THE LATEST in the aches, pains & eligibility departments:
THE LATEST in the aches, pains & eligibility departments:
Halfmiler Nia Akins says that since last August she has occasionally dealt with mid-race panic attacks: “It was discouraging when I didn’t know what it was. But now that I do, we’re working through it.”
Arkansas’s Kaylyn Brown is back in action after a late January hamstring strain that caused her to fall in a 200 race.
Now 32, Abbey Cooper is expecting her second child in June.
Oregon’s Maddy Elmore had knee surgery in February.
Triple jumper Tori Franklin has retired at 32. The bronze medalist at the ’22 Worlds also made two Olympic teams. She admits, “My heart was shattered after the Paris Olympics.” With new life goals now — among them speedskating — she says, “It’s time for me to begin a new chapter.”
Marathoner Anne Frisbie is returning to racing after recovering from a December hamstring tear.
Florida quartermiler Jenoah McKiver says he is now healthy after a 3-year stretch in which he suffered 8 hamstring tears. “I was traumatized so much, because it kept recurring and just kept coming back.”
Another who has skipped indoors, Sandi Morris explains, “This wasn’t an easy call for me, but my team and I have decided to save my bullets for this upcoming outdoor season.”
“I won in some ways and lost in others,” posted Chris Nilsen, revealing that in his USATF vault win he also fractured some bones in his hand. He expects to be back competing in April.
Keturah Orji has retired at age 29 (see “Last Lap”). The 2-time Olympic finalist in the triple jump also won 8 NCAA titles in the triple and long jump.
U.S. Olympian Nico Young lost a week of training after being bitten on the quad by a dog while on a training run in Scottsdale, Arizona.
On The International Front…
The French recordholder in the marathon at 2:03:47, Morhad Amdouni will take a 10-month break from training to serve a prison sentence for domestic violence.
Lia Apostolovski of Slovenia, who won World Indoor bronze in the high jump last time around, has canceled the rest of her undercover season with a heel injury.
Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi, the ’13 world champion at 1500 who retired in ’15, has returned to competition on the roads. Last summer she ran 31:05 for 10K. In March she debuted at the half-marathon with a 66:36.
Briton Molly Caudery opted not to vault at the Euro Indoor to better attack the World version. “I’m managing a small calf injury and after careful consideration, we believe this is the best way to ensure I can be 100% healthy for Worlds.”
An adductor injury has caused reigning World Indoor 400 champ Alexander Doom to cancel the rest of his undercover season. “We wanted to run at full speed, not at 80%,” the Belgian star said.
Keely Hodgkinson sustained a grade 3C tear to her hamstring just prior to what was to be an attempt at the World Record for 800 at her own meet, the Keely Klassic in Birmingham. That ended her indoor season, as her doctor estimated a 3–6 week recovery period.
Hodgkinson teammate Georgia Bell married last fall and is now Georgia Hunter Bell. She speculated that her missing the podium in the Euro 1500 might have been due to a bad ear infection.
Josh Kerr canceled his indoor plans after falling sick in February; he is now aiming at Grand Slam Track.
Britain’s Richard Kilty has retired from the sprint wars at 35. The ’14 World Indoor champion at 60 also won a 4×1 bronze in Paris.
Maureen Koster fell as a result of a collision in the Euro 3000; unconscious after she hit her head on the track, the Dutch runner was hospitalized. “It still feels unreal what happened last night,” she posted. “Thankfully, aside from a mild concussion, a few bruises, and a broken heart, I’m fine.”
Last year’s NCAA Indoor triple jump winner, Rūta Lasmane of Texas Tech, suffered a ruptured left Achilles in practice and has had surgery. The Latvian’s season is over. “This road ahead will be long and challenging,” she posted.
German sprinter Gina Lückenkemper ended her undercover season after an injury at the Düsseldorf meet.
Ciara Mageean is still hoping to make it to Tokyo even though her training is now restricted to 3 days a week as she comes back from ankle surgery.
A tight hamstring kept Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley from the final of the Euro 400.
Decathlon WR holder Kevin Mayer says he will be ready for Tokyo, “No matter how long it takes.” To that end he has skipped the indoor season.
Laura Muir tore her soleus muscle while racing the 3000 at the British Championships. “Absolutely gutted as preparations had been going well and I was so excited to get back competing, but it’s not to be,” she posted.
Canadian vaulter Alysha Newman ended her indoor season early with the announcement that she would not compete in the World Indoor.
Japanese road ace Hitomi Niya (2:19:24 PR) withdrew from the Nagoya Women’s Marathon with an Achilles injury.
After a promising early season which saw him set Norwegian Records in the 3000 and 5000, Narve Gilje Nordås missed the Euro Indoors because of illness. “It’s tough, but not everything can be controlled.”
Jemma Reekie ended her indoor season to better prepare for the coming outdoor campaign.
Rio vault gold medalist Katerína Stefanídi of Greece is expecting her first child.
Olympic champion Miltiádis Tentóglou withdrew from the long jump at the European Indoors, citing the flu.
Karel Tilga pulled out of the European Indoor heptathlon because of illness.
Jake Wightman, who has been dealing with knee problems, skipped the British Indoor Championships.
France’s promising hurdle star Sasha Zhoya has not competed indoors, citing illness and a resulting 12lb weight loss.
Doping Suspensions…
4 years — Koki Ikeda (Japan, walks);
2 years — Careen Cheptoek (Kenya, distance), Sheila Chesang (Kenya, distance), Geoffrey Yegon (Kenya, distance). □
