World Record Holder: Guilty or Not?

October 16, 2024

Oct 16, 2024 | Edition #38

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

Well, it’s established by now that passion transcends all limits! Last time, we watched this play out when a doting sister laced up her shoes and decided to run 26.2 miles for her late brother. However, this time, it came through when 76-year-old George Mueller ran his 46th Chicago Marathon ever this Sunday, in the presence of his son and entire family.

Meanwhile, the course brought mixed emotions for winner Ruth Chepngetich, whose record-breaking time sparked speculation about foul play. And let’s not forget the buzz among fans: Yohan Blake announced his return to sprinting, while Noah Lyles popped the question to his girlfriend, Junelle Bromfield! Let’s dive in to explore these stories in today’s edition!

📜 QUOTE OF THE DAY

“To be number one, you have to train like you’re number two.”

— Maurice Greene

In today’s newsletter, we’ll uncover these top stories from Track & Field universe:

🌟 Chicago Marathon: Son's Sweet Tribute to Dad

👀 Unveiling Kenyan Marathoner’s WR Controversy 

🤔 Yohan Blake's Bold Return: Revival or Risk?

💑 Noah-Junelle: Track Couple Life-Update!

🫡 TRIBUTE TO

Son’s Touching Salute to His Hero Dad

For more than 4 decades now, George Mueller has shown up for every Chicago Marathon! Even today the memories of his first 26.2-mile run from 1977 come rushing back like it were yesterday when he took to the streets in Windy City on a hot 75-degree day. But nothing compares to this Sunday, which was extra special for he had 'The Muellers' including his son, George, present there with bells on, to support his 7-hour-long stint.

With a long blue horn and customized t-shirts that read, "George's Run Crew, Chicago Marathon Forty-Six" on the front, his son and family turned the marathon into a celebration! So did his grandson, who held up a placard, "Run Fast Grandpa!" Well, their ecstasy was only natural. As printed on the back of their t-shirts, George had completed 1205 miles/1939.6 kilometers over the past 46 Chicago Marathon chapters, which was nothing short of extraordinary. Or, as his son would define, "I think it's incredible and sometimes a little crazy, but it's awesome to watch and see- just the whole atmosphere."

A retired dentist, George is one of the three alumni runners of the event, who turned to running as a trade-off activity when he quit smoking. Well, little did he know, it would give him his purpose! Today, he admits that if he stops running, it'll leave him adrift in life. No wonder he pushed through even when he was nursing a hamstring injury 2 years back! You'd wonder what would satiate his passion? Well, he now wishes to complete his marathon half-century, touching 50 Chicago runs in the next 4 years.

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Last Poll’s Result: In our last edition, we asked you all: "Which Track and Field Event Has the Oldest Standing World Record, Set in 1983?" And it was a close race, with a tie between the Women’s 800m and the Men’s Long Jump! But hold on to your spikes! The correct answer is… Women’s 800m! Set by Jarmila Kratochvílová, this record has stood the test of time for over 41 years!

🤔 CONTROVERSY DECODED

Kenya’s Doping Crisis: Chepngetich’s WR Under Scrutiny

Ruth Chepngetich is no novice when it comes to marathon running! Especially, on the Chicago course, where she's like a fish in the water. Notably, her records here are exceptional, with title wins in 2021 and 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023. But this year, despite snatching back the crown and in WR time (2:09.56), she found herself caught in the eye of a storm. Why? Well, her 4-minute 22-second drop from her personal best and over 2 minutes off the last WR mark, led people to raise doping speculations, including Olympian Jon Brown who called this pure 'criminality.'

Why is Chepngetich being questioned? Well, she's linked with Agent Rosa, an agency that has been traced to multiple Kenyan athletes who have been reprimanded for doping. Also, a few athletes from Chicago complained that the weather this Sunday was warmer and humid than expected, making conditions difficult for a WR. Again, in general, Kenya has been fraught with doping issues, which makes people dubious. Despite receiving $5 million from the World Athletics to manage doping, the country has been alleged to avoid testing and their athletes have been accused of doping to land perks and prize money. As of now, almost 91 Kenyan athletes are listed on the AIU's ban list, the highest among all nations. Since 2015, the total has soared to nearly 300!

Now, let's hear the other side too. A few are siding with Chepngetich claiming she specializes on roads, especially Chicago. Plus, she had two male pacers, indicating her strong vision to put up an extraordinary show. Also, she's clocked a 1.05.58 half marathon time just this year, not too drastic compared to her Chicago marathon split times (1:04.16 and 1:05.41). Plus, she was wearing Nike's Alphafly 3, wherein the ‘supershoe’ technology (carbon plates, pressurized airbags) assists in retaining energy. They have also been validated and uploaded on the World Athletics site. Nonetheless, doping allegations against the Kenyan persist, while some fans believe it is a spiteful step by Europeans and Americans. But all Ruth has to say is, "People must talk."

📽️ VIDEO VAULT

How 5 Track Icons Crashed from Fame to Shame!

Unethical practices come with grave repercussions! What happened with these 5 phenoms from Canada, Great Britain, and America? All we know is, from the road to being the greatest, they quickly detoured to the negative spotlight. Moreover, their legacies toppled like a deck of cards, as doping scandals tainted their brilliant feats. What mistakes did they make? You won't believe their downfall!

📈TRENDING NEWS

Yohan Blake’s Bold Call at 34!

Paris Olympics was a disaster for Jamaican track and field. But, 2024 is not all that bad. As the latest news on the block is that pro sprinter, Yohan Blake has now decided to return to sprinting after his brief absence. Taking to X, the phenom surprised fans the minute his words, "The journey continues. Focused, determined, and back where I belong..." flashed on their screens. But the question is, at 34, is there still a spark?

Well, no one can deny that this season was a failure of epic proportions for Blake. Medaling (if not winning) was the usual business for him until he had to get used to the lower— 7th, 8th, and 9th rows on the table in 2024. If this wasn’t enough, he missed his shot to the French Capital! Indeed, Blake was once touted as the next big thing for track but imagine, it's been over 12 years since he ran his 100m and 200m personal bests in 2012 - 2011. Notably, out of 11 100m races in 2024, not once did he go sub-10 seconds, the fastest being 10.16s. So how does he plan to go against phenoms like Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo, and Kishane Thompson, who have been going much faster all this while?

From a technical standpoint, matching the times of these contemporary sprinters demands exceptional speed and acceleration. It is perceived that while most athletes peak in their 20s, the longevity descends with every decade, as a sprinter's speed drops by 5-6 percent approximately. This is why most retire or do not compete on the grand stages post after their mid-30s. Therefore, while Blake is not ready to hang his spikes yet, it is questionable if he's putting his health at stake. But, he does have a few examples to draw inspiration from, say Justin Gatlin who won his Olympic 100m silver when he was 34.

💫COUPLE TALK

Bad Times Don’t Last—Noah Lyles’ Engagement!

Oh, lovebirds alert! October 12, 2024, just became a date to remember in the track and field world as Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield took their relationship to the next level with a sweet proposal! From first meeting in 2017 to finding themselves head over heels in 2022, they’ve come a long way—one that even international rivalry couldn't shake! Remember Paris? The two faced some intense trolling that left Junelle fearing to step foot on Jamaican soil. Branded as a "traitor," she was even accused of feeding secrets to her American boyfriend and was criticized for her performance. Things got so heated that some extreme critics wished she’d injure herself mid-race!

Through it all, Noah Lyles stood by his woman, clapping back at the trolls with heart-warming words and fierce loyalty. His love for her? Unshakeable! In fact, the proposal hit such a sweet note that it seemed to melt even the most hardened critics in Jamaica—at least for a moment!

But here’s the twist: amidst all the toasts and cheers, one special friend was missing—Shericka Jackson! Junelle has been there for Shericka through thick and thin, celebrating her victories and even playing ‘wig woman’ once upon a time. So, where was she?

While Ackera Nugent, Cherokee Young, and other Jamaican athletes made it to the scene, Shericka’s absence has people wondering if all is well in this friendship. Was it due to the recent controversies stirring the pot, the fierce USA-Jamaica rivalry, or perhaps just a scheduling conflict? Whatever the reason, it has fans wondering if all is well in this friendship!

📝 STORIES YOU SHOULDN’T MISS!

  1. Noah Lyles’ Reveals Couple’s Post-Retirement Plans Way Before Engagement - Full Story

  2. Chicago Marathon: Sixth-Grade Teacher Overcomes Injury for Epic Underdog Run - Full Story

  3. Tara Davis-Woodhall and Yaroslava Mahuchikh Once Again Become Fan Favorites - Full Story

  4. Christian Miller Signs a Massive Deal With Puma - Full Story

  5. Quincy Wilson Shares Cute Homecoming Proposal With Olympic Gold Medalist’s Sister - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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