Blog

Nico Young’s powerful finish made him only the third American man ever to win a Diamond League 5000. (DIAMOND LEAGUE AG)
OSLO, NORWAY, June 12 — The 60th Bislett Games featured pre-meet buzz around two possible men’s World Records: in the newly official 300H and the 5000. Only one mark came under threat, but both contests delivered thrilling performances.

World Athletics only made the 300H official this year, so the record attempt had less buildup than the rare in-season clash between the big three in the 400H: reigning Olympic champ Rai Benjamin, 2021 gold medalist Karsten Warholm, and 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos. (The trio will meet again soon in Stockholm for a 400H showdown.)

Warholm has embraced the 300H, setting his latest World Record of 33.05 on April 26 in Xiamen. Competing before a supportive home crowd at Bislett Stadium, the Norwegian aimed to reaffirm his dominance in the shorter version of his main event.

The final event of a bright Nordic evening, Warholm, in lane 7, exploded down the backstretch. Benjamin, from lane 5, was level and surged ahead around the curve. But he slowed on the homestretch and clipped the last hurdle, losing steam. Warholm kept attacking and surged into the lead to win in 32.67.

Benjamin narrowly held off dos Santos for second, finishing 33.22 to the Brazilian’s 33.38.

“It went well, although I was worried when Rai was coming strong. I had to push off the last hurdle to win,” said Warholm. “I usually tire at the end of the 400, so 300 suits me better. But I’ll be ready for Sunday’s 400.”

Benjamin accepted the outcome with class. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m happy overall,” said the American, opening his 2025 outdoor season after one indoor race. “Oslo gave us this amazing stage. Races like this help all of us. I thought I’d run faster, but that last hurdle hurt me.”

In the 5000, lights were set to pace for 12:35.36 — the World Record by Joshua Cheptegei in 2020. The early splits (2:33.04 at 1000 and 5:07.31 at 2000) showed promise, but it became clear the record wouldn’t fall. Instead, the race turned tactical and tense. At 4000m, Britain’s George Mills led, with Ethiopians Biniam Mehary and Kuma Girma and American Nico Young closely tracking him.

Young, 22, used the same furious finish that won him the Philadelphia Grand Slam 3000 on June 1. He kicked hard off the final curve, pulling ahead of Mehary to take the win — just the third American to do so in a DL 5000 after Ben True (New York, 2015) and Paul Chelimo (London, 2018).

Young’s 12:45.27 makes him the 13th-fastest man ever and the No. 2 American in history (the fastest U.S. time outdoors).

“It was wild,” said Young, who placed 12th in last year’s Olympic 10,000. “I wasn’t totally sure what to expect coming in, but I’m proud I hung on. There were so many possible outcomes.”

Mehary (12:45.93), Girma (12:46.41), and Mills (12:46.59) all ran PRs. Mills broke Mo Farah’s long-standing British Record (12:53.11 from 2011). Graham Blanks, off the pace early, finished strong in 7th at 12:48.20 — now the No. 3 American all-time.

The men’s 800 began quickly, and Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi looked to be fading late, but he surged to win in 1:42.78. He edged Mohamed Attaoui (1:42.90) and Paris bronze medalist Djamel Sedjati (1:43.06), racing for the first time since last September.

Portugal’s Isaac Nader shocked in the Dream Mile, grabbing the lead with 200m to go and powering to victory down the stretch. His 3:48.25 set a new Portuguese Record.

“I’m thrilled to win so decisively — my main goal was the national record and I got it,” said Nader, who placed 4th in the 1500 at World Indoors. “This gives me confidence for Tokyo. This is just the start of my season.”

Australian teen Cam Myers finished fast on the inside for 2nd in 3:48.87. A total of 11 runners dipped under 3:50, including Vince Ciattei, 8th in 3:49.37 — making him the 12th-fastest American of all time.

Tyreek Hill and Noah Lyles calling out each other

Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill is in his best shape to race Noah Lyles after clocking his fastest career time in Los Angeles.

The highly anticipated race between world’s fastest man Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill will be one for the ages after the NFL star clocked a new Personal Best (PB) in his first 100m race since 2014 at the Last Chance Sprint Series in Los Angeles.

The Dolphins wide receiver powered to an impressive legal time of 10.15s (1.2) to break his PB set way back in 2012 when he was 18 years old. It was also his first official 100m race since 2014.

He obliterated the field in Los Angeles as Assani Hampton finished second in 10.26s, while Martinez was third in 10.66s.

Shortly after his brilliant performance, Hill brought out a written note with the inscription “Noah Could Never” in retaliation to Lyles as a response to him “Tyreek Could Never” after winning Lyles won his 60m race at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.

Lyles then backed up his message during a post-race interview: “Hey, when you’re ready to actually put some words down and you’re actually ready to race, see me. I’m right here, I ain’t going nowhere, but all I know is your football season is over, you ain’t got no excuse now,” said the Olympic 100m champion.

Noah Lyles is the world’s fastest man as the World and Olympic champion. Photo. Imago

Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill’s Beef

In August 2024, after Lyles blazed to the 100m gold medal in Paris, Hill said he could beat Lyles in a race — “Sign the contract and lock in that 50-yard race.”

The Miami Dolphins star initially challenged the world 100m champ during an interview with Up & Adams on Aug 12, saying, “I would beat Noah Lyles [in a race]. I wouldn’t beat him by a lot, but I would beat Noah Lyles.”

NFL star Tyreek Hill is a Miami Dolphins wide receiver | Imago

Lyles will then respond to his claim during an appearance on the Nightcap podcast, adding that he was skeptical about the seriousness of Hill’s claim.

I’m not doing again — Tyreek Hill’s wife files for DIVORCE less than 2 years after their wedding amid complaints of domestic dispute

I’m not doing again — Tyreek Hill’s wife files for DIVORCE less than 2 years after their wedding amid complaints of domestic dispute

“He’s challenging me to race in the 100? We can race,” Lyles said. “If he’s serious about it, if he’s truly serious about it — I’m not talking about, you’re just talking on the internet and you ain’t actually coming to me and talking to my agent and saying let’s set something up — if you’re serious about it, you’ll see me on the track.”

Meanwhile, Hill feels he’s “got to do this for the guys that play my sport” and showcase that NFL athletes “did run track at some point, and we can come and take over your sport at any moment if we really wanted to.”

Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill agree to race each other

After months of challenges and online jabs, the sports stars finally agreed to race each other this spring or summer, just before the US Championships in July, although the venue is still to be determined.

According to PEOPLE, they will finally bury the hatchet in a race, and Hill’s performance in LA shows he’s been doing the work to be in the right shape for the showdown.

Michael Johnson didn’t pay me my worth – Noah Lyles reveals on turning down Grand Slam Track

Michael Johnson didn’t pay me my worth – Noah Lyles reveals on turning down Grand Slam Track

Lyles is yet to kick off his outdoor season, and when he does, fans will be expecting him to go lower than 10.15s if he’s to stand a chance against Hill.