The Boston meet delivered two world records, while London Marathon organizers announced a historically deep elite field. Meanwhile, the track and field world is reeling from the bankruptcy of the Grand Slam Track league and millions in unpaid debt.
Josh Hoey and Hobbs Kessler Set World Records in Boston
At the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, two indoor world records fell in unconventional distances. American Josh Hoey ran the 800 meters in 1:42.50, breaking Wilson Kipketer’s legendary mark by 0.17 seconds after 29 years. Hobbs Kessler also made history by setting a new world record in the 2,000 meters with a time of 4:48.79, dethroning Kenenisa Bekele after nearly 19 years. In the same race, runner-up Grant Fisher also finished under the old record with a time of 4:49.48.
→ Read more: Historic Night in Boston: Josh Hoey and Hobbs Kessler Break World Records
TCS London Marathon 2026 Elite Field Targets Records
Organizers of the London Marathon have unveiled a starting list for April 26, 2026, widely considered the strongest in the history of commercial road racing. The women’s field features all the Olympic medalists from Paris: world record holder Tigst Assefa, Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, and Hellen Obiri, along with world champion Peres Jepchirchir. On the men’s side, defending champion Sebastian Sawe (PB 2:02:05) will face off against track and half-marathon world record holders Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei.
→ Read more: 2026 London Marathon Elite Fields Announced
Grand Slam Track Bankruptcy and $40 Million Debt
The professional athletics league Grand Slam Track has filed for bankruptcy, leaving behind $40.68 million in liabilities against assets of just $831,385. More than 300 athletes are listed as creditors waiting for prize money, including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who is owed $268,750. Court documents revealed that league founder Michael Johnson personally loaned the project over $2.7 million to keep events running, most of which is now unrecoverable.
Stella Chesang Sets World-Leading Marathon Time
Uganda’s Stella Chesang won the Osaka Women’s Marathon in 2:19:31, setting the fastest marathon time in the world for 2026 so far. Chesang became the first Ugandan woman to triumph in a World Athletics Platinum Label marathon. The podium in Osaka was completed by Ethiopians Bedatu Hirpa (2:19:54) and Workenesh Edesa (2:19:56), while top Japanese debutante Mikuni Yada finished fourth.
Uganda Record and Kenyan Dominance at Seville Half Marathon
The 30th Seville Half Marathon was defined by record-breaking performances despite wind and rain. Uganda’s Rebecca Chelangat won the women’s race in 1:07:18, setting a new course record and a Ugandan national record, improving the previous mark by over three minutes. In the men’s race, Kenya’s Vincent Nyamongo Nyageo dominated, finishing solo in 59:33, the third-fastest time in the event’s history. Nearly 14,000 runners finished the race, confirming Seville’s status as one of Europe’s fastest courses due to its minimal 5-meter elevation gain.
Courtney Dauwalter Joins Olympic Torch Relay
Ultra-running icon Courtney Dauwalter was honored as a torchbearer for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The American carried the flame during its 63-day journey through Italy, a prestigious nod to an athlete from a non-Olympic discipline. In related Olympic news, mountain runners Cam Smith and Anna Gibson successfully qualified for the US team in ski mountaineering (skimo), which makes its Olympic debut in 2026.
Femke Bol Announces 800m Debut
Dutch sprint and hurdles star Femke Bol announced she will debut in the 800 meters as part of her 2026 season preparations. Her first two-lap race is scheduled for February 8 at a meet in Metz, France, sparking massive interest across the global track community. Experts suggest her indoor 400m world record (49.17) and aerobic capacity make a sub-2:00:00 finish highly realistic.
→ Read more: Femke Bol to Make 800m Debut in Metz
Records Fall as Budgets Fail
Boston and London prove that the level of global running is rising faster than ever. At the same time, the bankruptcy of Grand Slam Track shows that even big names and million-dollar budgets don’t guarantee survival. It was a week where the sport triumphed, but the financial reality hit hard.
