This weekend delivered a series of historic performances around the globe, from a record-breaking throw in Berlin to dominant performances at UTMB Mont-Blanc in Chamonix and course records at the Sydney Marathon.
- Jakob Ingebrigtsen Confirmed for 1500m at Diamond League Final in Brussels
- Ex-Javelin Thrower Addisu Gobena Gets His Redemption at the Sydney Marathon
- Blandine L'Hirondel Makes History as Fastest Woman in UTMB History
Here are the top 5 stories from this weekend, August 29-30, 2026.
5. Addisu Gobena Upgrades to Gold at Sydney Marathon
Last year, Addisu Gobena came within ten seconds of winning the Sydney Marathon, finishing runner-up in 2:06:16.
The result was already an impressive feat for the young Ethiopian, who was a javelin thrower before transitioning to the long-distance running scene in 2023.
This year, Gobena returned to Sydney wanting more, and he got just that.
Gobena won the men’s title in a course record performance of 2:04:42, upsetting world champion Alphonce Simbu and 2025 Sydney champion Hailemaryam Kiros. The previous course record stood at 2:06:06 set last year by Kiros.
With his first major marathon win under his belt at such a young age, we will likely see Gobena on the marathon scene for many more years.
4. Ben Dhiman Breaks 19-Hour Barrier at UTMB
Over in Chamonix, France, history was being made on the trails at UTMB.
Returning as the 2025 runner-up, Ben Dhiman looked right at home. The American, who has been living and training in France since the pandemic, took the lead at mile 25.5 and never looked back.
No runner has ever finished the ~108-mile course under 19 hours. Dhiman smashed that barrier, clocking 18:16:29 and finishing more than 30 minutes ahead of runner-up Baptiste Chassagne.
It is important to note that the Pyramides Calcaires section of the course was removed due to weather conditions. As a result, Dhiman’s time does not count as a course record, but still stands as the fastest recorded performance in UTMB history.
3. Blandine L’Hirondel becomes first woman to break 22 hours
The history books didn’t stop getting rewritten with the men. Blandine L’Hirondel entered UTMB as a top contender, but faced four-time UTMB winner Courtney Dauwalter and three-time Cocodona 250 champion Rachel Entrekin.
The race proved to be a battle between Entrekin and L’Hirondel, as the two led the field in the early hours of Saturday morning. By 5 AM, L’Hirondel took the lead and began extending the gap between her and Entrekin.
L’Hirondel put together a spectacular performance to claim her first UTMB victory in 21:54:49. Her victory marks the first time a woman has finished the course in under 22 hours.
Like Dhiman’s performance, L’Hirondel’s time came on the altered route, which was roughly 3.1 kilometers shorter, so it does not count as an official course record. Nonetheless, her victory in Chamonix completed an impressive UTMB feat. After winning titles at OCC in 2021 and CCC in 2022, L’Hirondel officially completes the UTMB triple crown.
The practicing OB/GYN becomes just the third runner, and second woman, in history to win all three of the UTMB World Series Finals races.
2. Chase Jackson Breaks Her Own American Shot Put Record
Chase Jackson has been nearly unstoppable in 2026. Up until this weekend, she had won nine out of her thirteen competitions this year, and she continued that streak in record fashion in Berlin.
Jackson set the American record of 20.95m in June of last year, and has come close to that mark several times since, including a 20.92m throw just last week in Silesia.
In Berlin, Jackson finally broke through.
On her first attempt at ISTAF Berlin, Jackson launched a 21.02m throw, improving her own American record by seven centimeters and becoming the first American woman in history to throw beyond 21 meters. The rest of her series was strong, following with throws of 21.02m, 20.20m, 20.48m, 19.69m, 19.98m, 20.88m.
Surpassing 21 meters has been increasingly rare in the women’s shot put. Jackson becomes just the second woman since 2012 to throw beyond 21 meters, joining Jessica Shilder, who threw 21.09m in May. Even more impressively, this marks the first time since 1990 that two women have surpassed 21 meters in the same year.
Jackson will next compete at the Diamond League Finals in Brussels. U.S. audiences can watch the Diamond League Finals LIVE on FloTrack on September 4, starting at 12:40 PM ET and September 5, starting at 12:15 PM ET. The Women’s Shot Put is slated to begin at 12:30 PM ET on September 4.
1. Manuela Schär Completes Major Marathon Sweep
Back at the Sydney Marathon, one of the most decorated wheelchair marathoners made history in the women’s wheelchair race.
Manuela Schär and Eden Rainbow-Cooper were neck-and-neck through 15 miles before Schär pulled away to win in a course-record time of 1:42:04. She bested the previous record of 1:44:52 set last year by Susannah Scaroni.
Schär’s victory meant more than just another course record. She has already won all six of the original Abbott World Marathon Majors (Berlin, Boston, Tokyo, London, New York, and Chicago), and Sydney was the only one left.
With her victory on Sunday, the Swiss athlete completed her sweep and became the first woman to win all seven Majors.
Schär also won the Cape Town Marathon this year, which is set to become the eighth Major marathon in 2027.
Don’t Miss A Second Of The 2026 Diamond League
The Diamond League is streaming live on FloTrack and the FloSports app. FloTrack’s Diamond League coverage includes live events, replays, videos and articles throughout the season.
Where To Watch Diamond League?
The Wanda Diamond League will be broadcast on FloTrack and the FloSports app.
FloTrack Archived Footage
Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.
Join The Track & Field Conversation On Social
- Follow us on Twitter @FloTrack
- Follow us on Instagram @flotrack
- Follow us on TikTok @flotracktv
- Watch us on YouTube
- Like us on Facebook