The work of Nzimaheart Runners has become a shared mission thanks to the launch of the Tulizo Foundation as part of a three-year partnership with the ASICS Foundation.
Nzimaheart Runners, which has since been renamed as the Tulizo Athletics Club, is the only all-female training camp in Iten, Kenya, dedicated to supporting the growth and development of athletes in a safe environment. The group was founded by Joan Kolly Wanders, Mary Keitany and Carolyne Jepkosgei in 2024 and huge strides have been made since its launch &ndash; including the creation of the Tulizo Foundation and ASICS Foundation partnership in May of this year.
The Tulizo Foundation aims to address gender-based violence (GBV), gender inequality, and limited access to safe and supportive environments for women and girls. Through sport, education, mentorship and community engagement, the foundation works to promote dignity, protection and long-term social change.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6ae4b7ea7b1d4b1a73c337bf.JPG" alt="Kolly Wanders coaches the Nzimaheart Runners, members of the Tulizo Foundation Ambassador Programme in Iten" />
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Kolly Wanders coaches the Nzimaheart Runners, members of the Tulizo Foundation Ambassador Programme in Iten
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According to UNESCO (2025), 40% of women in Kenya have experienced emotional, physical, or psychological intimate partner violence, while one third of women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence (United Nations).
In the past, Wanders, Keitany and Jepkosgei saw the signs, but they were unable to stop it. So, they launched their mission to stop gender-based violence, one girl at a time.
&ldquo;Through the Partnership Program, ASICS Foundation works collaboratively with partner organisations rather than only providing financial support,&rdquo; says Masayo Hasegawa of the ASICS Foundation. &ldquo;We combine our respective expertise and strengths to address social challenges together.&rdquo;
<h2>Tulizo Foundation&rsquo;s four pillars</h2>
The Tulizo Foundation takes a four-pillar approach: school outreach, community outreach, community runs and the ambassador programme.
One of the programme&rsquo;s targets is 40 attendees at each community workshop. At the first community workshop on GBV, more than 150 women aged between 17 and 80 turned up.
&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t have enough room; we had to add seats outside,&rdquo; says Wanders. &ldquo;Everyone was so happy, and even now, when you go on to the street, they ask: &lsquo;When is the next session?&rsquo; They have new ideas, they all wanted something that is really for women.&rdquo;
Each Tulizo workshop opens with the macarena, now a staple icebreaker of the programme.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6ae4b85d7b1d4b1a73c337c2.JPG" alt="Kolly Wanders leads the ice-breaker dance at the Tulizo Foundation workshop" />
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Kolly Wanders leads the ice-breaker dance at the Tulizo Foundation workshop (&copy; Toni Hiram)
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&ldquo;Coming together as women, having some fun, and speaking up about what women go through in their daily lives gives them courage and free space to talk and to find solutions,&rdquo; says Tulizo Foundation facilitator Clare Maina. &ldquo;We love to give solutions.&rdquo;
Hasegawa adds: &ldquo;We hope to contribute to safer and more inclusive communities where women and girls can live with dignity, participate in sport, and pursue their aspirations with confidence.&rdquo;
The impact can already be seen.
&ldquo;Walking down the street, I noticed one lady has started growing vegetables in her compound as a way to be financially independent and reduce the likelihood of GBV,&rdquo; Maina says.
Underpinning everything is the power of sport.
The group runs bring the community together through non-professional running. During Christmas, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, participants in Tulizo's community runs will also share goods with those who are less fortunate.
&ldquo;The goal of Tulizo is to make the community want to have that change, so that it comes from them, not from people telling them what to do,&rdquo; says Wanders.
The team acknowledges it will take time for trust to build and for older women to open up, but they are already starting to see it happen.
Reflecting on the ASICS team&rsquo;s recent visit to Iten, Hasegawa says: &ldquo;What stood out most was the trust that Tulizo Foundation has built within the local community and the safe environment it provides for women and girls. We could see how sport is being used not only to develop athletic potential, but also to encourage confidence, education, leadership, and mutual support.&rdquo;
Facilitators approach with a listening-first mentality, which has enabled more intergenerational stories and conversations. This generational connection is amplified through the ambassador programme.
Athletes from Tulizo Athletics Club are being trained as mentors and leaders within their community. Tulizo Foundation provides the athletes with additional education, mentorship and leadership skills. Classes include GBV, social media, financial literacy, mental health, nutrition, injury prevention and education on opportunities after their athletics careers.
The programme trains the athletes to become ambassadors for change and leadership, and to mentor the next generation. In time, the ambassador programme will invite girls from outside the camp to participate.
The Tulizo Foundation marked the first partnership project in Africa under the ASICS Foundation Partnership Program.
<h2>Next steps</h2>
&ldquo;We are very grateful to the ASICS Foundation team because they are so keen on empowering women and girls,&rdquo; says Wanders. &ldquo;With their support, it will really help us go beyond. Not just in Iten, but we are planning to go even beyond the region, to other counties, and later, nationwide. That is our biggest goal.&rdquo;
Maina adds: &ldquo;Giving back to the community doesn&rsquo;t need much energy, it just needs you and some strength.&rdquo;
That is the spirit of the women behind the Tulizo Foundation.
One girl at a time. One woman at a time. Tulizo and the ASICS Foundation team are changing the story.
Emily Colquhoun for World Athletics

The work of Nzimaheart Runners has become a shared mission thanks to the launch of the Tulizo Foundation

How the Tulizo Foundation is turning runners into changemakers

Defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto will return to the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday (1), going in search of further success against top-class opposition at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.
It will be a special edition of the event as it celebrates 50 years since the race first switched to its famous route that travels through each of the city&rsquo;s five boroughs.
Two-time winner Obiri, who last year broke Margaret Okayo&rsquo;s 2003 course record with her victorious run of 2:19:51, is looking to become part of an exclusive club of women to have come out on top in New York at least three times. The only other members of that group are Grete Waitz (9 wins), Mary Keitany (4) and Paula Radcliffe (3).
Following a challenging marathon debut there in 2022, when Obiri finished sixth, the Colorado-based two-time world 5000m champion has learned to love the streets of New York, bouncing back to win the 2023 edition of the marathon and finishing second in 2024 before last year&rsquo;s victory.
All of her four World Marathon Major wins to date have come on US soil &ndash; the others arriving in Boston &ndash; and earlier this year she won the NYC Half Marathon before finishing second to Tigst Assefa&rsquo;s women-only world record on her debut at the London Marathon in April with a personal best of 2:15:53.
Obiri has the fastest time in a women&rsquo;s field that will be without Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who has withdrawn after illness, but will feature four women who have run under 2:20. Aside from Obiri, that list includes the 2024 winner Sheila Chepkirui, who is looking to finish in the top three for the third year running, Viola Cheptoo and the 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat.
Chepkirui won the Nagoya Women&rsquo;s Marathon in March and was third in New York 12 months ago in 2:20:24 behind Sharon Lokedi&rsquo;s run of 2:20:07 as all three of the podium finishers ran inside that previous course record of 2:22:31. Boston fourth-place finisher Mary Chelangat also looks set to be in contention this time around.
Last year&rsquo;s leading US athlete, fourth-placed Fiona O&rsquo;Keeffe, will be missing following hamstring surgery but the battle among the home athletes will be a fierce one.&nbsp;
Jessica McClain had a fine run in Boston this year as she finished fifth in 2:20:49, but there is also plenty of interest around the marathon debut of Weini Kelati, who lowered her own North American half marathon record to 1:06:04 in Barcelona in March. Annie Frisbie, with a marathon best of 2:22:00, adds to the US challenge.
Germany&rsquo;s Fabienne K&ouml;nigstein, sixth in Berlin last year with 2:22:17, is also in the field, while Uruguay&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Julia Paternain &ndash; eighth in London this year &ndash; will tackle her second World Marathon Major.
No man has won New York in successive years since John Kagwe in 1998, but Kipruto is looking to change that and will be hoping he can win with more room to spare this time around.
The 35-year-old Kenyan hit the tape in 2:08:09 last year as he pipped his compatriot Alexander Mutiso on the line in Central Park by just three hundredths of a second &ndash; the tightest finish the event has ever seen.
Kipruto, a four-time World Marathon Major winner who trains alongside world record-holder Sabastian Sawe, has been in good form so far this year, finishing third in Boston in 2:02:50.
Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia, sixth in London, is the second-fastest man in the field with 2:02:38 and will be experiencing New York for the first time, as will Kenyan CyBrian Kotut, who has a best of 2:03:22, while Geoffrey Kamworor is a two-time champion and no stranger to success in the event.
With a best of 2:04:20, Dutch record-holder Abdi Nageeye will have his eye on adding to his New York win in 2024.
Swedish former 800m runner Andreas Almgren broke the European record with 58:06 on his way to the half marathon title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen in September, a performance that followed hot on the heels of a commanding 10,000m win at the European Championships in Birmingham, where he broke the championship record with 27:23.44.
The 31-year-old is also the European record-holder over 5000m and 10km but, rather than choose a marathon course more renowned for speed, he has opted for the far more challenging, championship-like New York route as the venue for his marathon debut.
As with the women&rsquo;s race, the contest between the US men in the field should be fascinating. Conner Mantz is the North American record-holder with 2:04:43 from Chicago last year. Zouhair Talbi ran even quicker in Boston with 2:03:45 for fifth place, but the Massachusetts course is not record eligible. Ryan Ford and Joe Klecker, who have bests of 2:05:46 and 2:05:56 from Boston, will also have the support of the crowd.
Great Britain&rsquo;s Patrick Dever, initially fourth on his marathon debut in New York last year with 2:08:58 but subsequently upgraded to a podium spot after third-placed Albert Korir&rsquo;s suspension for doping offences, returns after running 2:06:18 in London.
Peter Lynch also impressed in London, breaking the Irish record with 2:06:08, and he too will toe the start line.
<h3>Leading contenders</h3>
Women Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:15:53 Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 2:17:29 Viola Cheptoo (KEN) 2:19:05 Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50 Mercy Chelangat (KEN) 2:20:30 Jessica McClain (USA) 2:20:49 Annie Frisbie (USA) 2:22:00 Fabienne K&ouml;nigstein (GER) 2:22:17 Carrie Ellwood (USA) 2:22:53 Giovanna Epis (ITA) 2:23:46 Rie Kawauchi (JPN) 2:24:16 Amanda Vestri (USA) 2:24:49 Lauren Hagans (USA) 2:25:47 Julia Paternain (URU) 2:25:47 Phily Bowden (GBR) 2:25:57 Paige Wood (USA) 2:26:02 Steph Bruce (USA) 2:27:47 Roberta Groner (USA) 2:29:09 Mica Rivera Wood (PER) 2:29:13 Cailie Hughes (USA) debut Weini Kelati (USA) debut
Men Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:02:16 Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:02:38 CyBrian Kotut (KEN) 2:03:22 Zouhair Talbi (USA) 2:03:45 Abdi Nageeye (NED) 2:04:20 Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:04:23 Conner Mantz (USA) 2:04:43 Kengo Suzuki (JPN) 2:04:56 Yemaneberhan Crippa (ITA) 2:05:18 Edward Cheserek (KEN) 2:05:24 Ryota Kondo (JPN) 2:05:39 Ryan Ford (USA) 2:05:46 Joe Klecker (USA) 2:05:56 Peter Lynch (IRL) 2:06:08 Patrick Dever (GBR) 2:06:18 Haftu Strintzos (AUS) 2:06:20 Jack Rowe (GBR) 2:07:47 Kamohelo Mofolo (LES) 2:08:50 Sam Chelanga (USA) 2:08:50 JP Flavin (USA) 2:09:17 Turner Wiley (USA) 2:09:27 Andrew Colley (USA) 2:09:33 Robert Miranda (USA) 2:09:40 Joel Reichow (USA) 2:09:56 Andreas Almgren (SWE) debut Patrick Kiprop (KEN) debut Ahmed Muhumed (USA) debut

Defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto will return to the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday (1), going in search of further success against top-class opposition at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.

Defending champions Obiri and Kipruto head strong New York City Marathon fields

World Athletics has established a standalone Running &amp; Mass Participation department to bring even greater focus to the organisation&rsquo;s work across the global running ecosystem.
The department will be led by Jakob Larsen, who brings 25 years of experience as an international sports federation executive and industry leader. Larsen has a proven track record of developing and scaling innovative events, including the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen in 2014, the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus in 2019 and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship last month in Budapest.
He will work alongside Alessio Punzi, who has been instrumental in establishing World Athletics&rsquo; presence and credibility in the running space over the past decade. The department will be responsible for a broad portfolio including World Athletics&rsquo; road running, marathon, cross country, mountain and trail events and activities, the RUN X&trade; World Treadmill Championship, the World Athletics Label Road Races programme, regulation, technical and educational services, and the development of new partnerships and opportunities across technology, data and the wider running industry.
The move comes ahead of this week&rsquo;s TCS New York City Marathon and during an active year in the running space for World Athletics. This includes the recent success of the World Road Running Championships and Global Running Conference in Copenhagen, the announcement of a standalone World Marathon Championships, the launch of the inaugural RUN X&trade; World Treadmill Championship and the recent one-year-to-go milestone for the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Cape Town.
&ldquo;World Athletics&rsquo; research informs us that at least 1 billion people worldwide are runners in some shape or form, making athletics the most-participated sport in the world,&rdquo; said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon. &ldquo;Mass participation running possesses the unique power to engage entire communities. It is a tool for mental wellbeing, wider public health, social cohesion and, for our host cities, economic development. Running is also one of the fastest growing areas of our sport, with millions participating in mass participation events, particularly on the road, every year.
&ldquo;As the international governing body for athletics, we have a responsibility to use our unique position at the global level to be a positive steward of running within our sport. In practice, that means we need to deliver on three main fronts: to safely govern running activities, to stage pinnacle global running championships that elevate the status of world champions, and to act as a catalyst to grow running &ndash; both through our own efforts and by supporting the efforts of others.&rdquo;
More than 320 road races around the world currently hold a World Athletics road race Label. Linked to the programme is World Athletics&rsquo; road race integrity programme, which raises US$3 million per year to support an extensive anti-doping testing programme designed to help keep road running clean. This complements World Athletics&rsquo; work in areas including course measurement, official results and safety. In total, World Athletics invests more than US$8 million per year in the Athletics Integrity Unit to help protect the integrity of road races across the globe.
In recent years, World Athletics has also worked to ensure fairness in elite running competition through the regulation of shoe technology, embracing innovation while ensuring all major shoe companies have access to the same technology. World Athletics also invests in a number of health and science initiatives related to running, including race emergency medicine programmes that help upskill hundreds of road race medical directors worldwide.
Its work also includes research into thermoregulation in endurance sport to mitigate health risks, with the findings used to support and educate mass participation organisers as running faces the increasing impact of a warming world.
&ldquo;We will continue to direct energy and finances into making a much more significant contribution to the running ecosystem because we believe World Athletics is one of the key organisations that can help grow running further and faster, both directly through our own efforts and indirectly through supporting the efforts of others,&rdquo; said Ridgeon.

World Athletics

World Athletics has established a standalone Running & Mass Participation department to bring even greater focus to the organisation’s work across the global running ecosystem.

World Athletics establishes new Running & Mass Participation department

World Athletics is strengthening the role of Kids&rsquo; Athletics in delivering positive social and societal impact through its participation in the Global Sport for Good Initiative, a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), World Athletics, World Rugby, FIBA and the Badminton World Federation.
Implemented since 2024, the Global Sport for Good Initiative aims to harness the power of sport participation to enhance wellbeing, inclusion, education and community development, while strengthening the capacity of International Federations and their members to understand and demonstrate the impact of sport.
For World Athletics, the focus is on its Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme to provide the platform through which these ambitions can be put into practice. Kids&rsquo; Athletics is one of the world&rsquo;s largest grassroots athletics development programmes, targeting children and young people aged four to 14, and reaching 170 countries and more than seven million children in its latest participation campaign.
Kids&rsquo; Athletics is helping create opportunities for children to experience athletics in ways that are fun, accessible, inclusive and responsive to their needs. At the heart of the Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme is a commitment to child-centred delivery, putting the needs, voice, experiences and wellbeing of children at the centre of how athletics is designed and delivered to them.
&ldquo;Kids&rsquo; Athletics gives us an opportunity to look beyond participation numbers and understand the difference athletics can make in the lives of young people and their communities,&rdquo; said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
&ldquo;Through the Global Sport for Good Initiative, we are strengthening the people and systems that make this possible, from Member Federations and clubs to coaches and volunteers, while building our ability to understand, measure and communicate the impact of their work.&rdquo;
World Athletics&rsquo; framework for delivering impact through Kids&rsquo; Athletics recognises that the quality and sustainability of grassroots athletics depend heavily on the capability of the people delivering it. The Kids&rsquo; Athletics delivery network, which includes 18 Master Trainers, more than 300 Member Federation Lead Educators and more than 10,000 coaches and teachers within clubs and schools, is therefore central to the approach. Through workforce development and education, the delivery network is supported to better understand children&rsquo;s needs, identify community priorities and apply child-centred approaches in their delivery.
To support this, World Athletics continues to ensure that the workforce has relevant tools and education to improve the quality of delivery and experiences for children globally. In April, World Athletics released the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/en/kids-athletics/news/kids-athletics-app-launches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kids&rsquo; Athletics app</a>, a tool for coaches and teachers designed to make delivering Kids&rsquo; Athletics simpler, faster and more engaging. With free access, full offline functionality, a built-in session planner and availability in six languages, it eliminates the need for printed materials while helping create fun, safe and positive experiences for children worldwide.
Through this initiative there is also a focus on strengthening coach education, with new content being developed and delivered based on the needs of the delivery network and the need to continue to adapt and evolve to changing requirements of children and communities globally.
For young people, the ambition extends beyond participation in a single athletics session. Through accessible, child-centred delivery, Kids&rsquo; Athletics supports participants to build confidence and motivation to be physically active, develop transferable life skills and foster a sense of belonging and community connection, supporting healthier, more active lives and a sustained positive connection to athletics, physical activity and sport.
The approach also supports Member Federations to strengthen their own capacity to understand and communicate the value and impact of athletics. By developing their ability to measure impact, Member Federations can better demonstrate the contribution of athletics to partners, governments and other stakeholders.
&ldquo;The power of sport as a force for driving community cohesion should not be underestimated,&rdquo; added Coe. &ldquo;Sport brings people together and it is imperative that we continue to support all our stakeholders &ndash; those taking part in athletics, those delivering the sport and those measuring its impact. This initiative is the next step in that mission.&rdquo;
The work will also contribute to a broader shift in how World Athletics understands and demonstrates the value of participation. Impact measurement will increasingly be embedded across Kids&rsquo; Athletics delivery at all levels, helping build an evidence base for how athletics can contribute to health, wellbeing, inclusion, education and community development.
Through the Global Sport for Good initiative, World Athletics will continue to work alongside the IOC and the three other participating International Federations to share learning, strengthen practice and explore how sport can contribute to positive change.
The shared vision is a future where sport is part of everyday life for more people, and where the people delivering sport are equipped and empowered to ensure that participation creates meaningful and lasting benefits for individuals and communities worldwide.
World Athletics

World Athletics is strengthening the role of Kids’ Athletics in delivering positive social and societal impact through its participation in the Global Sport for Good Initiative

World Athletics strengthens role of Kids' Athletics through Global Sport for Good Initiative

Sheila Chepkirui and Rodrigue Kwizera stormed up the world half marathon all-time lists with respective wins in 1:03:51 and 58:03 at the Medio Marathon Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich, a World Athletics Gold Label road race, on Sunday (25).
Chepkirui&rsquo;s world-leading performance saw her become the equal fifth-fastest women&rsquo;s half marathon runner in history, while Kwizera&rsquo;s Spanish record moved him to eighth on the men&rsquo;s world all-time list.
Kenya&rsquo;s Chepkirui broke away with her Kenyan compatriots Diana Wanza and Daisilah Jerono and the trio reached the 15-kilometre mark in 45:31, 24 seconds ahead of their rivals.&nbsp;
Jerono was dropped before Chepkirui and Wanza reached 20km in 1:00:30, seven seconds ahead of their compatriot.
Chepkirui kicked but Wanza chased hard and they were separated by a single second at the finish line, Chepkirui winning in 1:03:51 and Wanza securing the runner-up spot in 1:03:52, both PBs that move them to fifth and sixth on the world all-time list.
In a race of record depth, Jerono was third in a PB of 1:04:11 as the top six all finished inside 65 minutes, the first time that has ever been achieved. Ethiopia&rsquo;s Mizan Alem was fourth in 1:04:54 and Senayet Getachew was fifth in 1:04:57, while Kenya&rsquo;s Caroline Gitonga was sixth in 1:04:59.
In her first race since becoming a mother earlier this year,&nbsp;Ethiopia&rsquo;s former world 10km record-holder Yalemzerf Yehualaw finished 16th in 1:07:21, while Laura Luengo set a Spanish record of 1:08:28.
Kwizera controlled the men&rsquo;s race and he led a breakaway group of seven through the 15-kilometre checkpoint in 41:32. The race was down to Kwizera, his training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Victor Kipruto by 20km, reached in 55:13.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6addf80f3a6a130850c1079e.jpg" alt="Rodrigue Kwizera celebrates his Valencia Half Marathon win" />
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Rodrigue Kwizera celebrates his Valencia Half Marathon win (&copy; Sergio Mateo Mar&iacute;a for Sportmedia)
Then Kwizera kicked and despite looking over his shoulder, he couldn&rsquo;t be caught, clinching victory in 58:03. Spain&rsquo;s Ndikumwenayo was second in 58:09 and Kenya&rsquo;s Kipruto third in 58:12. Tadese Worku (58:33) and Owen Kapkama (58:42) also finished inside 59 minutes.
Kwizera&rsquo;s 58:03 is faster than the European record although the mark by the 27-year-old, who gained Spanish citizenship earlier this year, will not be recognised as a European record as his transfer from Burundi to Spain has not yet been formalised. 
<h2>Yimer and Dinki win in Frankfurt</h2>
Ethiopia's Zeineba Yimer and&nbsp;Jirata Dinki won at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, respectively clocking 2:19:45 and&nbsp;2:05:26 at the&nbsp;World Athletics Elite Label road race on Sunday (25).
Germany&rsquo;s Blanka D&ouml;rfel impressed on her marathon debut, finishing runner-up in 2:20:46 to move to eighth on the European all-time list despite wet and windy conditions for large parts of the race. Ethiopia&rsquo;s 20-year-old Beriha Gebreslasie took third with 2:22:46.
Germany&rsquo;s European champion Amanal Petros was second in the men's race with 2:05:46. Benard Biwott of Kenya, the winner from 2024, finished third in 2:06:23.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/calendar-results/7246125/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
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Sheila Chepkirui and Rodrigue Kwizera stormed up the world half marathon all-time lists with respective wins in 1:03:51 and 58:03 at the Medio Marathon Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich

Chepkirui and Kwizera clinch fast half marathon wins in Valencia

Australia&rsquo;s Rebecca Henderson and Japan&rsquo;s Masatora Kawano set respective world marathon race walk records of 3:14:52* and 2:55:14* at the All Japan Race Walking meeting, a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Bronze event, in Takahata on Sunday (25).
The weather was dismal but the racing was red hot as former 35km world record-holder Kawano put the hammer down to move away from a group of five at 36km and become the inaugural men&rsquo;s world record-holder for the marathon distance. His time also beat Hayato Katsuki's 2:55:28 set on the same course in 2025.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Henderson improved on the 3:15:11 women&rsquo;s world record set by Sofia Fiorini at the European Championships in Birmingham in August.
The results were all the more remarkable in races held in the pouring rain and on a course with a slight rise and fall of around a metre each lap. Not crucial on its own but telling when you have to go up and down 42 times.
Six athletes held sway in the men&rsquo;s race before two-time world medallist Kawano went into overdrive at the 36-kilometre mark. The only one able to give chase was Kazuya Iwai, and even then he was 15 metres back with the other four unable to respond.
Iwai&rsquo;s brave effort was eventually rewarded with a fine 2:55:55 for second place, while Kazuki Takahashi was third &ndash; the same position he claimed at the Asian Games in March, only then it was in 3:02:45. This time he clocked 2:56:45.&nbsp;
Katsuki finished fourth in 2:56:59 and Satoshi Maruo fifth in 2:57:07, all of them way under the standard required for World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 eligibility.
The half marathon and marathon became official race walk distances from 1 January 2026, with 2:56:30 set as the performance standard required for the inaugural men&rsquo;s world marathon race walk record.&nbsp;Kawano achieved it on his marathon debut, back in the same town where he set his former world 35km race walk record in 2024.
In contrast, Henderson &ndash; also making her marathon debut &ndash; race walked solo from start to finish with a steady but powerful rhythm that saw her pass many men in the huge field once the early charge settled down.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6ade033b6c158518d59e6b0f.jpg" alt="Rebecca Henderson at the All Japan Race Walking meeting" />
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Rebecca Henderson at the All Japan Race Walking meeting (&copy; JAAF / Ikumi Kodama)
At 20.195km, the 25-year-old recorded 1:33:39; a lead that had grown to more than six minutes over Ayane Yanai. That gap increased again to 8:04 by 25km and a huge 14 minutes by the end.
Even so, the 3:29:10 by Yanai in second place was still a Japanese record. Veteran Masumi Fuchise was third in 3:38:42.
A dozen athletes shot away at the start of the men&rsquo;s half marathon but by 10.0975km Tomohiro Noda led in 39:31, with Kento Yoshikawa, Yuta Koga and Taisei Yoshizako breathing down his neck.
That breath became a whisper when Noda accelerated all the way to 15.0975km. He made that point in 58:31, a lead of 18 seconds over Yoshikawa who in turn had a 12-second gap to Yushi Nakajima.
However, that turn of speed was to cost the leader dearly as Noda was dramatically herded into the penalty zone in sight of the finish line.
It left the door open for Yoshizako to record the best win of his career, one that went hand in hand with a personal best of 1:22:04. He needed help to stand after crossing the finish line but recovered just in time to see Yoshikawa follow him home seconds later in 1:22:11.
Elizabeth McMillen put her head down to tackle first the rain and then the opposition in the women&rsquo;s half marathon.
The Australian Commonwealth Games silver medallist was 1:30 up on Japanese champion Nanako Fuji by 10km and went on to win in 1:31:31 &ndash; the fifth-fastest time for this new event.
Her personal best had been 1:38:29 set at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships earlier in the year. This new milestone &ndash; just short of seven minutes &ndash; equates to around a 1.5km improvement in just seven months.
McMillen went through 20km in 1:26:50 on the way. She might have grimaced as she splashed her way through, but she saved a deserved smile for the finish.
Fuji prevailed in 1:35:15 to take the domestic title.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7244534?eventId=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
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Australia’s Rebecca Henderson and Japan’s Masatora Kawano set respective world marathon race walk records of 3:14:52* and 2:55:14* at the All Japan Race Walking meeting

Henderson and Kawano set world marathon race walk records in Takahata

Perseus Karlstr&ouml;m set a Swedish and course record to secure a scintillating half marathon race walk win at the Lusatian Race Walking meeting, a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Silver event, in Zittau, Germany on Saturday (24).
He clocked 1:23:24 to win by more than four minutes, while Peru&rsquo;s Mary Luz Andia also achieved a big personal best to win the women&rsquo;s race. The 25-year-old stopped the clock in a course record of 1:34:29 and like Karlstr&ouml;m, she was untroubled from the gun.&nbsp;
There were also wins for France&rsquo;s Aur&eacute;lien Quinion and Poland&rsquo;s Izabela Krzyżanowska in the marathon races.
But it was multiple global medallist Karlstr&ouml;m who stole the show. His previous best of 1:24:58 from Dudince in March was eclipsed in style as the 36-year-old saved the best until last as far as 2026 goes by improving his national record.
Karlstr&ouml;m's victory was never in doubt, and when it came to lapping on the one-kilometre loop course, he did just that. He lapped the entire field of 50 race walkers.
The Swede went straight to the front with Mexico&rsquo;s Cesar Fernandez and Germany&rsquo;s Leo K&ouml;pp right behind, with four in close order behind them.
By the second lap covered in 3:55, it was Karlstr&ouml;m on his own with Fernandez desperately trying to close a small but significant gap.
But the leader sporting blue arm warmers and a blue vest was blowing the field away.
Karlstr&ouml;m was 150 metres ahead after the five-kilometre mark as he relentlessly churned out sub-four-minute kilometres.
Josafat Pena was chasing his compatriot Fernandez, but K&ouml;pp was part of a four-strong group that caught Pena at the eight-kilometre mark.
Fernandez fell victim to the penalty zone, which allowed K&ouml;pp, Ireland&rsquo;s Oisin Lane and Czechia&rsquo;s Adam Zaj&iacute;ček to overtake and battle for the leading places.
Three then became two as Lane faltered.
At 16km, K&ouml;pp became sole contender for second place as Zaj&iacute;ček also suffered. But the German athlete was still more than three minutes behind the leader. In fact, Karlstr&ouml;m could see K&ouml;pp, and with a circuit to go, the eventual runner-up became the last to get lapped.
However, the German was comfortable in second place and took that in 1:27:45 with Latvia&rsquo;s Raivo Saulgriezis reaping the rewards of a sensible race to claim third place in 1:28:00.
Zaj&iacute;ček recovered to claim fourth, one second ahead of Mateusz Nowak from Poland.
Andia took on the women&rsquo;s half marathon sheltered by a group of male athletes in the early stages.
Wearing dark glasses, she was out front and reached the six-kilometre mark in 26:43, moving further away.
She eventually won by more than two minutes, her 1:34:29 a course record by 3:41 and a 5:53 improvement on her previous best set in Lima in March.
Her dominance was underlined when Hana Čern&aacute; of Slovakia recorded 1:36:59 for second, another big personal best by 1:51.
France&rsquo;s 2021 world U20 silver medallist Ma&euml;le Bir&eacute;-Heslouis notched a fine third place in 1:39:16 on her half marathon debut. Canada&rsquo;s Rosalie Drapeau was fourth in 1:40:59, a PB by 2:33.
There was a short delay for the start of the marathons around the rectangular 1km park course. But at 10&deg;C and sunny, it was nigh on perfect for racing.
It took no time for Quinion and Martin Madeline-Degy to make the men&rsquo;s marathon their own. The French pair were well clear by 4km, reached in 17:56 ahead of Mexico&rsquo;s Julio Cesar Salazar Enriquez who was more than a minute behind at 14km.&nbsp;
Quinion and Madeline-Degy pushed on to record a swift 1:29:58 at the half marathon stage before Madeline-Degy edged ahead for a lap.
Any hope of an upset was short lived when European bronze medallist Quinion asserted his authority to draw level, move ahead, and take a 21-second lead at 29km.&nbsp;
By the end, that had stretched to 54 seconds: 3:01:35 to 3:02:29.
All the same, both comfortably broke the previous course record of 3:03:55 set by Italy&rsquo;s Andrea Agrusti 12 months ago.
Italy&rsquo;s Teodorico Caporaso was isolated for almost the entire race but he still came through for third place.
In the women&rsquo;s marathon, three athletes race walked together for the first half. There was nothing to separate Germany&rsquo;s Ada Junghann&szlig; from Krzyżanowska and her Polish compatriot Kinga Walerianczyk.
However, Krzyżanowska took the lead with 8km to go and never looked back to cross the finish line in 3:49:54.
This was a marathon effort that produced huge gaps in the closing stages as athletes tired dramatically. Second was Walerianczyk in 3:56:36 and third wasn&rsquo;t Junghann&szlig; but her German compatriot Julia Schmidt in 4:04:01.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-tour/calendar-results/7234919/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>

Perseus Karlström set a Swedish and course record to secure a scintillating half marathon race walk win at the Lusatian Race Walking meeting, a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Silver event, in Zittau

Karlström dominates with national and course record in Zittau

Meet the stars of athletics, experience the excitement of the Awards and enjoy an unforgettable weekend in Monaco - with a guest of your choice!
Ever dreamed of meeting the world&rsquo;s greatest athletes? Here&rsquo;s your chance to get closer to the action! Enter our competition for the opportunity to win a VIP trip for two to the World Athletics Awards 2026, taking place in Monaco.
<h2>What could you win?</h2>
One lucky winner and their chosen guest will enjoy an incredible VIP experience, including:
&middot; Return flights from your preferred airport
&middot; Three nights&rsquo; accommodation in Monaco
&middot; Exclusive access to the World Athletics Awards ceremony
&middot; The chance to meet some of the biggest names in athletics
From celebrating the stars of the sport to soaking up the atmosphere of one of athletics&rsquo; biggest nights, this is a weekend you won&rsquo;t want to miss!
<h2>How to enter</h2>
It&rsquo;s simple!
1. <a href="https://appy.to/mtd4j" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download the World Athletics App</a>.
2. Head to the Awards section.
3. Answer a simple question for your chance to win!
<h3>Want an extra chance to win?</h3>
You can earn one bonus entry by tagging two friends in the official World Athletics competition announcement published on Facebook, Instagram or X.
To claim your bonus entry:
1. Find the official competition post.
2. Tag two friends in a comment.
This step is optional. Your handle will be used for verification only and will not be stored. Tags must be to eligible individual accounts; tags to companies, organisations, government accounts or other unsuitable accounts will not be accepted.
<h2>Important dates</h2>
&middot; Competition opens: 22 October 2026
&middot; Competition closes: 9 November 2026 at 5:00 pm CEST
&middot; Eligible travel dates: 27 November &ndash; 30 November 2026, inclusive
The winner will be selected at random from valid entries that meet the eligibility requirements and confirm availability to travel within the specified dates.
<h2>Ready for your VIP athletics experience?</h2>
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Meet the stars of athletics, experience the excitement of the Awards and enjoy an unforgettable weekend in Monaco - with a guest of your choice!

Win a VIP weekend at the World Athletics Awards 2026 in Monaco!

<h3>The first indoor running competition, involving athletes, amateurs and beginners will start on 23 October in 20 countries around the world&nbsp;</h3>
 The inaugural RUN X&trade; World Treadmill Championship will get underway on 23 October, with 400 fitness centres across 20 countries set to host the qualification phase of the new global running competition.&nbsp;
Developed by Technogym and World Athletics, RUN X&trade; is a 5km competition that allows runners of all levels to compete on connected treadmills, compare their performances with participants around the world and potentially qualify for a world final.&nbsp;
From 23 October, runners will be able to complete their 5km challenge at an official RUN X&trade; centre, with results certified through treadmills connected to the Technogym Digital Ecosystem. Participants will be able to follow their progress through an online leaderboard, comparing their performances with other runners locally and globally.&nbsp;
Five Global Run X Days, designated worldwide qualification days, will be held during the qualification period, on 24 October, 14 November and 12 December 2026, followed by 16 and 23 January 2027. Affiliated centres will also be able to organise additional local running days.&nbsp;
Runners can find their nearest participating centre and further information on how to take part at <a href="https://www.runx.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">runx.org</a>.&nbsp;
Qualified runners from each country will progress to the regional phase, taking place from 30 January to 28 February 2027, before the competition culminates in a world final at Technogym Village in Cesena, Italy, on 20-21 March 2027.&nbsp;
The leading men and women, both overall and by age group, will compete for the first world treadmill champion titles, with a total prize pool of US$100,000 on offer.&nbsp;
World Athletics will also award wild card entries to the respective Member Federations of the male and female champion, giving them the opportunity to compete in the 5km race at the 2027 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Yangzhou, China, the weekend after the RUN X&trade; final.&nbsp;
World 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier and US distance runner Sara Hall are ambassadors for RUN X&trade;, helping to promote the competition and encourage participation among runners of all abilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The championship has been developed to bring running communities together through a format that combines competitive racing with connected technology, making it possible for elite athletes, recreational runners and newcomers to take part in the same global challenge.&nbsp;
For more information, visit <a href="https://www.runx.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">runx.org</a> , visit <a href="https://www.instagram.com/runxrace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@runxrace</a> on Instagram or contact <a href="mailto:caring@runx.org%20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caring@runx.org</a>

The first indoor running competition, involving athletes, amateurs and beginners will start on 23 October in 20 countries around the world 

RUN X™ World Treadmill Championship set to begin at 400 centres worldwide 

The detailed schedule for the 2027 Wanda Diamond League season has been confirmed with the publication of the Diamond Discipline allocation.
The allocation, which shows which meetings will host which disciplines on the Road to the Final next year, means the world&rsquo;s top track and field athletes can now plot their path to one of the biggest titles of 2027.
The full breakdown of all 2027 Diamond Disciplines can be viewed on the <a href="https://www.diamondleague.com/results-standings/disciplines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diamond League website</a>.
Next year&rsquo;s Wanda Diamond League season will begin in Doha on 7 May and end at the series final in Zurich on 25-26 August.
Athletes in 32 different disciplines compete for points at 14 series meetings as they bid to qualify for the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich.
Each discipline is hosted between four and eight times on the Road to the Final, providing multiple chances for the sport&rsquo;s biggest superstars to go head to head at the highest level.
As well as a chance to win one of athletics&rsquo; most iconic titles, the Diamond League will also provide a season-long test of form ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Beijing in September.
The full 2027 calendar was <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/wanda-diamond-league-2027-calendar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published last week</a>.

The detailed schedule for the 2027 Wanda Diamond League season has been confirmed with the publication of the Diamond Discipline allocation.

Discipline allocation confirmed for 2027 Wanda Diamond League

World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear of the death of renowned British sportswriter and author David Miller at the age of 91.
In 2023, Miller was awarded the International Olympic Committee&rsquo;s Pierre de Coubertin Medal in recognition of his contribution to promoting the Olympic movement.
He was also the author of the official history of the Olympic Games. Athens to Athens, his history of the Olympics and the IOC, was published ahead of the 2004 Games in Athens &ndash; the third time the Greek capital had staged an Olympic Games, following the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896 and the unofficial Intercalated Games of 1906. The 700-page book was subsequently updated after each edition of the Games.
A former sports correspondent for The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Express, Miller first reported from the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964. In 1972 he was among the journalists covering the attack on members of the Israeli team at the Olympic Village in Munich.
Miller&rsquo;s Olympic Revolution, his 1992 biography of long-serving IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, followed his work a decade earlier with two-time Olympic 1500m champion Sebastian Coe on Coe&rsquo;s first autobiography, Running Free. Miller later collaborated with Coe again on Born to Run, published in 1985.
"An acclaimed sportswriter, David was a colossus of his profession," said World Athletics President Coe. "Dedicated and diligent, he relentlessly pursued a story, reporting with authority and dignity. His knowledge of the Olympic movement was unsurpassed.
&ldquo;He was also a fine footballer in his youth and wrote extensively about the sport later in his career. With David&rsquo;s passing, sport has lost one of its most distinguished chroniclers.&rdquo;
In 2012, as World Athletics celebrated its centenary, Miller was commissioned as one of the authors of the official commemorative book, 100 Years of Athletics Excellence. He contributed two chapters to the 429-page publication. One focused on the five World Athletics presidents who had served between 1912 and 2012, while the other examined the sport&rsquo;s evolution from the amateur to the professional era.
Miller was particularly well placed to cover both subjects. As well as his standing as a journalist and historian, he had known all but one of those five presidents and had witnessed at first hand the transformation of international athletics during the professional era.
A long-time member of the World Athletics Press Commission, Miller also served as chair of the UK&rsquo;s Sports Writers&rsquo; Association from 1981 to 1983.
He was a prolific author, with his many other publications including Atlanta 1996: Official Commemorative Book of the Centennial Olympic Games, The World Cup: The Argentina Story, Cup Magic and Father of Football: The Story of Sir Matt Busby.
Chris Turner for World Athletics

David Miller, 1935-2026

Sports writer and Olympic historian Miller dies

One Monday morning in April 1985, Joan Benoit Samuelson made the four-mile trip from her home on the coast of Maine to pick up her mail from Freeport Post Office. Her postman had some news for her: she was no longer the holder of the women&rsquo;s marathon world best.
Unbeknown to Benoit Samuelson, Ingrid Kristiansen had run 2:21:06 at the London Marathon the day before &ndash; not so much eclipsing as obliterating the world best of 2:22:43 that the US runner had recorded under her maiden name, Joan Benoit, in Boston in April 1983.
Having etched her maiden name into distance running lore as winner of the inaugural Olympic marathon for women on home ground in Los Angeles in August 1984, before marrying her college sweetheart Scott Samuelson, Benoit Samuelson was left with a burning desire to make a new name for herself.
For her first marathon as Benoit Samuelson, and as Olympic champion, the 28-year-old chose the America's Marathon in Chicago in October 1985 &ndash; ditching plans to race in New York after discovering that the new world best-holder would be in the elite women's field in the Windy City.
<h2>The duel in the Windy City</h2>
Kristiansen had been stung by the disappointment of missing out on a medal in LA, where she finished fourth behind Benoit (as she was at the time), her fellow Norwegian Grete Waitz and Portugal's Rosa Mota. She was on a trailblazing roll in 1985, following up her huge marathon world best in London by breaking the 31-minute barrier for 10,000m on the track with a 30:59.42 world record in Oslo.
The big question heading into Chicago was not just whether the Olympic champion could get the better of the in-form Kristiansen, but also whether the 26.2-mile head-to-head could produce another world best. There was even talk of the 2:20 barrier being broken for the first time.
That prospect remained alive as the two main contenders battled it out over the opening 19 miles &ndash; not quite side by side, but with Benoit Samuelson forcing the pace at the front and Kristiansen a stride or two behind.
Zipping through 10 miles in 52:42 and halfway in 1:09:33, they were still on course for a sub-2:20 clocking at 19 miles. But then the invisible elastic snapped. Kristiansen dropped back, and so did the pace. Benoit Samuelson crossed the line in 2:21:21 &ndash; just 15 seconds shy of Kristiansen&rsquo;s world best in London.
Still, it was a victory to savour for Benoit Samuelson, who has kindly donated her winner&rsquo;s medal to the Museum of World Athletics. Her winning time, second quickest on the world all-time list, was a North and Central American best, and her margin of victory was an emphatic 1:44.
&ldquo;When Joan moved away from me, my head wanted to go with her but my legs couldn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; the Norwegian said. &ldquo;They were going up and down instead of forward.&rdquo;
<h2>A legacy across five decades</h2>
Benoit Samuelson claimed she would have hung up her racing shoes if she had broken 2:20 that day, but resolved to chase the barrier in future. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s definitely possible, given the right conditions and the right mental attitude,&rdquo; she said.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69065f7c361ffa7d09b5119d.jpg" alt="Joan Benoit Samuelson, Rosa Mota and Jon Ridgeon" />
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Joan Benoit Samuelson, Rosa Mota and Jon Ridgeon (&copy; World Athletics Heritage <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Errol Anderson)
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There was no doubting Benoit Samuelson&rsquo;s mental strength. Her father, Andre Benoit, served in the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army, fighting in the Italian Alps during World War II. He taught Joan to ski, and she harboured ambitions of becoming an Olympic skier until she broke her leg and her doctor recommended running to strengthen her leg muscles.
In 1984, she won the inaugural women's Olympic marathon in Los Angeles, having secured her place at the Games with a stunning US Trials victory just 17 days after surgery on her right knee. &ldquo;Her willpower is unreal,&rdquo; said her long-time coach Bob Sevene. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s the greatest athlete I&rsquo;ve ever been around, the toughest I know. Her wheels will literally have to fall off to stop her.&rdquo;
And, remarkably, the Benoit Samuelson wheels have still not fallen off. She became the first woman to run sub-three-hour marathons in five consecutive decades, from the 1970s to the 2010s. Even at 62, she came close to breaking three hours again, clocking 3:02:21 in Berlin in 2019.
In 2024, at 66, the inaugural Olympic women's marathon champion ran 3:38:37 in Tokyo, completing the full set of all six World Marathon Majors.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have any secrets,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;I just love to run&hellip; I&rsquo;ll have time to rest when I&rsquo;m dead.&rdquo;
Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage
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Remembering Joan Benoit Samuelson's 1985 Chicago Marathon victory

Finalists announced for 2026 Coach of the Year award

Athletes', coaches' and competition commissions hold joint consultation

Finalists announced for 2026 Moment of the Year

Almgren wins on marathon debut, Chepkirui regains title in New York

2024 European 1500m champion Mageean dies