#TheJourneytoCompete:
Your NIKE Cross-Country/Track & Field Newsletter, Issue #20,
February 20, 2026
#TheJourneytoCompete is a celebration of all things athletics (cross-country and track and field), now focused on Indoor Track & Field, and a collaboration between #NIKErunning and #RunBlogRun.
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The Journey to Compete,
A BIG Week of Athletics!
WORLD RECORD 🚨
Keely Hodgkinson storms to 1:54.87 in the women’s 800m at Lievin, smashing the long-standing world record of 1:55.82 Jolanda Ceplak set in 2002!
Full-circle moment: That previous mark was set on the exact day she was born, twenty-three years ago.
"Thank you to the crowd," said Keely Hodgkinson to the media, "I could hear you all the way around!"
This was Keely Hodgkinson's second race in 2026, last Saturday, February 14, Keely set a NR of 1:56.33 in her opener!
written by Deji Ogeyingbo
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Keely Hodgkinson,
photo: screenshot of World Athletics YouTube Coverage
Cole Hocker sets AR indoor Mile at 3:45.94!
Cooper Lutkenhaus breaks WRU20 for 800 meters in 1:44.03!
Geoffrey Kamworer wins second RAK Half Marathon, thirteen years apart!
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Cole Hocker,
photo by John Nepolitan
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Deji's Doodles: Cole Hocker, Faith Kipyegon, and Yulimar Rojas
Shine Across Continents
by Deji Ogeyingbo
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Sam Ruthe,
artwork by World Athletics communications
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Sam Ruthe: 30 Questions with the World Under-18 MIle and 1,500m record holder!
by Larry Eder
| | | #TheJourneytoCompete, Episode 3: | |
Kalsey Beach, Osario High School Coach,
artwork by Mike Deering/The Shoe Addicts
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Wayzata RC, The Club That Won The Girl's 2026
NIKE Cross-Country Nationals,
by Larry Eder
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Geoffrey Kamworer wins 2026 RAK Half Marathon in 58:14,
photo by Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
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Geoffrey Kamworer Interviewed at The RAK Half Marathon
(February 14, 2026)
by Larry Eder/RunBlogRun and Tim Adams/AthleticsWeekly
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Katie Moon,
photo by Kevin Morris @eKevMoFoto
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Katie Moon Speaks After Her Third Consecutive World Championships Gold and The challenges of World-Class Pole Vaulting!
by Larry Eder
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Paula Sevilla, Espana,
photo by NIKE communications
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#TurningPoints:
Paula Sevilla, Espana,
Speaks on The Race That Changed Her Life!
by Larry Eder
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Joe Kovacs,
photo by Kevin Morris @KevMoFoto
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#TurningPoints:
Joe Kovacs, USA, Shot Put, Talks About an Event That Changed His Life!
Interview by Jeff Benjamin
| | | World Indoor Tour Meetings | |
Georgia Hunter-Bell, Karlsruhe INIT,
photo by World Athletics
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Hunter-Bell Leads a Night of Authority at Karsruhe,
by Deji Ogeyingbo
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NIKE Pre Classic Announced Bowerman Mile for July 4, 2026,
Sam Ruthe, Cole Hocker and Cam Myers,
photo by NIKE Pre Classic/TracktownUSA
| A Steve Prefontaine poster, from NIKE communications (circa 1974) | |
Steve Prefontaine and Bill Dellinger, circa 1973,
photo by NIKE communications
Deep thoughts from Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine is in the DNA of NIKE. He and the late Geoff Hollister met with runners of all ages, showed them NIKE shoes, from the back of their cars, in events around Oregon. One new NIKE customer at a time.
Steve Prefontaine (1951-1975) held American records from 2,000 meters to 10,000 meters outdoors and also loved the 2-mile distance indoors, holding that AR as well.
Steve Prefontaine was featured on TV after his races, before his races, and during his races because he transcended track & field. He was a track star, a rock star, and a personality all rolled up into one.
Here's Our Steve Prefontaine Quote for week 20 of #TheJourneytoCompete:
"Something inside of me just said 'Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,' and I just took off." ~ Steve Prefontaine
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European Indoor Meetings LIVE and Free at:
www.european-athletics.com
February
24 February - Tipos Banskobystrická latka, Banska Bystrica (Silver)
25 February - Hvezdy v Nehvizdech, Nehvizdy (Silver)
March
7 March - Perche Elite Tour, Rouen (Rouen)
Here's the link to the schedule:
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Cooper Lutkenhaus,
photo by John Nepolitan
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2026 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships:
How to Watch
The 2026 USATF Indoor Championships will take place from February 28 to March 1, 2026, at the Ocean Breeze Athletic on Staten Island, New York.
| | | Will you make the standards for the NIKE Indoors? | |
photo by stadiumjourney.com
The Journey to Compete: Compete at
The NIKE Indoor Nationals!
The NIKE INDOORS is coming to the NIKE Track & Field Armory from March 12-15, 2026.
RunBlogRun will be there in full force to tell you the stories, provide context for the results and Interview the top NIKE NIL athletes.
You can learn more about the NIKE Indoor Nationals, as well as register at
www.NIKEIndoorNationals.com
The NIKE INDOOR NATIONALS gives the high school track and field community a weekend of track and field competitions, chances to enjoy the NIKE Track & Field Armory in New York, and meet other coaches and athletes as you pursue our incredible sport.
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he Journey to LA Begins, March 12-15, 2026,
artwork by Runnerspace & NIKE
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Don’t Fear The Matumbo!
NIKE Track & Field spikes for 2026
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Patrick Ritchie and Natalie Kile
artwork by Mike Deering for TheShoeAddicts
| RunBlogRun presents A history lesson the "matumbo" hole on a Nike shoe. | | | NIKE Training Tip #1 for Week 20! | |
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Julie Benson,
artwork by Mike Deering/ The Shoe Addicts
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Coaching Tips:
Rest and Hydration are the secret sauce! Use them, by Juli Benson, NIKE NIL elite coach
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And Finally, More Training Tips
From NIKE Elite Athletes!
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Abdi Nur,
photo by Kevin Morris @KevMoFoto
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Tips From Swoosh Track Club, Abdi Nur:
How to Focus on Success!
by Larry Eder
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Back Issues for #TheJourneytoCompete: The NIKE Indoor Track & Field Newsletter, Back issues, 1-19:
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Sam Ruthe,
photo by NIKE Communications
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artwork by Runnerspace/NIKE
You have just read the NIKE XCTF newsletter, issue #20, #TheJourneytoCompete, a newsletter celebration of all things athletics (cross-country and track and field). Have suggestions on what to cover?
Please email us at fortiusmedia@gmail.com with the subject NIKE XC!
For more information, please go to www.nikerunning.com
We will publish #JourneytoCompete: Indoors weekly, on Fridays, from January 23, 2026, to March 15, 2026!
To subscribe, send an email with your email address to: runblogrun@gmail.com
We will sign you up!
We post archived copies of the NIKE Newsletter at runblogrun.com and RunningNetwork.com
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Photo Credits:
NIKE Communications
Kevin Morris @KevMoFoto
John Nepolitan
World Athletics
European Athletics
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
NIKE Pre Classic/TracktownUSA
stadiumjourney.com
#TheJourneytoCompete Staff:
Newsletter Production: Chuck Bartlett
Copy Editor: Kathleen Camara
Writers: Deji Ogeyingbo, Stuart Weir, Larry Eder
Stats: Gemini Artificial Intelligence
Editor: Larry Eder
Copyright 2026 by Fortius Media Group, LLC.
The #JourneytoCompete is a collaboration between NIKE Running and RunBlogRun.
To learn more about RunBlogRun, please go to www.runblogrun.com.
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