This Week In Track And Field: Rabat Diamond League And Sound Running Track Fest Surprises Unpacked

This week, Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack: 

Rabat Diamond League Highlights:

— Beatrice Chebet drops 8:11.56 in the women’s 3000m, the second-fastest time in history and maybe the clean world record. She won by 15+ seconds.

— In an absolutely stunning upset, Jonah Koech wins the men’s 1500m in 3:31.43, running a 7-second PB in his Diamond League debut. Went from 13th to 1st on the last lap.

— Germany’s Frederik Ruppert nearly breaks the European steeplechase record with a shocking 8:01.49 behind Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali, who ran a world-leading 8:00.70, who is rounding into form.

— Tshepiso Masalela continues his rise, beating Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi with a world-leading 1:42.70 in the 800m. He is the real deal.

— Femke Bol extends her Diamond League win streak with a 52.46 in the 400m hurdles — her fastest-ever season opener.

 Sound Running Track Fest Highlights (Los Angeles):

— Olympic champ Athing Mu returns to racing, placing 2nd in a tactical 1500m (4:10.70), showing signs of progression.

— Mexico’s Eduardo Herrera steals the show with a 12:58.57 5000m to break Arturo Barrios’ outdoor national record, closing in a blistering 57.38.

— Jake Wightman, in his first race without his father coaching him, takes the men’s 1500m in 3:35.26 — a controlled, confident return to form.

— NCAA standout Klaudia Kazimierska clocks 4:03.26 to become the third-fastest collegian ever in the women’s 1500m.

— Sage Hurta Klecker wins the women’s 800m in 1:59.02 and is in a good spot for this point in the season. Mark English wins the men’s race in 1:44.75.

+ More takeaways and thoughts in the show.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia |⁠⁠ ⁠@preetmajithia on Instagram⁠

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