by Deji Ogeyingbo
Deji’s Doodles: Cole Hocker, Faith Kipyegon, and Yulimar Rojas shine across continents
From North Carolina to Monaco to Valencia, this weekend carried the feeling of something meaningful taking shape. Cole Hocker ran 3:45.94 to set a new American mile record, moving himself further into rare territory. In Monaco, Faith Kipyegon took her talent to the roads for the first time over 10 kilometers and delivered a 29:46 debut that placed her among the fastest women in history, while Yulimar Rojas opened her season with a world-leading 14.95m in the triple jump, a mark that signaled growing strength after a difficult year of injury.
Hocker Breaks the record and raises the bar in North Carolina
Cole Hocker delivered something special in Winston-Salem, NC, running 3:45.94 to win the mile and set a new American indoor record. The pace was honest from the start, and Hocker stayed calm through the early laps as Dylan DeCambre and James Gormley carried the field through quick splits. When the race opened up, he moved smoothly to the front and took control. With 400 meters left, he pressed harder and closed in 57 seconds, finishing with a sharp final lap that showed real strength.
The time erased Yared Nuguse’s 3:46.63 indoor record, which had once stood as the fastest in the world. Hocker now sits second on the world all-time indoor list, just behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:45.14). This run builds on his Olympic gold and his steady form this year, showing that his best is not behind him. He is running with confidence and rhythm, and each race looks more complete than the last.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
Kipyegon tests new ground in Monaco
Faith Kipyegon arrived in Monaco with nothing left to prove on the track, yet she stepped onto the roads with the same hunger that built her legacy. The world 1500m record holder and three-time Olympic champion made her 10km debut at the Monaco Run and stopped the clock at 29:46, a time that places her among the fastest women ever over the distance.
She moved through the opening 5km in 14:59, running with control and rhythm alongside Benard Soi and Yonah Mateiko. The pace held steady as the race unfolded, and over the closing kilometres she found another gear, pulling clear to secure the win. For an athlete whose farthest race until now had been 5000 meters on the track, this was a confident and composed step forward.
Monaco has long been kind to her, the site of her mile world record in 2023, and once again it delivered a moment of growth. Kipyegon has spoken about learning the roads and one day testing herself in the marathon. This debut feels like the first stone placed on that path, built on strength, curiosity, and quiet belief.
Hodgkinson opens 2026 in fine style
Keely Hodgkinson returned to the track in Birmingham with purpose and power, delivering a world-leading 1:56.33 to win her 800m heat at the UK Indoor Championships. Running alone for most of the race, she controlled the pace from the gun, passing 200m in 27.36 and reaching halfway in 56.28 with a smooth, steady rhythm. She carried that momentum through 600m in 1:26.11 and continued to press all the way to the line, stopping the clock well clear of the field.
The time sliced nearly a full second off her own British short track record and lifted her to third on the world all-time indoor list. For an athlete who endured a challenging 2025 marked by injuries before salvaging a world bronze medal, this performance signals strength restored and belief renewed.
Hodgkinson spoke openly about enjoying her healthiest winter in years, and that confidence showed in every stride. With upcoming races in Lievin and the World Indoor Championships ahead, this opening statement sets the tone. She looks sharper, freer, and ready to chase the major indoor title that still sits on her list.
Yulimar Rojas Starts 2026 With a Statement
Yulimar Rojas marked an emphatic return to competition in Valencia with a world-leading triple jump of 14.95m at the Spanish Indoor Clubs Championships, her best performance since 2023 and the top mark in the world this season. From her very first attempt, she showed the strength and rhythm that have carried her to multiple world and Olympic titles, backing it up with a second jump of 14.43m as she eased into the meet with confidence and control.
This mark puts her firmly back on the world stage after a challenging 2025 season disrupted by an Achilles injury that kept her off the Olympic start line and limited her global appearances.
Last year, she fought back to win a bronze medal at the World Championships in Tokyo, a result that spoke volumes about her resilience and competitiveness even as she rebuilt her form. The performance in Valencia feels like a natural next step in that journey, proof that she is transitioning from recovery to renewal and ready to chase even bigger goals as the season progresses.
