HERE’S THIS MONTH’S collection of short takes on generally off-track activities that have gone/will go a long way towards shaping the way the sport is headed.
WA Rankings Stalled For Games?
The move toward using WA’s rankings as a major part of the qualification process for the Olympics may be reversing a bit.
The Association of National Olympic Committees has reviewed the qualification systems used for Paris (all sports) and noted that it takes frequent travel to qualify through the rankings route. And that costs money, hence favoring wealthier countries.
The report said, “When ranking systems are used, International Federations are encouraged to also provide direct qualification routes to ensure fair access for athletes across all NOCs (national Olympic committees).”
It also encouraged federations to make more use of continental events as part of the qualification process. Again, with an eye toward reducing travel costs. Track was cited as one of the three worst sports for cost at this point.
Jamaican Sprint Queen Contemplates Retirement
Could the dominant force of women’s sprinting finally be leaving the sport after this season at the age of 38?
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, winner of 8 Olympic medals and 16 WC honors, has talked about retiring before and was expected to say her goodbyes after Paris.
However, she has indicated that withdrawing after the first round was not how she hoped the Olympics would go, and has told an interviewer she “has one more year left.”
On her Instagram page, SAFP has posted a video with the comment, “unfinished business.” One of the comments below came from her long-time sponsor, Nike: “Chasing more — because good enough was never the mission.”
So far, she has only competed twice in ’25: a windy 10.94 heat at Jamaica’s Velocity Fest, and another absolute thrashing of the other (non-athlete) school moms at her son’s school sports day. “They haven’t banned me yet so I’m at the line,” she quipped.
London ’29 Maybe A No-Go?
A return of the World Championships to the British capital in ’29 had looked like a real possibility, but now backers are looking at an uphill battle because of pending government funding cuts.
Jack Buckner, head of UK Athletics, said that while his team “would love to have another crack at 2029 and a World Championships,” first it would need to do a feasibility study “and look at what the various options are.”
The biggest hitch is that financial support from the British government would be essential. Spending cuts have already been announced for this June, and Buckner is looking at an “uphill battle” to get funding assurances before time runs out in the next couple of months.
NCAA Suit Still Up In The Air
The judge overseeing the House vs. NCAA settlement process put the brakes on the proceedings in early April, asking, among other things, that roster limits be phased in so that current athletes are not cut from teams.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken has responded to charges that her demand will throw college sports into chaos by saying, “Any disruption that may occur is a problem of Defendants’ and NCAA members schools’ own making.”
Schools have objected, as many have already been trimming rosters to make way for new recruits next year. They moved too soon, said Wilken: “The fact that the Court granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreement should not have been interpreted as an indication that it was certain that the Court would grant final approval.”
With terms of the settlement set to go into effect on July 01, attorneys for both sides are scrambling to come up with a common ground solution. If they fail, the case could head to trial.
Muhammad’s Swan-Song Season
It was a career that brought gold medals and World Records, but at 35 long hurdler Dalilah Muhammad says she is now on her farewell tour.
“I think this will be it,” says the ’16 Olympic gold medalist. “I haven’t really made an announcement or publicly said it, but yeah—I think I’m one and done.”
Additionally the winner of golds at the ’19 WC in the hurdles and the 4×4, she also won 400H silver and relay gold at the ’21 Games. In ’19, she broke the WR that had lasted for 16 years.
She was lauded by current Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: “Dalilah, you truly did just change the game for all of us. Just seeing you break that World Record after so long of it being there, it inspired all of us. It’s truly because of just the amazing talent that you have that we are where we are now.”
Says Muhammad, “At a young age, you never know where it’s going to take you. I think I just always had that little something that I just wanted to keep going. I wanted to push those boundaries and push forward.”
Botswana’s Relay Stars Back Out
In podium-shaking news, the three fastest members of Botswana’s 4 x 400 team, the squad that pushed the United States to the line in winning silver in Paris, have withdrawn from the World Relays squad, citing personal reasons.
Olympic 200 champion Letsile Tebogo, 44.22 performer Collen Kebinatshipi and 44.10 man Bayapo Ndori all withdrew, according to a statement from the federation.
Amid rumors that it was over a pay dispute, Tebogo released a statement saying, “I wish to clarify that my withdrawal was not a decision taken lightly, nor without due consideration and engagement with relevant stakeholders. As stated, a personal decision was made in the best interest of all parties involved, and in full alignment with my long-term goals as a professional athlete.”
Kerley In Legal Trouble?
Once again, sprinter Fred Kerley is in the headlines for the wrong reason. The 2-time Olympic 100 medalist had an altercation with Miami police in early January. The police then filed charges on an unrelated incident from last May.
This year, the Texas A&M alum was in greater Miami for the Grand Slam Track event when he reportedly encountered hurdler Alaysha Johnson at an airport hotel.
The two, who had dated for 6 months last year, began to argue. According to her statement, he became aggressive and struck her in the face, causing a nose bleed.
Kerley released a statement on social media: “My arrest was not due to any criminal act. I chose not to speak to law enforcement without my attorney, and for that reason alone, I was booked. I remain fully committed to clearing my name and cooperating with appropriate parties to resolve it. I take full accountability for placing myself in a situation that allowed for this misunderstanding, and I am taking active steps to ensure nothing like this happens again.”
He has been charged with one count of “battery-touch or strike.” He did not compete in the GST event, though Johnson did.
Kipyegon To Tackle Insane Barrier
Can Faith Kipyegon break the 4:00 mile? Sponsor Nike is hoping so, and is mounting an effort reminiscent of its push to help Eliud Kipchoge break the 2-hour marathon.
Called “Breaking4,” the program, according to the apparel manufacturer, will “create a holistic system of support that optimizes every aspect of her attempt, ensuring the most ideal conditions for her moonshot.”
Says Kipyegon, “I’m a 3-time Olympic champion. I’ve achieved World Championship titles. I thought, ‘What else? Why not dream outside the box?’ And I told myself, ‘If you believe in yourself, and your team believes in you, you can do it.’”
Currently, her World Record for the distance is 4:07.64 (which is about equal with her 1500 WR of 3:49.11). It took men more than 20 years to drop the WR from there to sub-4.
A recent study says it’s possible with super spikes and ideal pacing. Agent Ray Flynn, who broke 4:00 some 89 times himself, says, “It’s romantic to think about it, but let’s be real.”
Other than using a phalanx of pacers and the very latest spikes, it’s unclear what other measures will be taken for the attempt, which is set for Paris during a 3-day period in late June.
Where Did The LA Grand Prix Go?
A USATF budget crisis has apparently led to the cancellation of the LA Grand Prix, originally scheduled for June 7–8. The meet, held for the past two years at UCLA’s Drake Stadium, is no longer on the schedule.
Another possible factor in its demise could be a schedule proximity clash with the Grand Slam Track meet scheduled for Drake just 2 weeks later.
In its place, USATF has thrown its organizational support behind Sound Running’s Track Fest, which is set for May 24 at Occidental.
Said USATF CEO Max Siegel, “We are incredibly excited about this collaboration with Sound Running to host Track Fest in Los Angeles. As we look toward the 2028 Games, events like Track Fest keep fans engaged by showcasing elite competition in an electric setting.”
The USADA vs. WADA Continues
USADA head Travis Tygart says he is disillusioned about how the fight against doping is going these days. “There is a lot of apathy in the system whether in sport, or in WADA, of just shrugging your shoulders,” he said at the end of April.
“What’s happening right now, where certain countries and certain people, the rules don’t even apply – like the 23 Chinese athletes – that can’t happen. WADA allowed 23 Chinese athletes to escape any consequences under the rules. We are seeking reform, transparency and accountability.”
A WADA spokesperson responded, in part: “Mr. Tygart’s blind pursuit to discredit WADA ignores the facts and seeks to mislead athletes and other stakeholders.
He is using the China case to deflect attention away from the failures of the anti-doping system within the United States, where 90% of athletes are competing in events that are run outside the protection of the World Anti-Doping Code.” ◻︎
