The past week delivered world records at the World Indoor Championships (WIC) in Torun, historic shifts in Olympic eligibility for women’s categories, and ambitious plans for the largest marathon in history. Here is your briefing on the most significant headlines in the running world.
World Records and Team USA Dominance in Torun
The World Indoor Championships in Torun concluded with a commanding performance by Team USA, which topped the table with 18 total medals, including five golds. The highlights of the meet were undoubtedly the world records: Armand “Mondo” Duplantis cleared 6.25m to break his own pole vault record, while Devynne Charlton clocked 7.65s to equal the world record in the 60m hurdles.
History was also made by 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus, who became the youngest male gold medalist in the history of the championships by winning the 800m in 1:44.24. In the 60m dash, Jordan Anthony claimed the title in 6.41s, setting the fastest time in the world this year.
→ Read more: 2026 World Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze
IOC Introduces Genetic Testing for Female Athletes
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games, participation in women’s categories will be restricted to biological women. The new policy excludes transgender athletes and those with Disorders of Sex Development (DSD). Eligibility will now be determined by a one-time genetic test to detect the SRY gene on the Y chromosome. This decision marks the end of the previous testosterone-level verification system and aims to ensure fair and safe competition across all Olympic disciplines.
→ Read more: IOC Excludes Trans Athletes from Women’s Olympic Events
London Marathon Plans Record-Breaking 2027 Festival
Organizers of the London Marathon are in advanced talks to transform the 2027 edition into a massive two-day festival, aiming for a record-breaking field of 100,000 runners. The proposal includes splitting the elite men’s and women’s races into separate days to maximize media exposure and increase charity fundraising goals to over £130 million. This move follows unprecedented demand, with over 1.1 million applications submitted for the 2026 lottery.
→ Read more: London Marathon 2027
Trail Success: Courtney Dauwalter and Thomas Cardin Triumph in Tuscany
Courtney Dauwalter dominated the 120km Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB, finishing in 11:31:55 and placing 10th overall. The American star entered the race as a last-minute addition after her planned race in Tenerife was canceled due to extreme weather. In the men’s field, France’s Thomas Cardin took the victory in 9:58:38, ahead of Andreas Reiterer and Vincent Bouillard. The top finishers secured Golden Tickets, granting them entry into the prestigious Western States 100.
Sifan Hassan Withdraws from London Marathon
Reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has announced her withdrawal from the London Marathon, scheduled for April 26. The decision comes after an Achilles tendon injury sustained six weeks ago during treadmill training. Hassan stated that her physical condition does not allow her to prepare for competition at the highest global level. In her absence, the spotlight shifts to Tigst Assefa and Peres Jepchirchir as the primary favorites.
World Athletics Grants Special Qualification Waiver for USATF
World Athletics has made a landmark decision to grant USATF seven spots instead of the standard four for the women’s race at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. The ruling follows an incident at the Atlanta qualifiers, where a pacer led a lead group of three runners (Jessica McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat) off-course, costing them their podium positions. The additional athletes will compete in Copenhagen as non-scoring representatives but will remain eligible for world ranking points.
A Rapidly Evolving Landscape
From the record-breaking oval in Torun to the streets of London, the running world is moving faster than ever. As elite athletes shatter limits and organizers design events for hundreds of thousands, major governing bodies are fundamentally rewriting the rules of the game.
