Runner's Tribe

The actual running of the relays is exciting enough. Getting the baton around in the 4x100 is always a delicate balance between risk and reward. Push the envelope on the changes at the risk of dropping the baton or overrunning the zone. Then there’s the physical side of the 4x4 as after the first three bends it’s a high-speed battle for the best racing line in what essentially becomes a middle-distance sprint.

Margert Beardslee’s story is not all flash and glamour. Known by many ‘old hands’ as Margaret Ricardo, she commenced running as a young girl, in what I would call a Ground Zero period of women’s distance running in New South Wales (NSW). Women’s participation during the 1970s was in its infancy, a small appendage to a male dominated competitive activity.

The renowned marathoner Eliud Kipchoge courageously shared the difficult chapter he experienced after the untimely death of another accomplished Kenyan runner, Kelvin Kiptum, in an emotional interview with BBC Sport Africa. On February 11, Kiptum was involved in a tragic car accident that took his life, leaving the running community in shock.

China showcased its prowess in race walking at the Korzeniowski Warsaw Race Walking Cup, securing double victories with impressive performances from Qian Haifeng and Liu Hong.

Noah Lyles has made the decision to forgo participation in the 4x400-meter event at the upcoming World Relays, citing unsettling incidents during his previous involvement in the World Indoors. The American sprint sensation, with his eyes set on an ambitious quadruple gold at the Paris Olympics, had initially included the 4x400m relay in his lineup, building upon his stellar performance in last year's World Championships where he secured victories in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m events.

Andy Buchanan 2:08:58 for 11th place at the Hamburg Marathon, elevating him as the 7th fastest Australian all time but missing the Olympic Qualifier. Ryan Gregson ran 2:18:53 while Ellie Pashley gave it a go in 2:29:58. The race was won by Bernard Koech in 2:04:24, and debutant Irine Cheptai in 2:18:21

Nassau, Bahamas; 4 May 2024 -  Australia’s women’s 4x100m relay team has all but punched their tickets to Paris 2024, marking their first Olympic appearance since Sydney 2000 with a record-breaking performance in the opening round of the World Athletics Relay Championships in Nassau, the Bahamas tonight.

The selection window for the Olympic marathons closes this weekend and the Australian selectors can begin weighing the relative merits of the six women and four men from whom they can name three of each to run the Paris 26-miler.

Sha’Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman, both reigning champions in the world of track and field, are gearing up to showcase their speed at the Prefontaine Classic, a highly anticipated event within the Wanda Diamond League series. Scheduled for Saturday, May 25th, in Eugene, this event promises a thrilling competition.

The seventh edition of the Margaret River Ultra Marathon will take place next weekend on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May 2024 in south-west Western Australia with a sold-out field of ultra runners to hit the trails.