It’s the time of year for grass, dirt, and a little bit of road. We’re covering the NCAA cross country conference championships, the Golden Trail World Series finale, Big’s Backyard Ultra World Team Championship, and two road races: the Valencia Half Marathon and the New York City Marathon.

Coming soon: An interview Olympian and steeplechase virtuoso James Corrigan.

The U.S. came from behind to beat Australia for the team title. The individual winners* came from Belgium, who set the new record for the event, running 4 miles every hour for over 5 days. Mark Dowdle continued his rise in the backyard ultra world.

U.S. 2nd place finisher, Jon Noll added after the race on Instagram, “the livestream doesn't do it justice when it comes to the teamwork of Team USA. The camaraderie amongst the team is what created our success, without a doubt. There were so many loops of late night chats, pulling each other from the ditches and working together to stay awake that ultimately led to our win. We all needed support at one point or another, and everyone was there for everyone. Every member of this team earned their spot and was a huge contributor to the USA winning.”

*Read our analysis to see why this has an asterisk.

Peres Jepchirchir, 2020 Olympic women’s marathon champion and winner of the 2025 world title, was provisionally suspended for doping. More than 140 Kenyan athletes have faced doping sanctions since the Athletics Integrity Unit was formed in 2017. Jepchirichir will likely face a 4-year ban from racing but can still appeal. She will likely retain her titles based on precident. This news came only a month after Kenya was awarded the 2029 World Championships in Nairobi.

Elhousine Elazzaoui of Morocco powered through Muju GTWS finale to win the series for a third straight year. Madalina Florea of Romania got 2nd in the finale, which was enough to win the series for the women.

European and Spanish half marathon records go down at Valencia (or did they?). Rodrigue Kwizera won in 58:03, beating the European record by 3 seconds. Kwizera, from Burundi, became a Spanish citizen this year, but the switch hasn’t been approved by World Athletics. He has the Spanish record but is unlikely to be given the European record. American-born Yaseen Abdalla beat Conner Mantz’s American record, but has chosen to represent Sudan internationally, so the American record also stays.

ESPN premiered multiple documentaries: Still They Run focuses on gender-based violence in Kenya, finding the female athletes’ success made them bigger targets. Four runners have been murdered in 3 years. The Endless Race focuses on NYC runners recovering from addictions.

NCAA conf champs

SEC: Alabama swept the team titles. Caren Kiplagat won for the 3rd straight year.

Big 12: BYU women won. Colorado edged defending champion Oklahoma State.

ACC: NC State women dominated, and Hannah Gapes stayed undefeated.

Big Ten: Oregon swept the team and individual titles.

Mountain West: New Mexico men went 1st through 7th. Cross country perfection.

In the NYC marathon, Andreas Almgren of Sweden became the first man born outside Africa to win a marathon major since Yuki Kawauchi in 2018 Boston Marathon. Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy and Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho were 2nd and 3rd. It’s the first podium in the World Marathon Majors era (since 2006) that did not include a Kenyan or Ethiopian.

24-year-old collapses and dies at NYC marathon. According to ESPN she had rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscles can break down during exertion, eventually leading to kidney failure.

Jessica McClain of the US became the first American woman on the NYC podium since 2018. She finished 2nd between winner Shelia Chepkirui and Hellen Obiri, both of Kenya.

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