Runner's Tribe

Going beyond the confines of the traditional marathon lies the realm of ultra marathons—an ultimate test of endurance that surpasses the standard 26.2 miles (42.1k). Spanning from single-day 50k (31 miles) sprints to grueling multi-stage races covering hundreds of miles, these events traverse challenging terrains, pushing athletes to their physical and mental limits.

In the men’s race, Tsegay Weldlibanos, competing as an asylum athlete originally from Eritrea, claimed victory with a blistering time of 2:07:35. This time not only earned him the title but also broke Jerry Lawson’s long-standing course record of 2:10:27, which had stood for an impressive 31 years. Weldlibanos’s victory was made even more remarkable by his near-three-minute margin over the previous record. Runner-up CJ Albertson of Fresno, Calif., also finished under the former record at 2:10:06, securing second place. Albertson's ability to maintain such a high level of consistency in 2024, finishing every marathon under 2:11, highlighted his remarkable endurance.

At just 16 years old, Australian track prodigy Gout Gout has made history by breaking one of the nation’s most revered athletic records. Competing at the Australian All Schools Championships in Brisbane, Gout delivered an electrifying performance in the 200m final, clocking 20.04 seconds.

Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, has emphasized the sport’s commitment to innovation after a successful 2024. The year saw record-breaking performances, growing fan engagement, and the debut of a Netflix series that increased the sport’s visibility. At the 236th World Athletics Council Meeting in Monaco, Coe highlighted that athletics regained its position as the top Olympic sport in broadcast reach and outlined plans to maintain this momentum through the Pioneering Change strategy.

The 2024 IAU 100k World Championships, held in Bengaluru, India, witnessed exceptional performances from Japan’s Jumpei Yamaguchi and France’s Floriane Hot. Yamaguchi triumphed in the men’s race with an impressive time of 6:12:17, while Hot defended her 2022 title in the women’s event, finishing in 7:08:43. The race, held on December 7, 2024, took place under challenging conditions marked by high humidity and rising temperatures, which made for a thrilling but demanding contest.

Eldoret, Kenya – December 7: Ugandan rising star Loice Chekwemoi and Kenyan talent Samwel Chebolei Masai clinched stunning victories at the Great Chepsaita Cross Country. This World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event drew thousands of spectators eager to witness elite competition in the heart of Kenya's running hub.

A remarkable achievement was made at a recent masters meet in Dublin when 60-year-old Anne Gilshinan, from Wexford, Ireland, set a new world record in the indoor mile for the 60+ age category. She completed the race in 5 minutes and 27 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 5:30.73, set by American runner Sue McDonald earlier this year.

At just 16 years old, Australian sprinter Gout Gout is making waves in the athletics world, with experts dubbing him a once-in-a-generation talent. Known for his smooth stride and electrifying speed, the Queensland teenager has already etched his name into record books. Gout, the son of South Sudanese immigrants, is determined to pave his own path.

Beatrice Chebet, the world cross-country champion, and Berihu Aregawi, the silver medallist, demonstrated their supremacy at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza, proving their elite position. Taking place in Elgoibar, Spain, on Sunday (7), the competitors showed remarkable expertise in navigating the difficult course due to the continuous rain.

Catriona Bisset ended a 49-year drought as she was named in the world top-10 in Track&Field News magazine’s annual rankings for 2023, one of ten Australian athletes to garner a top-10 ranking.