Despite winning his indoor debut at the Astana Indoor Meet, Kishane Thompson emphasised that his focus remains on the 100m, which he believes matters the most.

Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson has reacted to his win at the Astana Indoor Meet for Amin Tuyakov Prizes.

 

Kishane was making his indoor debut at the event and despite the 60m win, he still insisted that the 100m is what matters the most.

 

In the race, Kishane Thompson clocked an impressive 6.56 seconds to cross the finish line first ahead of the duo of Ali Anwar Al Balushi and Shuhei Tada who clocked respective times of 6.60 and 6.62 seconds.

 

 

‘It’s my first time seeing snow’- Kishane Thompson admits to culture shock in Astana as he enters new territory

‘It’s my first time seeing snow’- Kishane Thompson admits to culture shock in Astana as he enters new territory

His first race of the season was the 60m at the Central Hurdles Relays and Field Events where he clocked a personal best time of 6.48 seconds. He insisted that his focus is not on the indoors but his coach is making some changes in their build-up, the reason behind his indoor debut.

 

“We don’t necessarily focus on indoors, but if I have to compete I do my best to get my job done. Let’s see what goes after this trip,” Kishane Thompson said after the race.

 

“The Jamaicans are more comfortable outdoors, because for us the 100m matters most that’s why we don’t necessarily focus on indoors.”

 

He added that the race was great despite a slight strain after crossing the finish line. Kishane appeared to have limped a little bit before walking to his rivals.

 

The Jamaican 100m champion explained that the new environment has made him feel a little bit different but he will just pick up from where he left from once he heads back to Jamaica.

 

“The journey was very long but I love the energy and the vibe I get for the people, so that makes up for the long flight,” Kishane said.

 

“Honestly, it wasn’t too bad. For some reason, I feel a bit more rusty than usual. It’s probably the new environment, another climate and running indoors.

 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce announces major career move to the US as she begins to expand her network

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce announces major career move to the US as she begins to expand her network

“I loved the environment and the vibe, I was able to adapt as best as possible. It gave me a new experience.”

 

His main goal of the season will be winning a gold medal in the men’s 100m at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan and the few races before the event will be mainly for buildup.

 

Several sprinters, including Noah Lyles, the defending champion and Letsile Tebogo have already expressed interest for the title, promising a thrilling showdown in the 100m.

Who excactly is Gout Gout? The Australian sprinting wonderkid set to start training with Noah Lyles and is earning comparisons to Usain Bolt?

At just 16 years old, Australian sprinter Gout Gout is rewriting the record books and positioning himself as one of the brightest prospects in athletics.

Born near Brisbane as the third of seven children to South Sudanese immigrants, Gout’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric, capturing the attention of the global track and field community.

‘Running against Lyles & Tebogo is different pressure’ – Matthew Hudson-Smith on why Gout Gout should not drown into the ‘new Usain Bolt’ hype

Gout Gout was born two years after his parents settled in Queensland, where they established a new life after leaving South Sudan. He currently attends Ipswich Grammar School, where his athletic potential was discovered early.

Di Sheppard, who now coaches Gout, first spotted him at age 13. “I saw him running on the oval, and there was just something about him and the way he moved,” Sheppard recalled to The Indipendent.

Her instinct was right—Gout, who stands at 6 feet & 2 inches tall, quickly began to outpace athletes significantly older than him.

Gout burst onto the scene as a teenage phenom, dominating age-group competitions in Australia. At just 14 years old, he was already clocking times faster than athletes two years his senior. By 15, he had claimed the Australian U18 200m record.

In August 2024, Gout further cemented his reputation on the international stage, earning a silver medal at the World U20 Championships. Later, he signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas, signaling the start of what promises to be a long and lucrative career.

His most recent exploits came at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Queensland, where Gout showcased his remarkable potential.

In the 100m heats, he clocked a wind-assisted 10.04 seconds—the fourth-fastest time in history for an under-18 athlete. While the tailwind rendered the time ineligible for records, he followed it up with a legitimate 10.17 seconds in the final, placing him sixth on the all-time U18 list.

However, it was his performance in the 200m that truly made history. Gout ran 20.04 seconds, breaking Peter Norman’s 56-year-old Australian record of 20.07 seconds. This time would have earned him a fifth-place finish in the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, underscoring his world-class ability at just 16 years of age.

With his long stride, high knee lift, and towering frame, Gout’s running style has drawn inevitable comparisons to sprinting legend Usain Bolt. The young Australian acknowledges the resemblance but is focused on carving out his own identity.

“I do see it [the Bolt similarity],” Gout told Nine. “My stride length is pretty long, my knee height is pretty high, and just the amount of tallness I get when I’m running. I’m just me trying to be me. Obviously, I do run like him. I do sometimes look like him, but I think I’ve done a pretty good job of making a name for myself. I just want to continue doing that and continue to be not only Usain Bolt but Gout Gout.”

Gout’s performances place him in elite company. His personal best of 20.04 seconds at age 16 surpasses the 200m times of a young Bolt at the same age. Only American prodigy Erriyon Knighton remains ahead of Gout in the all-time U18 rankings, with a best of 19.84 seconds.

In January 2025, Gout is set to join renowned coach Lance Brauman, who has guided athletes like Noah Lyles to global success. This move is expected to elevate his performance further as he targets qualifying for the Tokyo World Championships.

“Hopefully we can qualify for the Tokyo World Championships,” Gout said after his record-breaking performance, before adding a reminder of his youth. “If not, I’ll just finish my school in Year 12.”

While his immediate focus is on improving his times and gaining international experience, Gout’s long-term goals are clear. The 2032 Olympics in Brisbane will likely be the pinnacle of his career, as he will be 25 and at his athletic prime.

Gout Gout’s journey from a young boy in Queensland to one of the most exciting talents in athletics is nothing short of inspiring.

With his record-breaking performances, comparisons to Usain Bolt, and upcoming partnership with Lance Brauman, Gout is well on his way to becoming a global sprinting superstar.

 

 

Shadrack Ngumbao’s journey to victory at the 2025 Prisons Cross Country Image source: The Star

Shadrack Ngumbao overcame years of setbacks to claim his first victory at the 2025 Athletics Kenya Prisons Cross Country Championships.

Most athletes have to endure some of the toughest tests to make it to the sport and that is no different for Shadrack Ngumbao, the winner of the 2025 Athletics Kenya Prisons Cross Country Championships.

 

The event was held at the Ruiru Prisons Staff Training College last weekend and Ngumbao was making his seventh appearance hoping that this time around, things would be different.

 

He has been very unlucky in his previous visits, with his best performance prior to the 2025 edition of the event being the sixth-place finish he achieved in 2023.

 

After stunning Ruth Chepng’etich, Loice Chemnung fires warning to Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet & Co

After stunning Ruth Chepng’etich, Loice Chemnung fires warning to Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet & Co

Going into the edition in 2025, Shadrack Ngumbao did not know what to expect since it had now become a norm that he would always finish outside the podium bracket. However, things turned out differently and he managed to claim his first victory after years of trying his luck.

 

Now, you might be asking yourself what he was doing wrong in the six times he had competed there. Ngumbao admitted that he had to work on being smarter than he was before and also step up on his training ahead of grueling task.

 

“This is almost my seventh time competing here and I have never won…my best performance before this win was finishing sixth in 2023. I have done enough build up and managed to train in hilly areas,” Ngumbao said in an interview after the race.

 

“I have also worked on my mindset because cross country also requires one to be very smart. I have been training in Ngong under coach Muteti. I competed in Bomet and finished 20th and I was also in action in Machakos where I finished fifth.”

 

He believes that winning the cross country has set him up for a great and interesting 2025 season where he plans to focus on road running and maybe the 10,000m.

 

The 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan are also in the cards and Ngumbao will also be contesting for a slot in the national team.

 

‘It’s my first time seeing snow’- Kishane Thompson admits to culture shock in Astana as he enters new territory

‘It’s my first time seeing snow’- Kishane Thompson admits to culture shock in Astana as he enters new territory

“I have prepared well for this season and my fans should expect the best from me. I will be focusing on the half marathon and the 10,000m race,” he shared.

 

 

Noah Lyles launched his track season on Saturday 26 January, posting identical times of 6.62 seconds in both the heats and the final of the men’s 60m at the RADD Invitational in Gainesville, Florida.

 

It was the American’s first race since winning gold in a thrilling 100m final and claiming bronze in the 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

 

Lyles recovered from a poor start and went head-to-head with training partner Udodi Onwuzurike, holding on for a 6.62-second win in his opening race of the 2025 season. He matched his time in the final, dominating ahead of compatriot Caleb Dean, who clocked 6.68, with Nigerian Onwuzurike also repeating his qualifying time of 6.70 seconds to finish third.

 

The six-time world champion’s season opener placed him just behind Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson, who clocked 6.56 seconds earlier in the day in Astana, Kazakhstan.

 

Lyles who took silver behind Christian Coleman at the 2024 World Indoors, next heads to defend his title at the Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on 2 February. Paris Olympic gold medallists Julien Alfred and Grant Holloway are also set to headline the Boston meeting.

 

Sha’Carri Richardson is gearing up for an electrifying season i Sha’Carri Richardson

Everything you need to know about American sprinting sensation Sha’Carri Richardson.

Sha’Carri Richardson, born on March 25, 2000, in Dallas, Texas, is more than just a sprinter—she’s an electrifying presence in athletics.

 

Raised by her grandmother, Richardson grew up in a household that instilled both discipline and ambition. Inspired by her mother’s high school track medals, which her grandmother proudly displayed, Richardson decided to pursue her dream of becoming a decorated sprinter at just nine years old.

 

Her passion for running blossomed at Carter High School, where she made a name for herself as a standout athlete. Her early promise was further cemented when she dominated the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics, setting the stage for a meteoric rise in the sport.

 

 

Paris 2024: Where does Sha Carri Richardson rank among the Top 10 Richest female athletes?

Career breakthroughs and medals

Richardson first captured global attention in 2019 when she shattered two U20 world records in one day at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.

 

She clocked 10.75 seconds in the 100 meters, obliterating a 42-year-old record held by East Germany’s Marlies Göhr.

 

Later that day, she recorded 22.17 seconds in the 200 meters, surpassing Allyson Felix’s record from the 2004 Athens Olympics. These performances cemented her status as the sport’s next superstar.

 

Top 10 most beautiful track athletes: Sha’Carri Richardson, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Junelle Bromfield make gorgeous 2024 list

Top 10 most beautiful track athletes: Sha’Carri Richardson, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Junelle Bromfield make gorgeous 2024 list

Despite the pandemic stalling her professional momentum, Richardson returned to the track with ferocity.

 

She won the 100-meter race at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, a victory that seemed poised to solidify her position as Jamaica’s primary rival in sprinting.

 

However, a positive drug test for THC led to her disqualification, barring her from competing at the Tokyo Olympics. Richardson’s transparency and accountability during this period earned her widespread respect, even as she faced significant setbacks.

 

Her redemption arc began in 2023 when she delivered a championship-record performance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

 

Winning the 100 meters in 10.65 seconds and anchoring Team USA to gold in the 4×100-meter relay showcased her resilience and established her as the world’s fastest woman. She added a bronze in the 200 meters, completing her medal haul with a display of versatility and grit.

 

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Richardson earned her first Olympic silver in the 100 meters, finishing behind St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred. However, she didn’t leave Paris without gold, anchoring the U.S. women’s 4×100-meter relay team to victory with an impressive final leg.

 

 

As of 2024, Sha’Carri Richardson’s net worth is estimated at $3 million. Much of her earnings come from sponsorships and endorsements, notably with Nike. She has also collaborated with luxury brands like Jacquemus, further boosting her financial portfolio.

 

Richardson has captivated audiences not only with her speed but also with her bold and unapologetic style. Known for sporting vibrant wigs, long painted nails, and eye-catching racing attire, she’s often compared to track legend Florence Griffith-Joyner.

 

Richardson’s embrace of her individuality extends beyond the track, where she has made appearances at prestigious events like the Met Gala and starred in campaigns that merge athletics with high fashion.

 

Personal life and relationships

Richardson has been open about her identity, publicly identifying as bisexual. She previously dated Jamaican hurdler Janeek Brown, but their relationship ended amid allegations of abuse, which both parties have addressed.

 

More recently, fans have speculated about a possible romance with fellow sprinter Christian Coleman, though neither has confirmed the rumors.

 

 

Sha’Carri Richardson’s journey is one of triumph over adversity. From her record-breaking performances as a college athlete to her comeback from personal and professional challenges, she embodies resilience and determination.

 

With her eyes set on future Olympic glory and a legacy that transcends the track, Richardson is not just a sprinter—she’s an icon in the making.

 

 

Ferdinand Omanyala celebrates his victory during the men’s 100m final at the national trials for the World Athletics Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on July 8, 2023.

 

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has described 2024 as his best year financially, citing a combination of sponsorships, prize money, and lucrative endorsement deals as the sources of his windfall.

 

The reigning Commonwealth Games 100m champion is now living his dream, cruising in four luxurious cars worth Sh43 million, building a multi-million-shilling home, and enjoying financial stability.

 

After Olympic success in 2024, Noah Lyles appears determined to make 2025 his year, too.

 

The American sprinter own the gold medal in the 100m at the Paris Games last summer.

 

Tipped for a second gold in the 200m, his primary event, he ultimately finished third and it was later revealed that he had contracted Covid-19 between the two events.

 

 

 

With the 2025 season about to begin. the 27-year-old speedster has announced his return to acton in style, positing a stylish video to his YouTube channel.

 

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In the video, directed by Jack Nelson, Lyles is seen meditating shirtless beside a pool as a voiceover speaks in mythological tones about the Team USA star: “They say he was fast, but fast is just the beginning.”

 

“He returns to inspire, to dominate, to show us once again that anything is possible,” it continues.

 

 

The video then cuts between shots of Lyles stepping into the pool before shadowboxing and leafing through pieces of paper with slogans scrawled on them in marker pen.

 

It then shows the sprinter pinning a series of pictures to a wall around the words “Feb 2, Boston,” before he exits and awaits a helicopter.

 

Noah Lyles won gold in the men’s 100m event and bronze in the 200m event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Noah Lyles won gold in the men’s 100m event and bronze in the 200m event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The video’s caption says Lyles will be back on the track in early February at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston.

 

 

One of the most self-confident and charismatic sports stars on the planet, Lyles has been open about his pursuit of greatness. Especially when it comes to breaking Usain Bolt’s 200m world record of 19.19 seconds, which the Jamaican set back in 2009.

 

Speaking about the record in 2023, Lyles said: “I know that I’m going to break it.

 

“The second most-popular, favourite hobby of humans − after watching somebody achieve greatness − is watching them fail.

 

“People love to watch people fail. They just do. I don’t know why.

 

 

 

“It’s just if somebody says they want to do something great, someone’s right there next to say they can’t do it.

 

“I can give zero cares about what other people think.

 

“Because they don’t know me, they don’t know my story, they don’t know what I do, they don’t know how hard I work, how talented I am. But I know.”

 

 

(more…)

 

Marathon great Kipchoge to race London in April

Eliud Kipchoge with his arms outstretched in celebration as he crosses the line to win the London Marathon

Image caption, Eliud Kipchoge is widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner in history

Article information

Distance running great Eliud Kipchoge will return to the London Marathon in April.

 

Kenyan Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic marathon champion, is the record four-time winner of the men’s race in London, where he last competed in 2020.

 

The 40-year-old former world record holder described his mid-race drop-out at his final Olympic Games in Paris as “demoralising” but still believes he can compete for a fifth victory in London.

 

“Sport is full of challenges. I’m still working hard to get better, trying to inspire people and sell the power of sport,” Kipchoge said.

 

“I still think I can compete. I am training in a good way and competing with the youngest people.”

 

The 2025 London Marathon takes place on Sunday, 27 April.

 

London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher said this year’s event boasts “the greatest elite field in the history of the London Marathon”.

 

Women’s world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and silver medallist Tiger Assefa – the three fastest women in history – have been confirmed in the women’s race, which will see Eilish McColgan make her debut.

 

Emile Cairess will lead British interest in the men’s race, where he could have Mo Farah’s British record in his sights and will be joined by Olympic and world triathlon champion Alex Yee..

 

However, that time is not recognised as the official world record because it was not in open competition and he used a team of rotating pacemakers.

 

His official personal best stands at two hours one minute and nine seconds – the second fastest time in history.

 

In addition to his Olympic triumphs at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, Kipchoge has 11 victories across the world‘s major marathons.

 

That includes an unbeaten four-year streak in London in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

 

His previous appearance came during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when he finished eighth.

 

That represented his sole defeat in 16 marathons across a remarkable spell of dominance between 2014 and 2022.

 

Asked about when he might choose to retire, Kipchoge said he would only reveal his future plans after racing in London.

 

Brasher described Kipchoge as “the greatest marathon runner of this or any other age.

 

“You could make a compelling case that his incredible stretch of dominance in marathon racing makes him the greatest athlete we have ever seen,” Brasher added.