Pre Classic Dedicates 800m to Maria Mutola

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Pre Classic dedicates 800m to Maria Mutola

The Prefontaine Classic has officially dedicated its women's 800-meter race to honor Maria Mutola, renaming it the "Mutola 800m." Mutola, originally from Mozambique, won 16 races at the Prefontaine Classic, including 12 victories in the 800 meters. All told, she secured 11 gold medals in the 800 meters in World Championship and Olympic competition between 1993 and 2006, including the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

The Barkley Marathons are underway

The 2025 Barkley Marathons commenced on March 18 at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, starting at 11:37 A.M. Eastern Time. This ultramarathon challenges participants to complete five 20-mile loops, totaling 100 miles, within a 60-hour limit. The course is unmarked, requires traditional navigation skills, and prohibits GPS devices, adding to its notorious difficulty. Only 20 runners have successfully finished the full course in the past 40 years. Live updates are available on Outside Online.

Mondo has 6.40m in his sights

Pole vault world-record holder Mondo Duplantis aims to elevate his record to 6.40 meters in the coming years, following his recent jump of 6.27 meters earlier this year. In a promotional release from PUMA, “I think that 6.30 meters is probably the target in the near future, and 6.40 meters is achievable in the next few years.” He attributes part of his success to advancements in spike technology which blend features of sprinting and pole-vaulting shoes to enhance speed and performance.

NCAA lifts NIL recruitment ban

The NCAA has agreed to eliminate its rule that prevented athletes from negotiating name, image, and likeness deals before enrolling in a specific college. This decision results from a lawsuit led by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, which argued that the rule violated antitrust laws. Pending federal court approval, the settlement will allow athletes to secure NIL deals prior to college enrollment and during recruitment periods. Additionally, for the next five years, the NCAA must publicize any proposed NIL rule changes and consult with states before implementing them.

Rosario, McMillan, and Smith to host coaching clinic

Expert coaches Ben Rosario, Greg McMillan, and Mike Smith are teaming up to put on a coaching clinic this summer. The three-day clinic will take place in Flagstaff from July 10-13, and is targeted toward coaches looking to learn the latest training techniques, geared toward high school, college, and adult coaches working with performance-oriented athletes. Rosario is the founder of Northern Arizona Elite and The Marathon Project, McMillan of McMillan Running, and Smith is the current head coach of Northern Arizona University’s track and cross country teams, and an incoming coach of the newly formed Swoosh TC.

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