All articles tagged with #distance running
Kenyan athletes Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon set new world records in the 5000m and 1500m at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic, marking a historic day in women's distance running with both records broken in the same meet for the first time in over three decades.
370 of the best distance runners in the country will compete in the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, vying for a spot on Team USA for the Paris Olympics. Athletes had to qualify by running a certified marathon or half marathon in very fast times, with the top runners facing a grueling physical and mental challenge. Only three men and three women will be able to represent their country, making it a stressful and emotional event for the participants.
The introduction of carbon-plated "super shoes" in distance running has sparked a debate about their impact on the sport. These shoes, worn by elite marathon runners, have led to an influx of world records and faster times. Some argue that they advance the sport, while others believe they skew performance and remove a sense of natural progression. The shoes feature stiff, curved plates embedded in lightweight foam soles, providing greater propulsion and energy return. Critics raise concerns about the randomness of the technology's benefits and potential long-term performance compromise. The governing body, World Athletics, defends the use of new shoe technology, but critics argue that stricter regulations should have been implemented.
Former BYU star Conner Mantz finished sixth in the 10,000-meter run at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the world track championships. The race was won by Woody Kincaid, followed by Joe Klecker and Sean McGorty. Mantz will compete in the 5,000-meter final on Sunday. Other athletes with Utah ties, including Emily Venters and Chari Hawkins, also competed in various events at the championships.
Faith Kipyegon broke the women's 5,000m world record in Paris with a time of 14:05.20, beating Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey, the previous record holder. Kipyegon is the first woman to hold both the 1500m and 5,000m world records simultaneously since 1969. Gidey finished second with a time of 14:07.94, while Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia was third in 14:13.31. Kipyegon's victory marks one of the hottest stretches in the history of women's distance running.
Norwegian runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke the 2-mile world record at the Meeting de Paris with a time of 7:54.10, beating the previous record set by Daniel Komen in 1997. Ingebrigtsen was aided by green pacing lights and ran in Nike's foam-packed "super spikes". The 22-year-old runner already has an impressive resume, including winning the Olympic 1500-meter title in 2021. He may attempt to break the 1500m world record in Oslo next.
Kelvin Kiptum won the London Marathon with the second-fastest time in history, while Sifan Hassan won the women's race. Kiptum broke Eliud Kipchoge's course record and became the second-fastest man in history, finishing in 2:01:25. Hassan won in 2:18:33, despite dealing with a left hip injury and fasting during Ramadan. She has won major titles in the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, and the marathon, and is the world record holder in the mile.