a supporting character to the American sprinters.

His sentiments echo those of Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, Africa’s 100m record holder from Ivory Coast, who also criticized the Box To Box producers earlier this year after SPRINT Season 1 excluded her from the final cut, despite extensive filming. “I feel really disrespected, because when you say you are going to produce a series about the fastest sprinters in the world, you should show everyone, not only those who win,” Ta Lou-Smith shared with The Inside Lane. She highlighted the need for equal representation, noting, “I am the African record holder; I deserve respect.”

The documentary series is produced by Paul Martin at Box to Box Films, the same production company behind other Netflix successes such as Full Swing and Formula 1: Drive to Survive. On social media, track fans have begun calling on the producers at Box-To-Box Films to consider a more international approach in future seasons, noting that they seemed to have disregarded the American bias from Season 1.

'Success is more than money' - Eliud Kipchoge warns athletes against the lure of quick riches

A mental health crisis in sports has forced Eliud Kipchoge to urge young athletes to prioritize career and values over money, hoping to guide them away from depression and doping risks.

Former world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge is urging upcoming athletes to prioritise their careers and personal values over the lure of fast money.

In light of rising mental health concerns and growing cases of doping in sports, Kipchoge has called on young athletes to shift their focus from chasing quick financial gains to building lasting careers with integrity and resilience.

Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and celebrated for his record-breaking marathon runs, has dedicated himself to nurturing the next generation of sportsmen and women.

“I am trying to talk to the young people because no one has really gone under the skin of athletes. There is a lot going on under their skins but above all we need to sensitise them that life is not all about money,” Kipchoge emphasised as per TelecomAsiaSport.

“You need to have your own values as a person, and that is what should drive you.”

With a career marked by perseverance, Kipchoge understands the challenges that athletes face both on the field and behind the scenes.

He hopes to use his influence to guide young athletes in prioritising personal values, mental well-being, and career longevity over the fleeting allure of fame and money.

He is deeply concerned with the current state of affairs, especially as he sees the tragic impacts of depression and substance abuse on those who struggle to cope.

Recently, the sporting world has been rocked by the deaths of young athletes who succumbed to the pressures of the industry.

Last month, former world Under-20 champion Kipyegon Bett tragically passed away after battling depression and alcoholism, according to close family members.

In another tragic incident, Clement Kemboi, a former All Africa Games steeplechase champion, was found to have taken his own life at his home in Iten.

In response, Kipchoge is determined to do more than just compete—he wants to inspire change within the sporting community.

"I will still continue talking to them," he said, expressing his dedication to counseling and supporting young athletes.

"And if all of us can come together and get our minds together, we can get rid of these things. It is unfortunate that we can lose athletes at such a young age, and it is more unfortunate that we can have young people get into depression and die."

Kipchoge has witnessed how the pressure for financial success can steer young athletes down dangerous paths, often leading to doping as a shortcut to fame and prosperity.

He attributes much of the current doping crisis to the culture of seeking quick, easy money, rather than focusing on building a reputation of dedication and integrity.

Despite the challenges, he remains hopeful that a positive shift is possible if athletes receive the right mentorship and guidance early in their careers.

The celebrated marathoner believes that with open conversations and a community effort, young athletes can learn to see beyond monetary gains and understand the importance of a balanced life that honors their mental health, values, and long-term goals.

"There is a need for athletes to understand that a fulfilling life extends beyond medals and money," Kipchoge said, expressing his optimism for change. "

"The fame and fortune are secondary to the peace and pride of knowing you did it the right way."

Robots are taking over marathons in China

Would you trust a robot to pace your race?

A surprising number of robots have been spotted participating in marathon events in China in just one week. At the Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing on Sunday, Tiangong the Humanoid Robot was spotted cheering on participants before joining the race with 100m to go, crossing the finish line and earning a medal. At the Hangzhou Marathon in Hangzhou, China, on Nov. 3, two quadruped robots acted as official pacesetters and cheerleaders while running alongside participants.

Tiangong is the world’s first full-sized fully-electric humanoid robot, weighing in at 43 kg and standing at 163 cm. Its functions included waving, shaking hands and posing, according to Global Times.

The quadruped robots, Go2 and B2, were showcased in Hangzhou with different roles. Go2 provided runners with music, messages of encouragement and safety tips along the race course. It is also reportedly capable of shaking hands and performing backflips and handstands.

B2 set out at a steady pace for the half-marathon, providing runners with a reliable gauge of their pace. Tests were conducted to assess the machine’s ability to respond to humans and obstacles on the course. During the race, B2 wore bunny ears to emphasize its role as a pace-setting rabbit.

The robots’ abilities are not limited to running and maintaining steady paces. The machines can reportedly provide runners with real-time feedback on factors such as temperature and heart rate. The androids are also useful for upholding and enhancing safety measures during the event, facilitating real-time monitoring and detection of security or medical emergencies–even transporting medical supplies quickly across the venue when needed.

The benefits of the two- and four-legged robots suggest their prevalence at marathon events will continue to increase in coming years.

Joe Klecker Plans His Half Marathon Debut

In a live recording of The CITIUS MAG Podcast in New York City, U.S. Olympian Joe Klecker confirmed that he is training for his half marathon debut in early 2025. He did not specify which race but signs point toward the Houston Half Marathon on Jan. 19th.

“We’re kind of on this journey to the marathon,” Klecker said on the Citizens Bank Stage at the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon Expo. “The next logical step is a half marathon. That will be in the new year. We don’t know exactly where yet but we want to go attack a half marathon. That’s what all the training is focused on and that’s why it’s been so fun. Not that the training is easy but it’s the training that comes the most naturally to me.”

Klecker owns personal bests of 12:54.99 for 5000m and 27:07.57 for 10,000m. In his lone outdoor track race of 2024, he ran 27:09.29 at Sound Running’s The Ten in March and missed the Olympic qualifying standard of 27:00.00.

His training style and genes (his mother Janis competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the marathon and won two U.S. marathon national championships in her career; and his father Barney previously held the U.S. 50-mile ultramarathon record) have always linked Klecker to great marathoning potential. For this year’s TCS New York City Marathon, the New York Road Runners had Klecker riding in the men’s lead truck so he could get a front-row glimpse at the race and the course, if he chooses to make his debut there or race in the near future.

The Comeback From Injury

In late May, Klecker announced he would not be able to run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in June due to his recovery from a torn adductor earlier in the season, which ended his hopes of qualifying for a second U.S. Olympic team. He spent much of April cross training and running on the Boost microgravity treadmill at a lower percentage of his body weight.

“The process of coming back has been so smooth,” Klecker says. “A lot of that is just because it’s been all at the pace of my health. I haven’t been thinking like, ‘Oh I need to be at this level of fitness in two weeks to be on track for my goals.’ If my body is ready to go, we’re going to keep progressing. If it’s not ready to go, we’re going to pull back a little bit. That approach is what helped me get through this injury.”

One More Track Season

Klecker is not fully prepared to bid adieu to the track. He plans to chase the qualifying standard for the 10,000 meters and attempt to qualify for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. In 2022, after World Athletics announced Tokyo as the 2025 host city, he told coach Dathan Ritzenhein that he wanted the opportunity to race at Japan National Stadium with full crowds.

“I’m so happy with what I’ve done on the track that if I can make one more team, I’ll be so happy,” Klecker says. “Doing four more years of this training, I don’t know if I can stay healthy to be at the level I want to be. One more team on the track would just be like a dream.”

Klecker is also considering doubling up with global championships and could look to qualify for the 2025 World Road Running Championships, which will be held Sept. 26th to 28th in San Diego. To make the team, Klecker would have to race at the Atlanta Half Marathon on Sunday, March 2nd, which also serves as the U.S. Half Marathon Championships. The top three men and women will qualify for Worlds. One spot on Team USA will be offered via World Ranking.

Sound Running’s The Ten, one of the few fast opportunities to chase the 10,000m qualifying standard on the track, will be held on March 29th in San Juan Capistrano.

Thoughts on Ryan Hall’s American Record

The American record in the half marathon remains Ryan Hall’s 59:43 set in Houston on Jan. 14th, 2007. Two-time Olympic medalist Galen Rupp (59:47 at the 2018 Prague Half) and two-time U.S. Olympian Leonard Korir (59:52 at the 2017 New Dehli Half) are the only other Americans to break 60 minutes.

In the last three years, only Biya Simbassa (60:37 at the 2022 Valencia Half), Kirubel Erassa (60:44 at the 2022 Houston Half), Diego Estrada (60:49 at the 2024 Houston Half) and Conner Mantz (60:55 at the 2021 USATF Half Marathon Championships) have even dipped under 61 minutes.

On a global scale, Nineteen of the top 20 times half marathon performances in history have come since the pandemic. They have all been run by athletes from Kenyan, Uganda, and Ethiopia, who have gone to races in Valencia (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), or Copenhagen (Denmark), and the top Americans tend to pass on those races due to a lack of appearance fees or a stronger focus on domestic fall marathons.

Houston in January may be the fastest opportunity for a half marathon outside of the track season, which can run from March to September for 10,000m specialists.

“I think the record has stood for so long because it is such a fast record but we’re seeing these times drop like crazy,” Klecker says. “I think it’s a matter of time before it goes. Dathan (Ritzenhein) has run 60:00 so he has a pretty good barometer of what it takes to be in that fitness. Listening to him has been really good to let me know if that’s a realistic possibility and I think it is. That’s a goal of mine. I’m not there right now but I’m not racing a half marathon until the new year. I think we can get there to attempt it. A lot has to go right to get a record like that but just the idea of going for it is so motivating in training.”

His teammate, training partner, and Olympic marathon bronze medalist Hellen Obiri has full confidence in Klecker’s potential.

“He has been so amazing for training,” Obiri said in the days leading up to her runner-up finish at the New York City Marathon. “I think he can do the American record.”

Asbel Kiprop: Fame, loss and the redemptive journey of a running legend

After a social media post where Asbel Kiprop blamed a woman for wrecking his family and career, friends and mentors intervened helping him refocus seek support and rebuild his life.

A man is often judged by how he faces his battles whether they are on the field, in the boardroom or within himself.

For Asbel Kiprop, Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion, life was initially a straight sprint to greatness—a journey of triumphs, gold medals and untold success.

However, when the cheers faded, Kiprop found himself confronted by challenges far more daunting than any he had faced on the track.

In 2018, Kiprop's world came crashing down with a doping scandal that shocked the athletics world.

His name, once revered, was suddenly associated with disgrace and scandal as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) imposed a four-year ban after a positive test for the blood-boosting drug EPO.

“I did not know what he was talking about. He said media was reporting that I had been banned for doping. I developed a running stomach. I was shaking…speechless...My heart felt like someone had plucked it," he recalled in a past interview with The Standard.

The news broke him in a way he could never have anticipated, triggering a spiral of sleepless nights, isolation and bitterness as he fought to reclaim his reputation.

The societal expectations placed on Kiprop, like many men, shaped his journey.

As a world-class athlete with a clean record and a respected status in his community the fall from grace was brutal.

Despite his accomplishments, he suddenly felt alone, misunderstood and scrutinized by a world that once cheered him on.

“People I thought knew me were not standing with me. I got very bitter. I wanted someone who would understand my pain; of how I had trained so hard and now I am banned,” he confesses.

It is a sentiment many men can resonate with—the feeling of isolation when life’s challenges intensify and the difficulty of finding true allies in a world where showing vulnerability is often seen as weakness.

In his darkest moments, Kiprop was left grappling not only with the scandal but also with the cost of fame. His career had come with privileges: financial success, fame and adulation from fans.

Yet, fame’s allure had drawn him into a whirlwind of distractions and poor choices, leaving him exposed to criticisms that ranged from accusations of promiscuity to allegations of reckless behavior.

Kiprop admits, “I made some mistakes in life, and I have always taken the consequences.”

For years, he found solace in the familiar: rigorous training, the support of fans, and, in his downtime, friendships that seemed unbreakable. But the scandal unveiled a new reality.

Friendships dissolved, his reputation crumbled and he found himself wrestling with 'depression'.

His struggles, like those of many men, were not immediately visible to the public eye and Kiprop’s cry for help went unheard until a social media post alarmed his followers.

In a raw moment, he hinted at desperation, expressing his pain in a message that prompted intervention from senior officials.

For Kiprop, it was a call to address his pain—a step many men struggle to take.

Now 35, Kiprop is working to regain his place in Kenyan athletics, setting his sights on the World Athletics Championships in 2025.

Kiprop’s message for men facing setbacks in their careers, relationships, or mental well-being is clear: a setback does not define one’s worth. Instead, it is a test of character and resolve.

“I want to start small and win for my employers, the Kenya Police, who diligently stood by me all the four years,” he says in an interview with RFI.

“It is going to be a hard time but… I want to post good times and progressively go up the ladder and qualify to represent Kenya again.”

This season, Kiprop returned to competition at the National Police Service Track and Field Championships, where he won his 1500m heat—a modest yet meaningful step in his quest for redemption.

His performance signals a new beginning for a man determined to rise again not as the prodigious young star he once was but as a seasoned athlete bearing the lessons of both victory and defeat.

Kenyans take action against gender-based violence

In the wake of the murders of Agnes Tirop and Rebecca Cheptegei by their intimate partners, Athletics Kenya launched a movement on Monday to fight back against gender-based violence (GBV). A new hotline was unveiled for athletes to confidentially report cases of GBV, while an engagement campaign moves across Kenya to encourage athletes to speak up and to raise awareness for financial exploitation.

Tirop, World Championships 10,000 bronze medalist, was murdered by her husband in 2021, giving rise to the creation of Tirop’s Angels, an organization fighting GBV. High-profile female athletes, however, continued to fall victim to men; in September 2024, Cheptegei, who ran the Paris 2024 marathon, died after reportedly being set on fire by her ex-partner.

Working in conjunction with the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), Athletics Kenya addresses how lack of communication has been a significant obstacle in the fight against GBV. The hotline will allow athletes to call for help when in danger of GBV, while a chatbot will enable them send an SOS.

“We will fight it the same way we are doing with doping.”

“GBV is totally unacceptable in our society as well as in athletics,” Athletic Kenya’s Chief Administrative Officer Susan Kamau said. “As Athletics Kenya, we are totally committed to eradicating GBV and we will fight it the same way we are doing with doping.” In 2023, the Kenyan government committed to rebuilding their anti-doping program and increased the frequency of random drug testing. Athletics Kenya hopes that a safe and confidential channel for reporting GBV incidents will encourage women and girls to speak up.

The awareness campaign, already in motion, has been moving across the country all week, hosting forums at athletics camps. The program allows runners to share their stories and suggestions to stop GBV, and features female leaders as speakers to educate athletes.

Raising awareness of financial exploitation, as well as GBV

High-profile athletes, including two-time 800m world champion and 2007 Olympic silver medallist, Janeth Jepkosgei, have also highlighted the connection between financial exploitation of athletes and GBV. “Be wary of predators who pretend to be coaches and get into a relationship with young athletes who are the same age as their daughters,” Jepkosgei said, speaking at Thursday’s forum in Kapsabet, Kenya.

Speaking at an earlier event, Lucy Kabuu, 2006 Commonwealth Games champion and two-time Olympian, emphasized the same message. Recently, the athlete has been defending herself in court against her ex-husband and coach, who is trying to claim her earnings. “When you start running and making money, be careful not to fall into the trap of unscrupulous coaches and managers,” Kabuu said. “You should buy properties in your name and not in any other person’s name. Get a financial adviser to help you invest wisely. Learn from me and what I am going through; do not wait to learn from another person.”

1997 World 10,000m champion Sally Barsosio echoed Kabul’s advice. Other successful runners that are actively raising awareness for GBV include seven-time World Marathon Major champion Mary Keitany, six-time World Marathon Major champion, two-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist Catherine Ndereba, 2013 world champion, Diamond League champion and Olympic medallist Milcah Chemos and 2021 TCS New York City Marathon silver medallist, Olympian and founder of Tirop’s Angels, Viola Cheptoo. 

Olympic silver medalist Koki Ikeda suspended for doping

The 26-year-old Japanese race walker Koki Ikeda, one of the world's top competitors in race walking and a leading figure in his national team, has been provisionally suspended this week by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which has detected unusual data in his biological passport.

As required by World Athletics protocol, this preventive measure is applied in cases where irregular figures are found, even when no direct violation has occurred in an anti-doping test that identifies a specific banned substance. Ikeda will now need to account for the unusual data in his biological passport to avoid a definitive suspension.

The Associated Press reported that Ikeda received the provisional ban for "suspected blood doping," quoting the AIU, which is based in Monaco. The anti-doping body stated on Friday that the issue relates to the "use of a prohibited substance/method." The biological passport can indicate markers of doping over time without an athlete testing positive for a banned substance. Investigators have not provided a timetable for the disciplinary case.

The race walker and the Japanese federation received this unfortunate news ahead of hosting their World Race Walking Championships in Tokyo in September 2025. Ikeda stated on Saturday that he is "completely bewildered" and pleaded his innocence. In a statement released to Japanese media, he expressed his intention to fight to clear his name. "For reasons that I know absolutely nothing about, I may not be able to compete in my next race, and I am utterly bewildered," he remarked.

He also mentioned that he would "strive for the truth to come to light and for a fair result." "From here on, I would be very grateful for your understanding and support," he added. The disciplinary proceedings are now underway.

Ikeda was the Olympic silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Games and took silver at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon. This season, he achieved a second-place finish in the mixed relays at the World Team Championships in Antalya in April, as well as winning gold at the Japanese National Championships, which earned him direct qualification for Paris 2024, where he finished seventh in the 20-kilometre race. He concluded the year in October with a bronze medal in the 10,000-metre event in Yamaguchi.

'He made me eat cleaner & work harder' - Justin Gatlin on how Usain Bolt shaped him into becoming a better sprinter

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.

Strong group of Dutch riders at Zevenheuvelenloop will be on the hunt for the Dutch record on the 15 kilometers

On Sunday November 17, a strong group of Dutch runners will be on the hunt for the Dutch record on the 15 kilometers. Mike Foppen from Nijmegen is going for the record in his hometown and will face competition from Richard Douma, Filmon Tesfu, Khalid Choukoud, Frank Futselaar and Gianluca Assorgia, among others. In the women's race, Olympians Diane van Es and Maureen Koster will start.

Battle for the Dutch recordMike Foppen and Richard Douma are the runners with the fastest times on the 15 kilometers behind their name. Foppen has a best time of 43:21 and Douma of 43:18. Filmon Tesfu starts as one of the favorites after his successful marathon debut in Amsterdam (2:10:58). Last year he trumped Foppen in the final sprint and finished as the fastest Dutchman. Khalid Choukoud is the Dutch record holder with his time of 43:13 from 2019 and is also competing. The Dutch men will face competition from Belgium from Koen Naert (personal best 43:37) and from Germany from Nils Voigt (personal best 43:18).

Four Dutch Olympians in the women'srace Training mates Diane van Es and Maureen Koster are competing for the title of fastest Dutchwoman. Van Es competed in the 10,000 meters in Paris and finished sixteenth at that distance. Two months before the Olympics, the 25-year-old runner won silver on the longest track distance at the European Athletics Championships. In 2022, Diane van Es was the fastest Dutch rider at the NN Zevenheuvelen in 47:57.

Maureen Koster also competed at the Olympics in Paris. She finished tenth in her heat in the 5,000 meters. In 2018, the 32-year-old athlete ran her best time on the 15 kilometers at the NN Zevenheuvelenloop: 49:04. Just like her teammate Van Es, Koster has a European Championship medal in her cabinet: silver in the 3,000 meters indoor in 2015.

In addition to Van Es and Koster, Olympians Jill Holterman and Rachel Klamer will also be at the start. Holterman ran the Tokyo Marathon in 2021. Klamer has competed in the triathlon for the past four Olympic Games. In Tokyo, she achieved her best result with a fourth place.

TheUgandan athlete Jacob Kiplimo defends his title at the NN Zevenheuvelenloop. Last year, the 23-year-old athlete equalled the world record in the 15 kilometres in Nijmegen. This year he will compete with his half-brother Victor Kiplangat, reigning world champion in the marathon. In the women's race, European half marathon champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal is on the start list.

The 15 kilometres of the 39th NN Zevenheuvelenloop are sold out with 28,000 participants. With more than 10,000 registrations, the 10th Night of the Seven Hills has a record number of registrations.Below are the start lists of the 39th NN Zevenheuvelenloop.

British Olympian Jodie Williams retires from athletics

British Olympian Jodie Williams has announced her retirement from athletics.

Williams, 31, competed at three Olympic Games and was part of Team GB's bronze medal-winning women's 4x400m relay team at Paris 2024.

Among her individual honours, Williams won European and Commonwealth 200m silvers among nine major international medals at senior level.

"Dear track and field, the time has come for us to part ways," Williams posted on social media.

You allowed me to achieve my childhood dreams and have taken me from an awkward little girl with no confidence to a just as awkward but much more confident woman."

Williams specialised in the 200m and is the sixth-fastest British woman over that distance, with the 22.46 seconds she clocked for European silver in 2014.

Later in her career she also had success in the 400m, winning Commonwealth bronze in Birmingham in 2022.

She earned her first global medal as a member of the women's 4x400m team in Paris, competing in the heats before Victoria Ohuruogu, Laviai Nielsen, Nicole Yeargin and Amber Anning finished behind the United States and the Netherlands in the final.

Record-breaking teen sprinter Gout Gout is set to train alongside Noah Lyles

Gout Gout recently signed with Adidas and will have the opportunity to train alongside world champion Noah Lyles, gaining valuable mentorship as he continues his path to the top.

After inking a lucrative deal with leading German athletic apparel and footwear corporation Adidas, Gout Gout will now have a chance to train with triple world champion Noah Lyles.

Gout Gout’s manager James Templeton noted that it is a great opportunity for the youngster to interact with Noah Lyles and get to know more about sprinting as he looks to chat his own path to the top.

James Templeton is optimistic that Noah Lyles will be open to teaching Gout Gout a lot, noting that he believes the reigning Olympic 100m champion is a great personality to be around.

Noah Lyles is also an Adidas athlete and earlier this year, the American sprint king extended his contract until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Noah Lyles’ contract with Adidas is considered the richest in track and field since Usain Bolt's deal with Puma.

"We have the opportunity to go to Florida and join the training group of Noah Lyles and coach Lance Brauman (Lyles’ coach). There are about 16 or 18 top sprinters there,” James Templeton told ABC News.

"We'll be heading over for two or three weeks. That'll be a great opportunity, a wonderful educational experience. I haven't heard from Noah, but he's a great guy and I'm sure he'll be happy to take the younger guy under his wing a little bit."

Meanwhile, Gout Gout has been very impressive in his races and since 2022, he has proven to be unstoppable, running crazy times and making headlines. Gout Gout was named the holder of the Australian Under-16 100m and 200m records at the age of 14.

The following year, Gout Gout managed to break the Australian Under-18 men’s 200m record after running 20.87 seconds. He claimed top honors at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Brisbane.

In 2024, Gout Gout has been on top of the world with his crazy times and superb form. He started his season with a personal best time of 10.29 seconds to claim the win in the U-18 Boys 100m at the Queensland Athletics Championships.

Gout Gout then won the Australian U20 100m title in a time of 10.48 seconds in Adelaide before heading to the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru. In Peru, the Australian youngster won a silver medal in the 200m.

He recently signed with Adidas and then proceeded to the Queensland All-Schools Championships, clocking a time of 20.29 seconds in the heats of the 200m to showcase his authority once again.

Eliud Kipchoge at 40: Records broken, medals won, history made…what more is left for marathon GOAT?

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge turns 40 on Tuesday and as he celebrates his landmark birthday, Pulse Sports rolls back the years in a career filled with many highs and some all-time lows.

They say life begins at 40 but for Kipchoge, he has been living the dream since his 20s.

Kipchoge turns 40 on Tuesday, November 5 and as he begins a new chapter in his life, the last two decades have been marked with remarkable success on track and roads.

The two-time Olympics champion is the undisputed greatest marathoner of all-time, having won 15 of the 20 marathons he has participated in since he made the transition to from track to road in 2013.

Kipchoge has also won gold in Cross-Country, after claiming a junior title in 2003, the same year he won 5,000m gold at the World Championships in Paris.

However, his years on track were not as storied as what he has achieved in marathons.

Major marathon success

In marathons, he has won five titles in Berlin, where he also broke two world records, while he has been to London five times and won on four occasions.

From the six major marathons (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York), Kipchoge has been to five of them, with only New York where he is yet to run. He has won at four of them with only Boston proving tough after a sixth-place finish last year.

History maker

When the history of marathons is written, Kipchoge’s name will hog most of the chapters as he has made running a global phenomenon.

His ‘No human is Limited’ mantra has made everyone get encouraged not just to run but to succeed in their professions while he is the first man to run a marathon under two hours.

While it was not a competitive race, Kipchoge’s INEOS 1:59 Challenge in October 2019 proved that it is possible to clock under two hours in 42km, having run 1:59:40 in Vienna.

World records broken

Kipchoge was running in Vienna one year after breaking his first marathon record, having clocked 2:01:39 in Berlin in September of the previous year.

He had shaved off an astonishing 1 minute and 18 seconds from the 2:02:57 set by Kenyan compatriot Dennis Kimetto at the same venue four years earlier, proving that a sub-2:02 was possible.

That was his third win in Berlin and on his fourth appearance in the German capital, he lowered his own world record, running 2:01:09. His record lasted one year before compatriot Kelvin Kiptum broke it in Chicago last year (2:00:35) but the GOAT had already made his mark.

Role model to rivals & youngsters

Throughout his career, Kipchoge’s biggest strength has been how he kept up with younger and hungrier runners who were looking to dethrone him from the throne.

The veteran has never backed away from a challenge, even if there was an emerging threat, and most of the time, he came out on top.

Kipchoge sets an example for runners by the way he lives his life, how disciplined he is, his strict training regime and how keenly he follows his diet.

It is no wonder he has rarely suffered injuries in his long career, which draws parallels with football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has enjoyed a long largely injury-free career due to how he looks after himself.

Bouncing back from setbacks

Kipchoge’s other strength is how he deals with disappointment. He does not let a bad race or bad words put him down.

Like every other athlete, he has suffered losses but always comes back strong. His failed attempt to break sub-2-hour mark in Monza in 2017 did not see him lose hope as he returned two years later and did it in Vienna, while finishing eighth in London in 2020 was answered back with Olympics, Berlin and Tokyo Marathon wins, with a world record in between.

After a sixth place in Boston in April 2023, he was on the winner’s podium in Berlin five months later, showing how resilient he is.

Even when many said he was finished after 10th place in Tokyo, he still came back to feature at the Paris Olympics and while he was not successful, he has not let it put him down.

Dealing with hate & cyberbullying

The year 2024 has thrown Kipchoge into a whole new territory, as a man who was so loved in Kenya quickly turned into a figure of hate in his own country.

It started in October 2023 when he took time before congratulating Kiptum for breaking his world record. It elicited vile comments on social media and it reached a whole new level when the world record holder died in February.

Kipchoge received abuses and threats that left him fearing for his life and that of his family, having been accused of having a hand in the death, and to his shock, even those whom he thought were friends and colleagues felt the same towards him.

He, however, took it on the chin and went about his business, featuring in two races this year although it is not known if it might have affected his performance.

What does the future hold?

Kipchoge’s strong mentality has seen him bounce back from all these setbacks and as he celebrates his 40th birthday, he is back in camp training for his next race.

A number of runners have shown that it is still possible to do it in their 40s and knowing Kipchoge, he must be backing himself to defy age and continue making marathon history.

Happy birthday, Eliud.

74-year-old runs New York City Marathon for 37th time

Italy's Mario Bollini (affectionately known as Super Mario) wasn't about to let a knee injury stop him from returning to the Big Apple.

On Sunday, Italy’s Mario Bollini had the honour of being the final finisher at the TCS New York City Marathon, crossing the line in 10 hours, 1 minute and 47 seconds; it was his 37th time completing the race. The 74-year-old has only missed one edition since 1985.

Upon crossing the line, the Italian was greeted with a medal and an embrace from a volunteer, with cheers erupting from the crowd. The former air force marshal had been determined to run the race after recovering from a knee injury earlier this year.

Bollini, nicknamed Super Mario, was born in Giulianova, Italy in 1950. He first began competing at the NYC event at 35, when there were fewer than 16,000 participants. His personal best over the 42.2K distance stands at three hours flat, which he ran 1989’s NYC Marathon at age 39.

“It is an exciting marathon,” he tells media, explaining why he continues to return to New York City each year. “Very different from the others, with people cheering you on when you pass and making you feel like a champion. And then there’s an incredible party.”

Chebet braces for Italica International Cross Country meeting on November 17

Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet is set to bring her fierce form to the 42nd Italica International Cross Country meeting on November 17, a highlight event on the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold circuit.

Chebet stunned the world in Paris in August with her dual gold-winning performances in the 5,000m and 10,000m.

She secured the 10,000m gong in a time of 30:43.25 leading Italy’s Nadia Battocletti ( 30:43.35 ) and Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan of Netherlands ( 30:44.12 ).

Chebet went on to add the 5,000m title, finishing in 14:28.56 outpacing three-time Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon ( 14:29.60 ) and Hassan ( 14:30.61 ).

Chebet is no stranger to cross-country success.

She captured the World U20 Cross Country title in Denmark in 2019 in 20:50.

In 2021, Chebet placed second at the Atapuerca 8km Cross Country event in 25:04 behind Eritrea’s Rahel Ghebreneyohannes ( 25:03 ).

That same year, she clocked 24:35 for a third-place finish at the Seville 7km cross-country meeting.

In 2022, she returned to Atapuerca, this time claiming the title in 25:39.

Last year, she claimed the World Cross Country Championships title in Bathurst, Australia clocking 33:48 with Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama ( 33:56 ) in second and Agnes Ngetich ( 34:00 ) completing the podium.

She defended her title this year in Belgrade, Serbia, finishing in 31:05 ahead of compatriots Lilian Kasait ( 31:08 ) and Margaret Chelimo ( 31:09 ).

Her illustrious track career boasts silver and bronze medals in the 5,000m during the 2022 (Eugene) and 2023 (Budapest) World Championships.

She boasts gold from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games as well as the Saint Pierre African Games, both in the 5,000m.

Chebet is the 2018 World Junior 5,000m champion as well as the 2019 African 5,000m junior champion.

In Italy, Chebet will be in the company of 2024 World U20 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Diana Chepkemoi as well as the 2018 World 3,000m steeplechase champion Daisy Jepkemei.

The trio will face off against European 3,000m steeplechase record holder Alice Finot of France as well as the World U20 5,000m bronze medallist Charity Cherop of Uganda.

Sweden’s Sarah Lahti, Portugal’s Mariana Machado and Spain’s Carolina Robles will add depth to the field.

In the men’s field, Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia will lead the charge.

His main rivals will be the 2024 Rome Half Marathon champion Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy as well as Ugandan’s Dan Kibet, Hosea Kiplangat and Kenneth Kiprop.

Portugal’s Etson Barros, Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe and Spain’s adel Mechaal add depth to the field. 

Onalenna Khonkhobe closes superb season with Soweto Marathon victory

The 2024 Soweto Marathon was won by South Africa’s Onalenna Khonkhobe in a time of 2:18:36 on Sunday.

Khonkhobe also won this year’s Two Oceans Ultra Marathon.

Second place went to Lesotho’s Joseph Khoarahlane Seutloali on 2:18:54, with Kenya’s Kipkemoi Kipsang in third in 2:19:05.

Meanwhile, the women’s Soweto Marathon was won by Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala in a time of 2:43:07.

In an all-international podium, Kenya’s Margaret Jepchumba took second (2:44:55) with Ethiopia’s Worke Degu Amena rounding out the podium in third in 2:48:11.

‘Exceptionally proud’

Around 25 000 runners tackled this year’s Soweto Marathon, half-marathon and 10km races.

Soweto Marathon spokesperson Thokozani Mazibuko said he was exceptionally proud of the race and all those who worked tirelessly to ensure a safe, pleasurable and well run event.

“It’s been a fantastic day! This was one of the biggest Soweto Marathon’s since the inception of the race,

epitomising the spirit of Soweto!

“Our team and treasured partners have gone above and beyond for the valued people of Soweto, South Africa and far beyond our borders.

“We are truly grateful for those who helped us run a successful event and a hearty congratulations to our over 25 000 runners who took to the streets today.

“The Soweto Marathon medal is one of the toughest – and you’ve earned it fair and square so well done to you!”

Sydney Marathon joins Abbott World Marathon Majors, becoming first new addition in over a decade

The Sydney Marathon has been added as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major, marking it as the first new addition since Tokyo in 2013 and promising to elevate global recognition and participation in Australian marathon running.

The Sydney Marathon has been added to the list of Abbott World Marathon Majors, becoming the first city to join the prestigious lineup since Tokyo 11 years ago.

Sydney started the bid some years back but the organisers of the marathon and the city had to go through certain processes and make changes to join the other six majors. They include the London Marathon, Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin and Tokyo Marathons.

In Oceania, the Sydney Marathon is the largest race over the 42km distance. The marathon also registered record numbers, 20,272, at this year’s edition of the event. Next year’s event will be held on August 31 and the marathon will be hosted as a World Marathon Major, attracting world-class athletes and gaining enough recognition.

Abbott World Marathon Major CEO Dawna Stone expressed his excitement following the addition of the Sydney Marathon to the list. He disclosed that the relevant stakeholders have been working around the clock and they for sure deserve such recognition.

“I am thrilled that Sydney will become the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major. The team in Sydney has been working towards this day, every day, for more than three years, and to see the improvement in their operations and event experience to the point where we can now call them a major has been deeply impressive,” said Abbott WMM CEO Dawna Stone.

“We cannot wait to see our community embrace this race as a Major and start planning their visits to run the streets of one of the finest cities in the world. Runners, your Sydney star awaits.”

The current six-star medal will remain for those striving to complete the original races but later on, there could be a nine-star medal, with two other marathons looking to become World Marathon Majors races.

“Becoming the seventh Abbott World Marathon is just incredible for the event, the city of Sydney and the State of New South Wales. We could not have achieved the incredible growth and uplift in delivery to make it into the Majors if it wasn’t for the support of the NSW Government and Destination NSW plus our key partners TCS and ASICS,” said Wayne Larden, race director of the Sydney Marathon.

“Our team is rated and has put in so much work to make this happen. It is really special for all of us. This amazing milestone is going to have a profound impact on running in Australia, inspiring the community to become marathoners and do something special for themselves, their families and friends. Community health will benefit alongside a huge increase in fundraising.”

Who will win 2024 Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year?

year filled with unforgettable moments in the sport, the nominations highlight remarkable performances from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, Label road races, and other global events.

World Athletics announced the nominees for the esteemed 2024 Track Athlete of the Year award last week. The list of 12 outstanding athletes features some of the biggest names in international athletics, each having left a significant mark on the season.

The nominees for 2024 Women’s Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year are:

Sutume Asefa Kebede, Ethiopia

• Tokyo Marathon winner• No.2 marathon time of 2024

Sutume Asefa Kebede made waves this year with her victory at the Tokyo Marathon, clocking in at 2:15:55, the fastest marathon time of 2024, securing her place as the eighth-fastest woman in marathon history. Since her debut in 2016, Kebede has steadily risen through marathon ranks, often training alongside her husband and coach, Birhanu Mekonnen, whose support has been instrumental. Along with her Tokyo triumph, she delivered an exceptional performance at the Houston Half Marathon, winning in 1:04:37, a record-breaking time on US soil.

Ruth Chepngetich, Kenya

• World marathon record• Chicago Marathon winner

Ruth Chepngetich solidified her status as the world’s top marathoner by winning this year’s Chicago Marathon with a groundbreaking world record, becoming the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier with a time of 2:09:56. She also holds the world record for the half marathon and has consistently excelled in major marathons. Known for her bold, high-powered pacing, Chepngetich’s approach has led to multiple victories throughout her career, including previous wins in both Chicago and London.

Sifan Hassan, Netherlands

• Olympic marathon champion• Olympic record

Dutch runner Sifan Hassan’s victory in the Olympic marathon in Paris marked a pivotal achievement in her celebrated career, as she set a new Olympic record. Renowned for her versatility, Hassan has excelled across a range of distances, both on the track and road. Her transition from shorter track events—where she’s earned medals and set records—to marathon racing initially surprised many. However, she showcased her remarkable endurance and adaptability by winning not only at the Olympics but also in London and Chicago in 2023.

Tigist Ketema, Ethiopia

• Berlin Marathon winner• Dubai Marathon winner

Ketema had an exceptional year, claiming victories at both the 2024 Dubai Marathon and the 50th Berlin Marathon. In Dubai, she set a record for the fastest debut marathon by a woman with a time of 2:16:07, establishing herself as a standout among elite runners. Continuing her stellar performance in Berlin, Ketema crossed the finish line in 2:16:42, the third-fastest time in the event’s long history. Leading the women’s field from early on, she finished well ahead of her competition in Berlin.

Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Kenya

• World 5km and 10km records• World half marathon lead

Ngetich’s 2024 season has been outstanding across multiple distances. She set new world records in both the 5km (14:25) and 10km (29:24) road races, demonstrating impressive speed and endurance over varied distances. Additionally, she topped the global rankings in the half marathon this year, underscoring her versatility and dominance in road racing worldwide.

The nominees for 2024 Mens’s Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year are:

Yomif Kejelcha, Ethiopia• World half marathon record• World 10km lead

Yomif Kejelcha has captured attention in 2024 with an extraordinary season on the road. He set a new world record in the half marathon in Valencia, clocking an impressive 57:30, and continued to demonstrate his strength over longer distances. Known for his range, Kejelcha also recorded outstanding times in the 5km and 10km, including a remarkable 10km finish of 26:37 earlier this year in Laredo, Spain. These performances add to his accomplished career, which includes two World Indoor Championship titles and a Diamond League title, affirming his status among the elite in both track and road racing.

Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda• World Cross Country Championships gold• Valencia 10km winner

Ugandan distance star Jacob Kiplimo has consistently showcased his prowess in cross-country and road events. In 2024, he secured gold at the World Cross Country Championship, excelling against a formidable field and challenging conditions. His impressive season also included a victory in the 10km in Valencia, further adding to his accolades. Kiplimo’s performances in recent years have established him as one of the world’s leading long-distance runners, highlighted by his Olympic bronze medal and his world record in the half marathon, set in 2021.

Benson Kipruto, Kenya• Tokyo Marathon winner• Olympic marathon bronze

Ugandan distance star Jacob Kiplimo has continually demonstrated his skill in cross-country and road races. In 2024, he captured gold at the World Cross Country Championship, excelling in a competitive field and tough conditions. His remarkable season also featured a win in the 10km in Valencia, further enhancing his achievements. Kiplimo’s recent performances have solidified his position as one of the top long-distance runners in the world, marked by his Olympic bronze medal and his world record in the half marathon, established in 2021.

Brian Daniel Pintado, Ecuador• Olympic 20km race walk champion• Olympic marathon race walk mixed relay silver

Brian Pintado’s career soared to new heights in 2024 with his historic Olympic gold medal in the 20km race walk, bringing Ecuador into the spotlight. He further enhanced his accomplishments by helping Ecuador secure silver in the mixed relay marathon race walk. Pintado’s achievements this season have established him as a leading figure in the race-walking community, making him the only race walker among the nominees.

Tamirat Tola, Ethiopia• Olympic marathon champion• Olympic record

Tamirat Tola capped off his 2024 season with an Olympic marathon victory, during which he set a new Olympic record, solidifying his status as an elite long-distance runner. He has consistently ranked among the world’s best, having previously claimed the World Championships title in 2022 and achieving top times in various marathon circuits.

'This is my favorite course' - Tamirat Tola reveals what gives him confidence ahead of New York Marathon title defence

Tamirat Tola is counting on experience to drive him to another New York Marathon victory as bids to make further history.

Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola is looking to become the first man ever to win both the Olympics and in New York marathons in the same season as he gears up for the New York City marathon on Sunday, November 3.

The Ethiopian faces a herculean task to defend his title despite his remarkable 2024 season. 

A year ago, the Ethiopian distance runner captured his first marathon major in New York City, and in July, he became the first man from his country to win an Olympic marathon title since Sydney 2000. Now a national hero, he wants to defend his title in New York and is banking on the Paris experience.

"This is my favorite course. My coach gave me very hard training coming in; that’s very important for me. My body is OK. On Sunday we will see,” Tola told Olympics.com.  The 33-year-old bagged bronze both at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 London Marathon.

Tola is confident of crossing the finish line first and believes his mentality will make the difference. "I arrive with confidence; I feel good mentally, so I think I can win. I expect I'll have a good race. And I can see if there's anything that I can improve on moving forward," the 2022 World Championships gold medalist added.

Tola is trying for history on Sunday even though no man has successfully defended his title since Geoffrey Mutai won two in a row in 2011 and 2013 (the 2012 race was canceled); while only Peres Jepchirchir on the women’s side has won the Olympics and New York in the same year (2021).

Defending champions Morgan Beadlescomb and Annie Rodenfels return to the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5k

New York City Marathon weekend kicks off with a much-anticipated USATF 5 km Championships at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5k on Saturday, November 2, taking place the day before the 53rd running of the TCS New York City Marathon.

The USATF 5 km Championships at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5k are the 11th stop on the 2024 USATF Running Circuit. Live coverage of this year’s championships will be broadcast on USATF.TV, starting at 8:20 a.m. ET, with the men’s race going off at 8:30 a.m. and the women starting five minutes after at 8:35 a.m. 

Defending champions Morgan Beadlescomb and Annie Rodenfels return to the streets of Midtown Manhattan after winning last year’s USATF 5km Championships in their respective races. 

The former Michigan State Spartan Beadlescomb surged away from Ahmed Muhumed, Tai Dinger and Daniel Schaffer in the final stretch to win last year’s men’s title in 13:44, besting the field by a comfortable three seconds to claim his first USATF crown. 

Looking to become the first men’s repeat champion since Ben True in 2011-12 when the USATF 5 km Championships were held in Providence, R.I., Beadlescomb will take on another tough field that will feature Muhumed (second), Schaffer (fourth) and Brian Barazza (fifth) from last year’s race, as well as a handful of others with impressive credentials.

Beadlescomb could also become the first male athlete to win two USATF 5 km Championships titles at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5k course, along with 2019 USATF 5 km champion Anthony Rotich making his way back into the field for the first time since winning the 2019 title.

Muhumed is the only competitor in the field that has won a USATF title this year on the USATF Running Circuit, winning the USATF 8 km Championships back in July in Kingsport, Tennessee. The USATF 8 km Championships were also the last time Muhumed raced this year. 

Sam Chelanga, Sam Prakel and Josh Thompson join Beadlescomb, Rotich and Muhumed as three more USATF national champions set to race, bringing the total to six national champions in Saturday’s field. 

Chelanga, a two-time USATF champion, will go after his first USATF national title since 2016 when he won the USATF 10 Mile title. He’s raced twice this season on the USATF Running Circuit, finishing third at the USATF 10 km Championships and fourth at the USATF 20 km Championships. 

Prakel, the 2023 USATF Road Mile champion, and Thompson, the 2020 USATF Indoor 1500 champion, are both eyeing a second national title of their own. 

Parlympian and New York native Michael Brannigan is slated to race after competing for the United States at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, where he came away with his second Parlympic medal in the men’s T20 1500, earning bronze to go with his 2016 gold from the Rio Games. 

Derek Johnson, Titus Winder and Kirubel Erassa will be other names to watch out for in the men’s race. 

Rodenfels earned her first USATF national title by defeating Rachel Smith by four seconds in last year’s women’s race, running 15:22. 

Rodenfels has since won another USATF national title earlier this season, winning the 2024 USATF 6 km Championship race by 13 seconds on July 13 in Canton, Ohio. 

With a win on Saturday, Rodenfels could join Weini Kelati as the only competitors to repeat as USATF 5 km champions at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5k course and the sixth woman to complete consecutive national titles in the history of the USATF 5 km Championships. 

Challenging Rodenfels will be Emma Grace Hurley, who will be racing in her seventh USATF Running Circuit race this year, with her latest effort being a third-place finish at the USATF 10 km Championships in Northport, New York, on September 21. 

Hurley, who was ninth at last year’s USATF 5 km Championships, has finished as high as second place in two USATF Running Circuit races this year at the USATF 8 km Championships and the USATF Cross Country Championships. 

Susanna Sullivan and Natosha Rogers are a pair of veterans coming off great races in their recent outings looking to mix it up in the top half of the field. 

Sullivan completed this year’s Chicago Marathon as the top American, running a lifetime best of 2:21:56 to finish seventh overall, making her the 10th-fastest American marathoner in history. 

Rogers won the Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Mile in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 6, in 52:29 just two weeks after finishing second at the USATF 10 km Championships. 

Logan Jolly, Cailie Logue and Elena Hayday are other competitors entered in this year’s USATF 5 km Championships with past results on this year’s USATF Running Circuit. 

2023 Cross Country champion Katie Wasserman adds some intrigue to the field, running in her first road race since 2022.

About the USATF Running Circuit

The USATF Running Circuit is a USATF road series featuring USATF championships from one mile through marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 awarded in total prize money. A total of $60,000 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF 5 km Championships. 

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF 5 km Championships, scoring is set as 15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, with those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series. 

The mission of the USATF Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running Circuit and its race have provided over $7 million to U.S. Distance runners.

How many times has Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broken the 400m hurdles world record?

Sydney Michelle McLaughlin-Levrone is an American hurdler and sprinter who competes in the 400 meters hurdles and is the world record holderin that event. She has won gold in the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, as well as the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

She set a world record time of 50.37 seconds at the 2024 Summer Olympics on August 8, 2024, breaking her own old world record of 50.65 seconds.

She is the first track athlete to break four world records in the same event; setting four world records during 13 months, she was the first woman to break the 52-second (June 2021) and 51-second (July 2022) barriers in the 400 m hurdles.[ 

She won the silver medal at the 2019 World Championships. At all four competitions, she also took gold as part of a women's 4 × 400 m relay team.

Jenny Simpson is Retiring after the New York City Marathon and Starting a New Adventure

After concluding a stellar, 20-year career, the Olympic bronze medalist will embark on a 50-state running-infused van-life tour of the U.S. with her husband, Jason, in 2025

Jenny Simpson will go down in the annals of American running as one of the greatest of all time. No question about it.

So as she approaches what is likely the last elite-level race of her long and storied career at the November 3 New York City Marathon, she has nothing to prove, no one to impress, and no specific performance goal that she needs to attain to secure her legacy.

As a four-time global championship medalist in the 1500 meters—including a victory in the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Diamond League title in 2014, and bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics—Simpson has long been destined to go down as one of the best runners in U.S. history.

Add to that three Olympic appearances, 11 U.S. titles, three NCAA championships, eight top-10 finishes in international championships, eight Fifth Avenue Mile victories, six NCAA records (in six different events), and two American records (in the 3,000-meter steeplechase), and Simpson will rank among American legends for decades to come.

The fact that she’s been earnestly training to finish her career with a strong marathon performance in New York City epitomizes much of what the 38-year-old runner from Boulder, Colorado, has been about during her 20-year career. She’s not necessarily going out on top—that, she says, would have entailed making the U.S. Olympic team in the marathon for the Paris Olympic Games. But she is going out on her terms: focused, tenacious, and relentless to the end. It’s an opportunity afforded to few athletes, and even fewer distance runners.

“When I say I’m feeling good, it’s that I’m really excited for New York and I feel like I have a really, really good sense about my ability to run well,” she says. “I’m not going into it saying I’m gonna set the world on fire and be the top American or run 2:25 on that course. But I just know as good as I feel and as good as the training has gone, I know I’m capable of having a good day, and, most importantly, I have peace about it all.”

But as this chapter of life closes for Simpson, another very exciting one is about to begin, and that one will include quite a bit of running, too. She and her husband, Jason, are planning to embark on a year-long tour of the U.S. in 2025 that will take them—and their two Jack Russell Terriers, Truman and Barkley—to all 50 states while living out a van-life adventure focused on immersing in America’s thriving running culture.

From participating in races and visiting national parks to running iconic routes like Rim to Rim across the Grand Canyon and discovering hidden trails, Jenny and Jason have said their goal is to capture the heartwarming and inspiring essence of the country through the eyes of runners.

“We want to experience the beauty of this country firsthand, meet the incredible people who call it home, and celebrate everything that makes the U.S. so special,” says Jenny Simpson, who has represented the U.S. on the world stage for nearly two decades. “Through this journey, we hope to show that America’s beauty is not just in its landmarks, but in its people and the unique places they live, run, and explore.”

Out of the Ashes

In December of 2021, a devastating wildfire ripped through the south end of Boulder County—including the communities of Marshall, Louisville, and Superior, where it burned more than 1,084 homes and killed two residents and more than 900 pets. Miraculously, it didn’t burn the Simpson’s house—a restored circa-1900 schoolhouse they bought several years ago that was less than a half mile from the fire’s origin—but the house did incur significant smoke damage that needed mitigating.

The Simpsons were displaced and spent several months living in an apartment with little furniture, which forced them to live a rather spartan lifestyle. While Jason was still able to work as a creative director for a design firm, Jenny’s contract hadn’t been renewed by New Balance, and she wasn’t sure what the future held.

During that time, she had been doing a weekly call with her sister, Emily, and Jason’s sister, Annie, to discuss the book Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life, a guide aimed at helping people to reimagine their professional and personal lives. It was through those discussions that Jenny came up with an idea of buying a Winnebago so she and Jason could drive around the country with Truman, who they rescued in 2020 just before the Covid lockdown. (They got Barkley about three years later.)

“My idea was that we can just drive around America and see the place that I’ve had stamped across my chest on my Team USA gear all these years,” she says. “I have been on Team USA, but I really want to know what that means. I’ve raced in some amazing places all around the world, but I really haven’t seen much of our own country. I want to go see the places and the people that I haven’t seen. And then I had this idea of doing a 50 states, 50 weeks tour.”

Jenny told Jason about the idea and he was interested from the start, but it was initially just a fun distraction while Jenny was battling injuries. Jason was so intrigued, though, that he started searching for information about vans online and indulging in YouTube content from a variety of van-life influencers. Eventually, Jenny was healthy and racing on the roads for Puma, ultimately with a quest to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon.

A year later, they were still casually talking about the enticing “what if” possibilities of owning a van.

“So by 2023, we were like, ‘What do these vans look like? What do they cost? What kind of different layouts are best?” says Jason, 40, a 20-time marathoner with a 2:18:44 personal best. “And then I got really into the travel influencer YouTube videos and at some point told Jenny, ‘Hey, let’s just go look at them.’ And that led to looking at the timelines of: if we were to do this in 2024 or 2025, what would it take? It takes like a long time to build out the vans, and we are definitely not build-it-yourself van people.”

On Her Own Terms 

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Simpson’s career has been her consistency. She qualified for every U.S. national team on the track between 2007 and 2019. Not only did she put in the work and remain virtually injury-free during that time, but she also raced fiercely and rose to the occasion every single time without a single hiccup in any of her preliminary races. (She also made it to the 1500-meter final of the Covid-delayed U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021 at age 35 after what she admitted was a rough gap in competition during the pandemic.)

For most of that time, she was coached by her University of Colorado coaches Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs. They continued coaching her as she transitioned to road running over the past three years and ultimately to the build-up to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Orlando, Florida. Although she had brief moments of success on the roads—finishing second in the U.S. 10-mile championship in 2021 and turning in a solid ninth-place, 1:10:35 effort in the Houston Half Marathon in 2023—the first injuries of her career disrupted her training and delayed her debut at 26.2 miles until the Olympic Trials.

Over the past three years, continuing to adhere to the rigid lifestyle needed to keep racing competitively was increasingly met at an internal crossroads of wondering when it would feel OK to retire and move on in life and what that would look like.

“Running the Olympics Trials and then running Boston, I would say those were not successful outings,” Simpson says. “I did the best that I could and I got as prepared as I could, but they weren’t what I had hoped for, neither of them were what I’m capable of. I’m really proud of how I ran in Boston because I ran entirely alone after mile 3, but that’s not how I wanted to end my career.”

After Boston, Jenny still wasn’t ready to retire. But she’d heard the chatter that suggested she could give up the ghost and not try to remain competitive on the roads, knowing her legacy was already secure. After she took some time off to recover and reflect, she knew she wanted to get back into training and target one more race on the biggest stage and settled on the New York City Marathon.

She parted ways with Wetmore and Burroughs in the spring and decided to train on her own, although she’s continually received subtle guidance from Jason, who qualified for and raced in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials in Atlanta. Although he has imparted bits of knowledge to help keep her balanced, Simpson has been following a training plan in her marathon buildup that she designed.

From Best in the U.S. to Across the U.S.

Casual interest in buying a van led to more in-depth investigation and, after what was an otherwise random training run on the dirt roads north of Denver last year, they passed an RV sales lot and decided to take a look. One thing led to another and they put down a small, refundable deposit that would hold a fully appointed 23-foot Winnebago Ekko during what was expected to be nearly a year-long wait until it was built and delivered.

Fast forward to 2024 and Jenny made her marathon debut on February 3 in Orlando, but it didn’t go at all as she had hoped. She had been running among the top 20 early in the race but  eventually dropped out at mile 18. She returned 10 weeks later to run a respectable Boston Marathon in mid-April (she placed 18th overall in 2:31:39 and was the fourth American finisher), and although her effort was commensurate with her inner drive—and some degree of success felt good—she still wasn’t ready to call it a career.

Finally, in April, several days before they were going to travel to Boston, the RV dealership called and told them the van had arrived and they had a week to consider buying it. At that point, Jenny was eager to run Boston to make amends for her Olympic Trials experience, but she was also physically and emotionally fried.

“And I was like, we’re doing it,” she says. “It was the perfect time in the perfect year. Because I was like, ‘I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got to be done.’ It was killing me. I actually might perish in the middle of the Boston Marathon. I just was so burnt out, and so it was the perfect time for them to call and essentially say, ‘Do you want to drive away into the sunset?’ And I was like, ‘Yes, I do. I really do.’” 

Two days after the Boston Marathon, they paid the remainder of the balance on the van and picked it up, immediately sending them into daydreaming mode about where they wanted to go.

Although their plans are still being formulated, they intend to rent their house and hit the road with the charming dogs in January, officially starting their “Jenny and Jason Run USA” tour in Florida. Along the way, they plan to see numerous sights, host or join at least one fun run in every state, promote dog adoptions by publicizing local humane societies, and create a wide range of engaging social media content on their Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube accounts along the way. Given that their longest stint in the van so far was the six-day trip they took to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming early last summer, they know they’re going to have to learn on the fly and continually adapt. But that’s what an adventure is all about.

“I’ve been nothing but focused on running New York, but I am excited about what’s next,” Jenny said this week. “As I have been tiptoeing toward the idea of being retired from professional running, I don’t know that I’m going to be really great at it or that it’s going to come easily for me. That’s why it’s so wonderful to have a partner in life like Jason because I think he sees that, too. So our goal is to create a lot of time and space to figure that out. I think the year will be kind of interesting and fun and wild and I really don’t know how it’ll end up, and I think that’s really good.”

Approaching the End … and a Beginning

Simpson admits her post-Boston malaise contributed to her having an inconsistent summer of training, in part because she was listening to voices that suggested she should relax and not be so rigid in her approach. When she showed up to run the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, on August 3, she admits she wasn’t very fit, and, as a result, finished a distant 12th in 34:30.

“My Beach to Beacon race was just so bad that it was like validation to me that caring less and trying less doesn’t work for me ever in anything,” she said. “I’m just not that person. It works for some people, but that’s not who I am. I used to joke that when you show up to the track and someone asks, ‘How do you feel?’ I always thought to myself it doesn’t matter how I feel. It’s about doing the work. I always feel like it’s execution over emotion for me all the time and that I have a job to do. I know who I am and I know how I operate, and how I operate is great.”

Simpson got back to work immediately after that race, ramping up her weekly mileage to the 100-mile range in the high altitude environs of Colorado. She says she’s done more than half of her long runs between 8,500 and 10,500 feet, including runs on Magnolia Road above Boulder, Golden Gate Canyon State Park near Golden, and even a loop around the paved Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville.

Her return to rigidity and improved fitness helped bring mental clarity that not only convinced her that she’d be ready to run a strong marathon in New York City, but also brought the revelation that she was ready to admit it was her last race knowing it would allow her to retire on her own terms.

Two months after feeling flat in the 10K, she won the Wineglass Half Marathon on October 5 in Corning, New York, running a near-PR of 1:10:50 (5:24 per-mile pace) as she ran stride-for-stride to the finish line with Jason. (She broke the women’s finisher’s tape for the win, while he ran slightly to the side as the 12th-place men’s finisher and 13th overall.) Now she’s likely in sub-2:30 marathon shape, even though the hilly New York City Marathon course is as equally challenging as Boston in its own way. Jason, meanwhile, will race in the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K the day before the marathon, not only so he can track Jenny on Sunday and meet her at the finish line, but also because he’s running the California International Marathon on December 8.

2025 and Beyond

Simpson arrived in New York City on October 30 healthy, happy, and ready to run hard—definitely not the feeling of holding on for dear life that she felt going into the Olympic Trials and the Boston Marathon. She says she couldn’t be more excited to run through the city’s five boroughs to the finish line in Central Park that she hopes will come with a satisfying result, as well as the beginning of closure to her star-spangled career.

Who knows what’s next after that—Coaching? Law school? A corporate career with a shoe brand? The world seems to be her oyster, but for the time being the cross-country tour might be just what she needs most. She’s excited to detach a bit from the rigid schedule and identity she’s clung to for the past 20 years and enjoy the freedom of the open road. She knows it will be a complete departure from the essence of what she’s all about, and to that point, she’ll likely dig into planning and scheduling early next week even before she recovers from the marathon.

Although she admits she was intrigued while watching some of the top runners finish the Leadville Trail 100 this summer, she says she’s decidedly not interested in running ultras. (However, Jason might be, and Jenny says she’s been keen to pace and crew him.) She might get more into trail running, something she did a little bit early in her University of Colorado career. Or she might even return to road running, but she’s not thinking that far ahead. For now, she’s focused on racing in New York and then continuing to run in 2025—on the magical mystery tour that awaits—and beyond.

“I feel a lot of peace about it, but it’s not like I’m over running. I want to retire so I can do more running and to explore the beautiful country I raced for,” she says. “I wanted to be world class at the marathon, and I’m not. I gave it a good try, and now it’s time to try something else, and I just feel really good about it.”

Four women to watch in the 2024 New York City Marathon

The New York Marathon will take place on Sunday and ahead of the epic race, Pulse Sports highlights the four women likely to be on the podium.

A quality field is expected in the 2024 New York Marathon that is set for Sunday, November 3, as athletes look to set records on the course while others seek to bag victories for the first time.

Even though fierce competition is expected, Pulse Sports takes a look at athletes deemed favourites by bookmarkers to clinch a podium position as the build-up to the marathon enters homestretch.

Hellen Obiri (Kenya)

Hellen Obiri enters this year’s New York City Marathon as the defending champion in formidable form just like last year. In 2023, the 34-year-old had her arm raised victorious at the end of both the Boston and the New York City marathons. This year, she has the chance to repeat history after her victory in Boston set her up for an intriguing double-double.

Obiri’s other notable 2024 highlight was bronze in the Olympic marathon in Paris, which took place just 11 weeks ago. It was an incident-packed race for the Kenyan, which included falls and missed drink stations, but she rallied bravely to finish on the podium for her third Olympic medal in as many Games. Obiri boasts a marathon PB of 2:23:10.

Sharon Lokedi (Kenya)

The 2022 New York City marathon champion was within touching distance of an Olympic medal, missing out on the podium by a mere four seconds on the streets of Paris. It’s evidence of the strength of the Kenyan marathon team that Lokedi was originally named as a reserve for the Olympics before she replaced an injured Brigid Kosgei just weeks before the Games.

Lokedi also lost out to Obiri at this year’s Boston Marathon where she finished second, but her impressive achievements after only four career marathons will put her in good stead when she races again in the Big Apple. Lokedi has a marathon PB of 2:22:45

Dakotah Lindwurm (USA)

Dakotah Lindwurmwas USA's top finisher at the Paris Olympics, coming 12th in the French capital. Lindwurm has high expectations for this year’s race in New York, having improved in an area she feels has been her main weakness in the past.

"I’d say my 'A' goal would be to be on the podium,” Lindwurm, whose marathon PB is 2:24:40, said in the build-up to the race as revealed by Olympics.com. "I don’t think that’s out of reach when I’ve been training so hard on the hills, and for the first time in my life, feel really, really confident on hills."

Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya)

In terms of pure marathon speed, Chepkirui is the fastest woman in the field. The 33-year-old holds a personal best of 2:17:29 set on the rapid Valencia Marathon course in 2022. While Chepkirui does not have the Olympic pedigree of some of her rivals in New York, she did win bronze in the 10,000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Her form over the 42.195km distance has, however, been nothing short of impressive and includes a 2:17:49 at last year’s Berlin Marathon. She will be aiming for a new PB in a year in which the women’s marathon world record has toppled to under the mythical mark of 2 hours and 10 minutes. Chepkirui's PB is 2:17:29

Age is just a number as veteran athletes look to impress at Sunday's Istanbul Marathon

Top runners, including veteran athletes and young challengers, will be out to break records at the 46th Istanbul Marathon on Sunday, November 3.

Course records will be under threat as elite runners line up at the 46th edition of the Istanbul Marathon in Turkey on Sunday, November 3.

The men’s course record, set by Daniel Kibet in 2019 currently stands at 2:09:44 while the women’s record of 2:18:35 was set by Ruth Chepng’etich in 2018 and stands at 2:18:35.

Former world marathon bronze medalist Sharon Cherop is the fastest woman on the list with 2:22:28 while the men’s elite field is headlined by Ethiopia’s Abebe Negewo and with personal bests of sub 2:05:00.

The trio of Cherop, Negewo and Kipkemoi turned 40 this year, but they will be out to prove that age is just a number as they hope to continue the winning streak. The field will certainly be incomplete without youngsters and Ethiopians Kelkile Gezahegn and Sentayehu Lewetegn are among the young road runners who will also be challenging for top spot.

Betty Kibet of Kenya, a 24-year-old runner will also be debuting with the hope of having a great run in the streets of Istanbul.

Meanwhile, Abebe Degefa Negewo enters the field with a personal best time of 2:04:51, which he ran in Valencia in 2019 when he was fourth. He has produced impressive times in his previous marathons, including 2:05:27 in Valencia in 2021, 2:06:05 in Hamburg in 2022 and 2:08:12 in Rotterdam last year.

Kenneth Kipkemoi posted fast times in his previous races and hopes to continue the hot streak in Istanbul. He ran 2:08:15 in Rotterdam in 2023 and then won the Eindhoven Marathon with a personal best of 2:04:52. This year he returned to Rotterdam where he was fourth with 2:05:43.

Cherop is not new to the marathon as she won a bronze medal in the at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. She then won the prestigious Boston Marathon in 2012 and in 2013, she clocked her PB of 2:22:28 when she was runner-up in Berlin.

Ethiopia’s Sentayehu Lewetegn will be among Sharon Cherop’s challengers. She ran a strong debut in Frankfurt in 2018 with 2:22:45 for sixth place. As things stand, 42,500 runners have already been confirmed for the event. Race organisers confirmed that 7,500 of them will run the classic distance.

“No marathon is run in a city that bears the traces of three great empires that have left a significant mark on world history. No marathon passes over a bridge that connects continents above a magnificent strait. Thanks to this unique feature, we believe that the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon is the best thematic marathon in the world,” said Race Director Renay Onur according to Aims World Running.

Nelson, B.C., runner Matti Erickson becomes first Canadian athlete to sign collegiate deal with Nike

University of Oregon middle-distance runner Matti Erickson had a standout 2024 track season, making waves as one of Canada’s top up-and-coming 800m athletes. According to Citius Mag, the 21-year-old from Nelson, B.C. has become the first Canadian track athlete to sign a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with U.S. sportswear giant Nike, marking a major milestone for Canadian athletes in the NCAA.

Erickson, who’s in his final year with the Oregon Ducks program, has proven his potential over the last three seasons by medalling in the men’s 800m at the Pac-12 championships each year. This deal with Nike allows him to continue competing at the collegiate level while earning compensation through his image and achievements.

This is an opportunity for NCAA athletes that wasn’t available until the NIL rule change in July 2021. While an NIL deal is more limited financially than a professional contract, it offers athletes the best of both worlds: a path to monetizing their name while continuing collegiate competition, plus a foot in the door if they turn professional after college. 

Just after his 2024 NCAA season ended, Erickson clocked a personal best of 1:45.74 at the Portland Track Festival, placing him as the ninth-fastest Canadian man over 800m in history. He followed this by finishing third at the Canadian Olympic Trials, only narrowly missing a spot on Team Canada for Paris, finishing behind Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop and rising star Zakary Mama-Yari.

Securing an NIL deal as an international student isn’t easy. Erickson navigated restrictions around earning income while on a student visa, finding a solution with the support of his coach and agent. His deal represents a breakthrough for other Canadian student-athletes seeking similar opportunities in the U.S. In September, Ceili McCabe of West Virginia University became the first Canadian runner to sign a NIL deal in the NCAA, inking a deal with Swiss brand On.

Usain Bolt shares the best advice he’s ever received

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.