Jake Robertson, a New Zealand Commonwealth Games long-distance runner, has opened up about his experience of abuse and a lost sponsorship opportunity following the recent doping scandal involving his twin brother, Zane. In May 2022, Zane tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO), a banned substance, and was banned from the sport for eight years for tampering and providing false documents to officials.
Amanal Petros and Matea Parlov Kostro are regarded as hot favorites at the ADAC Marathon Hannover on Sunday and both target records on the very flat course. The German record holder will attack his own national record of 2:06:27 and if successful would smash the ten year-old course record which stands at 2:08:32. Meanwhile the marathon silver medallist of the European Championships last year, Matea Parlov Kostro of Croatia, hopes for a big personal best below the current course record of 2:26:15.
Recently, World Athletics, the regulatory body of the sport, has announced a new rule that prohibits transgender women from participating in top-tier female competitions if they have experienced male puberty. The council has also reinforced its regulations for athletes with differences in sex development (DSD) by reducing the maximum amount of plasma testosterone by half, from five to 2.5 nanomoles per litre.
On Thursday, the Barkley Marathons in Morgan County saw three runners cross the finish line. Keith Dunn, who has provided live coverage for the event for many years, confirmed that Aurélien Sanchez, John Kelly, and Karel Sabbe completed the 2023 "world's toughest trail race" in less than 60 hours.
Hellen Obiri from Kenya and Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda secured wins in their debut at the United Airlines NYC Half, persevering through freezing temperatures and strong headwinds to claim their titles. Obiri set a new event and course record, clocking in at 1:07:21, which was 14 seconds faster than the previous record held by Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia from last year's race. The two athletes each earned $20,000 in prize money for their outstanding performances.
Faith Kipyegon, a two-time world and Olympic 1500m champion hailing from Kenya, is getting ready for her first major competition of the year. She'll be heading back to the Wanda Diamond League meet in Doha on May 5th, where she's hoping to start her season on a strong note.
Molly Huddle, the three-time winner of the United Airlines NYC Half, is making a comeback to the race after a six-year hiatus. The 38-year-old athlete considers the event to be a significant turning point in her career, having triumphed in the race three times since her debut in 2014, defeating some of the world's top runners.
Donavan Brazier, the American middle-distance running sensation, has expressed his eagerness to compete in 2023, following his second surgery in February. Brazier had a phenomenal season in 2019, setting an American record for the 800 meters and a world-best time for the 600 meters, and ending the year by winning the world title in the 800 meters in record-breaking fashion.
Gary Cantrell, better known by his pseudonym Lazarus Lake, is a legend in the ultra-marathon world as the founder and race director of the Barkley Marathons. This race is infamous for its sheer brutality, and only a handful of people have ever completed the five-lap, 100-mile course within the time limit of 60 hours. Lake's eccentricity and unforgiving style have made him a cult figure in the running community, and his quotes are often seen as sources of inspiration, if not outright terror.
Trail running enthusiasts around the world had their eyes glued to social media feeds on Tuesday morning as the Barkley Marathons got underway at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. The annual event, organized by Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell, is known as the quirkiest race in the world of trail running, with about 40 runners embarking on a grueling challenge that involves completing five 20- to 25-mile loops with about 12,000 feet of climbing. However, the race is much more than that. Runners must also navigate steep hills, brambles, and slippery terrain while battling often cold and wet conditions.
