Deji’s Doodles: Nuguse and Mihambo were the stand-out athletes in New York and Karlsruhe

Deji’s Doodles: Nuguse and Mihambo were the stand-out athletes in New York and Karlsruhe

What a weekend of action we had in Track and Field. New York and Karlsruhe were the cities that produced breathtaking athletics as the likes of Yared Nuguse and Grant Fisher hugged the headlines in the Big Apple while Mihambo made a statement with a big jump.

Here are some of the things we took away from the weekend action.

Yared Nuguse is used to doing the chasing, not the target is on his back

Now that the dust has settled on what was a blistering Millrose Games in New York, we have clear heads to talk about the potential ramifications of Yared Nuguse breaking the world record in the mile. It won’t be a stretch if I said I saw it coming, but his consistency and slight improvement over the mile (indoors and outdoors) was eventually going  to yield dividends. And it did for him as he clocked a time nobody in the history of the sport has done before (at least officially).

But as Nuguse continues to savour the moment, it is worth noting that other established starts like Josh Kerr (who pulled out sick on race day) won’t be particularly thrilled that he coin;t affect the results, too.

Nuguse’s 3:46.63 mile world record wasn’t just fast, it was a direct challenge to everyone in the 1500m and mile. His 3:29.80 split at 1500m? Faster than Jakob Ingebrigtsen 3:30.60 world record. Now, Jakob heads to Lievin this week to chase the mile mark, but the numbers tell the story: Nuguse is the standard now.

Cole Hocker ran 7:23.64 in the 3,000m in the same meet. That’s monster strength for a guy who already closes like a truck. He planned a hard move at 600m and thought it might break Grant Fisher. It didn’t. Grant Fisher finished in 7:22.91 ( new WR/AR) and called it a moment of discovery. That should terrify his competitors.

Cam Myers, just 18, ran 3:47.48. His time converts to 3:30.60 for 1500m—the exact mark Jakob set indoors. The next wave is already here. A year ago, this race was simple: Jakob was king, and everyone else was chasing. Not anymore.

Nuguse has turned the event on its head. The pack is deeper, the times are faster, and now, he’s the man with the target on his back. Jakob’s coming. Hocker’s coming. Myers is coming. But the sport is no longer waiting for them.

Malaika Mihambo Sends a Message with 7.07m World Lead

Malaika Mihambo is back in business. The German star became the first woman this year to clear seven meters in the long jump, soaring 7.07m at the INIT Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe. The mark matched her indoor personal best from 2020 and shattered a 31-year-old meet record. More importantly, it was a statement.

Since winning Olympic gold in Tokyo, Mihambo has battled injuries and setbacks. Last year, she lost her Olympic title to Tara Davis-Woodhall, a moment that fueled her comeback. Now, she looks locked in, determined to reclaim her spot at the top.

Her performance in Karlsruhe was vintage Mihambo. Controlled, powerful, and efficient. After fouling her opener and managing just 6.08m in round two, she needed only one more attempt to shut it down. That 7.07m leap in round four was enough to win by 28cm over Mikaelle Assani (6.79m) and Bulgaria’s Plamena Mitkova (6.69m). We might just have a competition on her hands in the women’s Long Jump.

Masia Rusell is looking unstoppable

Masai Russell is making a habit of winning. The Olympic champion stormed to a world-leading 7.76s in the 60m hurdles at the Millrose Games, holding off Grace Stark and world indoor record-holder Devynne Charlton in a loaded field.

Russell’s dominance is becoming undeniable. Fresh off a commanding win at the NB Indoor Grand Prix, she once again proved why she’s the one to beat. Her speed, precision, and race execution were on full display as she edged out Stark (7.82) and Charlton (7.83) in a thrilling finish.

But for Russell, the bigger picture matters more. She has decided to skip the World Indoor Championships, choosing instead to focus on long-term goals for the outdoor season. With the first Grand Slam approaching, she wants to peak in September, prioritizing the bigger stage over the short indoor campaign.

Her last indoor meet will be the US Championships, where she looks to close out her season on a high note. With two more races before shifting gears to outdoors, she remains focused on refining her form and building momentum.

Her confidence is growing, and so is the gap between her and the competition. If this is just the start, the best is yet to come.

Jacious Sears is getting into good shape

Jacious Sears is wasting no time reminding the world just how fast she is. The American sprint sensation stormed to victory in the 60m final at the Millrose Games, clocking a blistering world-leading 7.02 seconds—a new personal best. She held off Celera Barnes (7.15s) and Aleia Hobbs (7.16s) to secure the win.

For Sears, this season is about redemption. Last year, she was on the verge of breaking into the world’s elite, running 10.77 seconds in the 100m, the second-fastest time in collegiate history behind Sha’Carri Richardson 10.72. But just as she was building momentum, a devastating injury shattered her Olympic dream, forcing her to miss a shot at making the U.S. team.

Now, she’s back and looks faster and hungrier than ever. The 7.02 performance not only cements her as one of the top sprinters in the world but also signals that she’s ready to take on the best in 2025. The women’s 100m field in the US just got even tougher.

With the indoor season in full swing and the outdoor campaign looming, Sears is setting the stage for a spectacular comeback. If this is just the beginning, the rest of the world better be ready.