The Track Minute Daily Report is available Monday through Friday with the top news and stories from the world of track and field. Listen to the Track Minute Daily Report on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and subscribe to the newsletter at https://trackminute.beehiiv.com/
Keely Hodgkinson to attempt a threepeat at Euro Champs
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson aims to make history by securing her third consecutive European Indoor Championship title in Apeldoorn this March, a feat never before achieved in the event. She is joined by two other women, Nikolina Shtereva (1976 and 1979) and Selina Büchel (2015 and 2017), to have won two Euro Championships in the 800m. Prior to that meet, however, Hodgkinson also set her sights on breaking the longstanding world indoor 800m record of 1:55.82 at her own event, the inaugural Keely Klassic, in Birmingham, England on February 15.
Nafi Thiam to sit out indoors, focus on Tokyo World Championships
The BBC has reported that three-time heptathlon Olympic Champion Nafi Thiam will miss indoors this year. They note that, per her management, she will focus on the upcoming outdoor World Championships in Tokyo, opting to not participate in the upcoming European and World Indoor Championships. In addition to her three Olympic gold medals, Thiam is a two-time World Champion, and the last time she competed at a major indoor championship (Euro 2023), she set a world record for the Pentathlon.
Grant Holloway continues historic undefeated run
In what was a likely foregone conclusion before the gun went off, Grant Holloway won the 60 meter hurdles at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix this past weekend. He has now maintained an undefeated streak in the event indoors since March 16, 2014, when he was a high school sophomore in Virginia. This streak spans over a decade and includes more than 60 consecutive victories.
Fleet Feet sets goal of opening 15 stores in 2025
Fleet Feet, a specialty retailer focusing on running shoes and apparel, has announced the opening of a new store in Concord, North Carolina in March. This opening comes on the heels of acquiring Washington’s South Sound Running in December in addition to opening a storefront in Burlington, North Carolina last month. In a report from Footwear News, CEO Joey Pointer expects the brand to grow by at least 15 stores in the year, while also noting, “I wouldn’t be surprised if we hit 20.” The company was named to the Inc 5000 list in 2024 of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
Study finds performance benefits in strategic rest periods
A recent case study on a 53-year-old master triathlete suggests that strategic detraining followed by retraining can lead to better performance gains than continuous training without breaks. After a 12-week detraining phase with minimal exercise, the athlete experienced expected declines in VO2 max, power, and muscle efficiency, but following a structured 12-week retraining period, he not only regained but surpassed his prior fitness levels, improving VO2 max by 5% and enhancing muscular and mitochondrial function. This study highlights the potential benefits of planned recovery periods, showing that strategic reductions in training, rather than continuous intensity, may optimize endurance, strength, and overall performance.
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