Deji Ogeyingbo provided Deji’s Doodles about the post-Olympic track and field season.
Deji’s Doodles. Crouser and Tebogo continue their post-Olympic winning streak as Nugent and Nuguse build on their confidence with wins in Zurich and Zagreb.
What a weekend we had in track and field! Even after the Paris Olympics, we still had a couple of Diamond Leagues to keep us company, with a couple of Continental Gold Tours to close out the season.
Here are some key takeaways from last weekend’s action
Ackera Nugent continues to make her mark in the women’s 100m hurdles
Achera Nugent looks unstoppable after her latest 12.55s victory in the 100m hurdles at the Zagreb meet. His consistent top performances have made him a formidable presence since the Olympics. This win further proves his growing ability to compete with the best. He shows that despite his setbacks, he is hungry for more success and is quickly closing the gap on the world’s elite hurdlers.
One of his most notable recent achievements was a meet record time of 12.24 seconds at the Rome Diamond League, a performance that signaled his potential to become one of the sport’s brightest stars. However, Nugent’s journey has not been without its challenges. His failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics was a significant disappointment, but seemed to fuel his determination to come back stronger. That flexibility has become a hallmark of his career as he consistently shows the ability to execute in high-stakes moments.
What stands out about Nugent is not only his athletic ability, but also his mental toughness. His ability to bounce back from Olympic heartbreak and build momentum in the months that followed speaks to his mindset. This maturity and focus is crucial in a sport as unforgiving as hurdling, where one wrong move can be the difference between winning and being out of contention.
After missing the finals of the last two major championships, Nugent needed this streak of wins and performances to go forward. Indeed, his season will end on a perfect note. With each race, he is building a reputation not only as a consistent performer, but also as a clutch athlete who can deliver when it matters most.
Letsile Tebogo has won five in a row since the Olympics
Letsile Tebogo is the new bride of the athletics world. Many say he’s the new face of sprinting after that Olympic gold, but the way he’s been winning has people on their feet. With late comebacks, celebrating before crossing the border or cheeky interviews, Motswana is the all-in-one package you’d expect from a sprinter.
His stunning victory in the 200m at the Zurich Diamond League, beating experienced rivals such as Kenny Bednarek, is the latest display of his growing dominance. At just 21, Tebogo’s speed and tactical brilliance have set him apart, with his ability to remain unbeaten contributing to his superstar status.
What makes Tebogo really special is his ability to have fun. He brings a fun, carefree energy to the track reminiscent of Usain Bolt, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Whether coming from behind or running up front, Tebogo’s stands have become his signature, making him an iconic figure in the sport.
His blend of natural talent and showmanship makes him a favorite, but consistent results mark him as a serious contender for all-time greatness. He not only wins the race. he creates moments that fans will never forget. At some point, however, he must rest. Good thing the season ends this month.
Nuguse is not taking a back seat in the Kerr-Ingebrigtsen fight
Jared Nuguse’s recent victory against Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the Zurich Diamond League is a landmark moment in his career, showing not only his physical talent but also his tactical brilliance.
Like his recent performances at the World Championships and Olympics, Nuguse has proven he can go toe-to-toe with the world’s best, employing a strategy that rivals even the great Ingebrigtsen. His winning time of 3:29.21 may not have been the fastest, but his ability to execute under pressure was on full display.
Nuguse’s Zurich performance stands out for his timing and race smarts. Following Ingebrigtsen closely and making up time, Nuguse seized the opportunity at the perfect moment, starting at the corner and taking control in the final stretch. His ability to break away when it mattered most mirrors the tactics used by previous champions such as Josh Kerr and Jake Whiteman. These calculated moves put him in the conversation as one of the best 1500m tacticians.
Ingebrigtsen, on the other hand, was not at his best, battling an infection in the days leading up to the race. This probably affected his usual dominance, and while his time of 3:29.52 was intense, it wasn’t enough to fend off Nuguse’s well-timed onslaught. While some may argue that Ingebrigtsen’s illness diminishes the significance of Nuguse’s victory, it is important to acknowledge that Nuguse took advantage of the opportunity.
After all, Nuguse’s victory in Zurich is another victory and a clear signal that he is ready to challenge the world’s best on a consistent basis. Beating Ingebrigtsen twice in a row is no small feat, and it cements Nuguse’s place among the elite ranks of 1500m runners. If he continues to build his confidence and refine his race strategy, we could be witnessing the rise of one of the sport’s future great middle-distance runners.
Ryan Kruser hates losing.
Ryan Kruser’s incredible consistency in shooting makes him stand out as one of the best in the sport. Five weeks after winning his third straight Olympic title in Paris, he threw his gold medal winning throw of 22.90m at the Zagreb Fountains and even bettered it with a final round throw of 22.93m. This was not just a flash in the pan; Kruser has been a model of reliability, consistently throwing beyond 22m in significant competitions, proving that his dominance is not limited to singular moments of brilliance.
What makes Kreuzer’s recent performance even more remarkable is that he has battled injuries this season. Despite the setbacks, he produced strong throws in major events – 22.12m in Silesia, 22.49m in Rome and 22.66m in Zurich – showing that his “off days” are still far better than most athletes. His ability to stay fit under pressure, especially after injury, is a testament to his skill, training and mental toughness.
Cruiser’s dominance is not only related to his physical strength. it’s about his consistency in an event where minor technical tweaks can dramatically change results. His throw of 22.90m in Zagreb was not a one-off, but part of a trend in which he has repeatedly produced top performances. Competing in a field where the fourth-place finisher threw 22.24m, Krauser continues to lead the way, setting new standards of excellence.
Chebet continues to look flawless.
Beatrice Chebet has asserted her dominance in the women’s 5000m and 10,000m, consistently delivering world-class performances. In Zurich, he clocked an impressive 14:09.52, the fastest time of the year, despite a taxing effort alone after crashing out early in the race. Her relentless pace broke the match record set by Vivian Cheruiyot in 2011.
Chebet’s form and tactical brilliance have made him almost unstoppable in away games over the past two years. With each race, she further establishes herself as one of the leading figures in women’s distance running, with others struggling to follow.
