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Indiana Track and Field Announces a 35-Strong 2026-27 Recruiting Class

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Indiana’s future arrived in waves. Head coach Ed Beathea announced the Hoosiers’ 2026-27 recruiting class: 33 freshmen and two transfers joining the roster in Bloomington.

The headliners carry national résumés. Anna Wile arrives as the all-time hurdle record holder for all three contested hurdle events. Evan Williams is the Indiana indoor state champion in the 60m hurdles and the 60m, with the fifth-best performances in the country in those events, and the sprints/hurdles group alone includes four state champions. Katy Zang won the mile and the two-mile at New Balance High School Nationals and broke a two-mile national record that had stood for more than a decade.

The class reaches every corner of the sport, from pole vaulter Annie McCracken (personal best 4.27m) to thrower Talia Phangura in the shot put and hammer. Thirty-five new Hoosiers — Indiana is reloading for years, not seasons.

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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.

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Kenenisa Bekele racing the marathon

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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