The University of Pennsylvania's renowned Penn Relays once again showcased extraordinary athletic prowess spanning various age groups. Among the highlights of the 128th edition of this esteemed track meet held on Saturday, were the awe-inspiring performances by senior runners, particularly in the masters 85+ 100-meter dash.
The 2024 TCS London Marathon witnessed an extraordinary feat as 76-year-old Jeannie Rice, a remarkable presence in the running world, surpassed her own world record in the women’s 75-79 age bracket. Crossing the finish line in a remarkable three hours, 33 minutes, and 27 seconds, Rice showcased an incredible improvement from her previous record achieved just last October in Chicago, at the age of 75.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the accomplished Kenyan athlete known for his excellence in the 800m, demonstrated his versatility by triumphing in the mile distance with an extraordinary performance. Competing at the adizero Road to Records event held in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on Saturday (27), Wanyonyi not only clinched victory but also shattered the world road mile record, clocking an impressive time of 3:54.56.
In the bustling city of Bengaluru, Kenya's elite runners, Peter Mwaniki and Lilian Kasait, showcased their prowess on Sunday in the 16th edition of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru. Mwaniki clocked in at 28:15, securing the international elite men’s title, while Kasait clinched the women’s title with a time of 30:56.
Norwegian authorities have recently brought charges against Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the father and former coach of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, an esteemed Olympic athlete. This development follows public revelations by Jakob and his older brothers, Henrik and Filip, also notable athletes, regarding alleged instances of physical abuse they endured while under their father's coaching until 2022.
American ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter once again asserted her dominance in the world of ultrarunning with a resounding victory in the women's race at the Mt. Fuji 100. Not only did she clinch the top spot in the women's category, but she also finished an impressive third overall, closely trailing behind the Chinese duo of Guomin Deng and Qin Guidu.
World-class fields will go for course records and target Olympic qualification in Sunday’s Haspa Marathon Hamburg. Kenya’s defending champion and course record holder Bernard Koech, who tied his personal best with 2:04:09 a year ago, is back while Gotytom Gebreslase, the World Champion from 2022, is the favourite in the women’s race. The Ethiopian, who has a PB of 2:18:18, wants to secure the third spot for the Paris Olympic race in Hamburg. Fellow-Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw holds Hamburg’s course record of 2:17:23. Late entry Nienke Brinkman will also try to qualify for Paris. The Dutch runner is the bronze medallist from the European Championships in Munich in 2022.
With three victories at the Western States and a recent triumph at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), ultrarunner Jim Walmsley is eyeing a remarkable milestone: conquering both prestigious races in a single year.
Pierre-Ambroise Bosse, the celebrated 800m world champion of 2017, has been conspicuously absent from the competitive arena since the culmination of the 2022 season. His hiatus from the sport has been extended by a disciplinary measure enacted by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) in April, resulting in a one-year suspension. This penalty was imposed due to Bosse's failure to adhere to the whereabouts obligations mandated by the agency between September 2022 and June 2023.
Michael Johnson, acclaimed for his four Olympic gold medals, is on the brink of revolutionizing track and field with a pioneering endeavor. Recently, Johnson unveiled securing over $30 million from investors and strategic partners to propel his vision forward—a track league slated for debut in the near future.
