We Speak Track And Field
Florida A&M Claims the 2026 SWAC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Title
Florida A&M is back on top of the SWAC. The Rattlers won the 2026 SWAC Women’s Indoor Track and Field championship at the Birmingham CrossPlex — the program’s second title in three seasons — finishing with 131 points to hold off Alabama State’s 124, with Southern third at 74.
FAMU’s Tara Bert was named Most Outstanding Track Performer after scoring 26 individual points, while head coach Garfield Ellenwood II earned Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year honours. The Rattlers’ own Diandrenique Gaines won both the 60m and the 200m.
The meet rewrote the conference record book: three SWAC women’s all-time records fell, through Texas Southern’s Alyvia Brown in the 3000m, Southern’s Tashina Alase in the 60m hurdles and Alabama State’s Daedrian Beville in the triple jump. Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Cornelia Watts was named Most Outstanding Field Performer with 18 individual points.
We Speak Track And Field
Yehualaw Returns in Valencia as Kwizera Chases Spanish History
Yalemzerf Yehualaw returns from maternity leave in Valencia on Oct. 25, Rodrigue Kwizera chases a first Spanish win, and Kenenisa Bekele is also on the start list.
The Valencia Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 25 brings together a returning superstar, a man chasing national history, and one of the greatest distance runners of all time.
Yalemzerf Yehualaw headlines the women’s race in her return from maternity leave. The Ethiopian last raced at the Boston Marathon in April 2025, finishing third in 2:18:06, and her half marathon personal best of 1:03:51 — run on this course in 2021 — makes her the fastest woman in the field. She faces Lisbon champion Tsigie Gebreselama, world road running silver medallist Veronica Loleo and Ftaw Zeray on a course famous for fast times.
The men’s race could produce a first. Rodrigue Kwizera owns the fastest personal best in the field at 58:16, set in Prague earlier this year, and after receiving Spanish citizenship in 2026 he is chasing both the first Spanish men’s victory in Valencia and the Spanish record of 59:39. His training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Andrea Kiptoo, Owen Kapkama, Daniel Ebenyo and 2018 winner Jemal Yimer are all in the field — along with Kenenisa Bekele, the three-time Olympic champion whose appearance alone will draw a crowd.
Britain’s Ben Connor, Charlie Wheeler and Samantha Harrison also feature. The course records — Yomif Kejelcha’s 57:30 and Letesenbet Gidey’s 1:02:52 — were both world records when set, which tells you everything about Valencia’s speed.
Photo: Canadian Running
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