THE LATEST in the aches, pains & eligibility departments:
Peripatetic Favour Ashe has revealed that he has spent the last 5 months training in Qatar. The Tennessee/Auburn/Oregon alum is awaiting WA approval to transfer his allegiance from Nigeria to the Persian Gulf nation. He says, “I am very sure we will form a formidable 4x100m relay team.”
Two-time world long jump silver medalist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, currently serving the first year of a 4-year ban, gave birth in February.
Femke Bol ended her indoor season with a foot injury. “After the last tough session at camp, I’ve been dealing with a tendon issue in my foot. With my team, we decided it was stable enough to still race the two planned indoor competitions. However, after my first race, there was a stronger reaction, and we don’t want to risk it. I’m using and pushing my body in new ways this year. It’s a fine line, and right now my body is telling me it’s a bit too much.”
Texas A&M vaulter Lilyana Carlson, a dual citizen, is now eligible to represent Austria. Her 14-8 (4.47) in early February came three days after the switch and is an Austrian Record.
Timothy Cheruiyot, 7 times a 1500 World Ranker, is looking at longer distances. “Because I have been in the 1500 for a long time, maybe this year I will try to test my legs on the 5000 to see how it will go. I hope soon I will know the venue where I will make my 5000 debut,” says the 30-year-old Kenyan.
Keira D’Amato has had hip surgery, revealing, “Unfortunately, spring racing is paused. Rehab season is officially in session.”
Two days before a year-leading 19-10½ (6.06) at Clermont-Ferrand, Mondo Duplantis was suffering from food poisoning. He managed the competition, then said, “I’m a little scared about how I’ll feel tomorrow but I don’t care, I just wanted to jump here.”
Five-time world hammer champ Paweł Fajdek has had shoulder surgery but says he still hopes to compete at the European Championships this summer.
Ethiopian Werkwuha Getachew, who won silver in the ’22 WC steeple, has returned to racing after a year away, winning the San Blas Half-Marathon in Puerto Rico in 1:12:23.
Australian sprint wunderkind Gout Gout has confirmed that he will be focusing on the World U20 Championships this year instead of the Commonwealth Games.
British marathoner Calli Hauger-Thackery is expecting a baby in August.
Former Stanford runner Charles Hicks, another dual citizen, will be eligible to represent the United States starting July 14.
In a possibly unprecedented move — at least in track — Louis Hinchliffe, who went pro after running 9.95 to win the ’24 NCAA and won bronze on Britain’s relay, has gotten clearance from the NCAA to return to Houston to finish his eligibility.
Keely Hodgkinson will be skipping the Commonwealth Games, revealing, “I love competing in front of a home crowd but it’s such a busy year with Europeans and the Worlds and I’ve done that many championships before in a year and it is a lot.” Word is that with her recent 51.49 PR for 400, she is hoping for 4×4 team selection.
Hurdler Grant Holloway posted that injuries kept him from the indoor season. “Nagging injuries suck, but we’re gearing up for the outdoor season.”
Shelby Houlihan skipped the USATF Indoor to prepare for a fast 10,000 at The TEN on March 28.
Emily Infeld is expecting a child in August.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen traveled to the U.S. to have surgery on his Achilles in February but says “it’s not as bad as it seems.” He says he’s looking at a couple months of rehabilitation. “I’m relieved to have a clear path of recovery back to the start line after many months of uncertainty.”
Two-time Chicago winner Rita Jeptoo, who already served a 4-year ban from 2014–18, returned to running in ’22 and now at age 45 has been provisionally suspended for whereabouts failures.
Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji has returned to training after giving birth last summer.
Though Weini Kelati has signed with Nike and is training in Flagstaff, she will not be joining the Nike Swoosh group there.
Sam Kendricks, with a new baby at home, opted to miss the indoor championships and focus on some WIT meets in February, explaining, “No USAs or Worlds for me this year, it would have been too long from home! We’ll send a team of slayers like we always do. Best of luck to my boys, I’ll miss you!”
Iowa State alum Festus Lagat, who runs for UA Mission Run Dark Sky and produced a 3:50.94 mile at Millrose, has been provisionally suspended for whereabouts failures.
Poland’s Piotr Lisek has ended his indoor season after a pole snap left him with damage to his hand. He quipped, “I’ve broken poles many times but this is the first time the pole broke me.”
Kenyan Paul Lonyangata, a 2-time Paris Marathon champion previously suspended for a doping violation, has gotten a provisional suspension for whereabouts failures.
Heather MacLean says she has been dealing with hemochromatosis as well as a knee issue.
High jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who had been training elsewhere in Europe, has moved her training base back to Ukraine, despite continuing Russian missile and drone attacks in civilian areas. “The situation at home is still very hard, but we are so strong and we believe in freedom, we are fighting for that.”
Washington’s Amanda Moll missed most of the indoor season recovering from an injury suffered in practice. Twin sister Hana won the Big 10 vault despite what was apparently a minor foot injury from the day before.
Canadian vaulter Alysha Newman has been provisionally suspended for whereabouts failures. She has not vaulted since last May.
Shot putter Jessica Oji, who won the Ivy League title with a PR 60-8½ (18.50) as a Penn frosh, has transferred her allegiance to Nigeria. Her latest mark is an African Record.
Katerína Stefanídi has returned from her maternity break. The ’16 Olympic vault champion, now 36, started training in September.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi says he got a slow start to training this year. “I will not be competing at the World Indoor Championships because I’m not ready. Thinking about the Commonwealth Games now is too soon, but I want to train first, and if all goes well, I will compete there. My body is not up to speed, but be sure to see me compete in the Diamond League circuit.”
Kenya’s Olympic semifinalist in the 400H, Wiseman Were, has been provisionally suspended by WADA for whereabouts failures.
Doping Bans…
3 years – Mathew Samperu (Kenya, distance);
2 years – Diribe Welteji (Ethiopia, distance). □
