The Athletics Thread

[tobydawq]

Mostly metres. Ingebrigtsen has just improved the European record on 3000m.

2025 Schedule — The Prefontaine Classic

The Prefontaine Classic, a Wanda Diamond League meeting, will take place on July 5, 2025 at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

www.preclassic.com

Yes, I get that. I just don't see why they're running such weird distances in such a supposedly important event.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Yes, I get that. I just don't see why they're running such weird distances in such a supposedly important event.

I've never understood yards in swimming competitions either.

New WR for Duplantis, but that was less of a surprise.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Not a new record for Shericka Jackson, but still a very good 200m run.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yes, I get that. I just don't see why they're running such weird distances in such a supposedly important event.

The mile is Eugene's flagship event, known as the Bowerman Mile, and is traditionally run as part of the Prefontaine Classic every year. It's a bit odd to have it as it's part of the DL final as a non-standrd distance, I agree, but I think for a lot of traditionalists and the organisers at Eugene it would have been sacrilegious for them not to include it, and it's a bit hard to have both the mile and the 1500m alongside one another.

That doesn't explain a non-steeplechase 3000 though.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

The mile is Eugene's flagship event, known as the Bowerman Mile, and is traditionally run as part of the Prefontaine Classic every year. It's a bit odd to have it as it's part of the DL final as a non-standrd distance, I agree, but I think for a lot of traditionalists and the organisers at Eugene it would have been sacrilegious for them not to include it, and it's a bit hard to have both the mile and the 1500m alongside one another.

That doesn't explain a non-steeplechase 3000 though.

The Bowerman Mile is incredibly special here in Eugene because it's an ode to Bill Bowerman, and way back when we rooted for ALL the runners to make it sub - 4 mins. Nowadays a sub -4 mile really isn't all that special though...

 

[BullsFan22]

Did they speed up Hayward?

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Did they speed up Hayward?

The new track is supposed to be very fast, but the rest should probably be discussed in the Clinic.

 

[BullsFan22]

The new track is supposed to be very fast, but the rest should probably be discussed in the Clinic.

Yes, but it’s sad to go over there so often.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Yes, but it’s sad to go over there so often.

See, I think it would be very rare to not discuss track and field accomplishments in the Clinic.

 

[tobydawq]

The mile is Eugene's flagship event, known as the Bowerman Mile, and is traditionally run as part of the Prefontaine Classic every year. It's a bit odd to have it as it's part of the DL final as a non-standrd distance, I agree, but I think for a lot of traditionalists and the organisers at Eugene it would have been sacrilegious for them not to include it, and it's a bit hard to have both the mile and the 1500m alongside one another.

That doesn't explain a non-steeplechase 3000 though.

It's like they're saying "Hey Jakob! Come break some world records! Now that you're obviously incapable of the 1500m WR, we'll give you two chances at distances that are rarely run!"

And just a week after a 2000m...

 

[BullsFan22]

It's like they're saying "Hey Jakob! Come break some world records! Now that you're obviously incapable of the 1500m WR, we'll give you two chances at distances that are rarely run!"

And just a week after a 2000m...

Well, the appearance fees aren’t too bad…

 

[iBanesto]

Amazing Tsegay broke Kipyegon's recent 5000 m WR by almost 5 full seconds!

The WR has dropped close to 11 seconds in 15 years since Dibaba's WR from 2008.

 

[iBanesto]

The gap between Duplantis and the rest of his competitors has got to be the greatest in any track and field event.

I don't think Bubka's gap with his competitors was never was great as what we have seen Duplantis achieved to date.

 

[iBanesto]

So crazy!!!

Tigst Assefa obliterated the previous records held by Kosgei and Keitany by finishing the BMW Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:11:53.

 

[iBanesto]

The Ingebrigtsen-Kerr feud is hilarious.

Kerr talking smack.

 

[BullsFan22]

The Ingebrigtsen-Kerr feud is hilarious.

Kerr talking smack.

To be fair, Ingebritsen started it 😂

 

[iBanesto]

To be fair, Ingebritsen started it 😂

I would love it so much if Nordås won the 1500m.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skkS3FqOGQU&pp=ygUTbmFydmUgZ2lsamUgbm9yZMOlcw%3D%3D

 

[Tricycle Rider]

The Ingebrigtsen-Kerr feud is hilarious.

Kerr talking smack.

Usually it's the sprinters who talk all kinds of smack, so it's kinda fun to see distance runners trying to stir each other up for a change.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I would love it so much if Nordås won the 1500m.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skkS3FqOGQU&pp=ygUTbmFydmUgZ2lsamUgbm9yZMOlcw%3D%3D

Had to google him because for the past few years the only Norwegian you (at least in the States) ever heard about was Jakob Ingebrigtsen, I'm sure Nordas being coached by Ingebrigtsen's dad must make for some interesting dynamics.

On that note sorry I'm not even halfway up to speed on the latest Ingebrigtsen family drama, but wiki says Ingebrigtsen senior no longer coaches his sons because they turned against him because of his coaching style? Ouch!

 

[BigCoward]

Kiptum dead in car accident. Glittering career ended very early.

 

[iBanesto]

Kiptum dead in car accident. Glittering career ended very early.

Very sad.

Kiptum probably would have broken 2 hours in the marathon and the race against Kipchoge at the 2024 Olympics would have been great to see who is the best.

Reminds me on when Wanjiru passed away too early.

 

[Rob5091]

Beijing half marathon - best buds or something else?!
https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/68815592
Organisers of the Beijing half marathon are investigating allegations that three African athletes deliberately allowed China's star runner He Jie to win Sunday's race.

Footage appeared to show Kenya's Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat and Ethiopia's Dejene Hailu pointing to the line and slowing down before waving He past.

He, 25, finished one second ahead of the trio, who tied for second place.

Video and more at https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2404154187/

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Beijing half marathon - best buds or something else?!
https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/68815592
Organisers of the Beijing half marathon are investigating allegations that three African athletes deliberately allowed China's star runner He Jie to win Sunday's race.

Footage appeared to show Kenya's Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat and Ethiopia's Dejene Hailu pointing to the line and slowing down before waving He past.

He, 25, finished one second ahead of the trio, who tied for second place.

Video and more at https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2404154187/

Hotdamn, first time I've ever seen a Kenyan or Ethiopian runner give a win away like that, what was the prize money? Can't imagine anyone doing this unless there's money involved...

 

[jmdirt]

He made it that far with the others so they let him win his home race...not a big deal IMO.

"The Kenyan said four runners had been contracted to help He break the Chinese half-marathon record of one hour two minutes 33 seconds, and that one of them did not finish the race."

 

[Tricycle Rider]

He made it that far with the others so they let him win his home race...not a big deal IMO.

"The Kenyan said four runners had been contracted to help He break the Chinese half-marathon record of one hour two minutes 33 seconds, and that one of them did not finish the race."

Info and clarifications are still trickling in but, were the race organizers not aware the African runners were there merely as pacemakers? Odd. Especially given the pacemakers were supposed to help He break the Chinese record, so you would think everybody would have knowledge of that because it would be a pretty big deal.

Stay tuned while more (hopefully accurate) info comes in!