1 hr. ago
Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo will return to Budapest for the Ultimate Championships next week, but the Hungarian capital is more than just another stop on the athletics calendar for the Botswana sprinter.
It is the city where the 23-year-old announced himself to the world and where his mother Seratiwa watched him make history for his country by claiming two medals at the 2023 World Championships.
This time Seratiwa will not be cheering on her son from the stands, having passed away in May 2024 after a short illness.
Having shared a close relationship with his mother - one she described as being more like a "brother and sister bond" - Tebogo admits that returning without her is difficult.
"I haven't really looked into the fact that I'm going now to Budapest without my mom," he said.
#tebogo #ultimate
It is the city where the 23-year-old announced himself to the world and where his mother Seratiwa watched him make history for his country by claiming two medals at the 2023 World Championships.
This time Seratiwa will not be cheering on her son from the stands, having passed away in May 2024 after a short illness.
Having shared a close relationship with his mother - one she described as being more like a "brother and sister bond" - Tebogo admits that returning without her is difficult.
"I haven't really looked into the fact that I'm going now to Budapest without my mom," he said.
#tebogo #ultimate
1 month ago
The World U20 Track and Field Championships air live on Peacock from Wednesday through Sunday.
The meet at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon marks the first time the U.S. is hosting since 2014, when the old Hayward Field was the venue.
The U.S. roster includes Quincy Wilson, who in 2024 became the youngest male Olympic track and field medalist with 4x400m relay gold at 16.
Plus Tate Taylor, who at the July 4 Pre Classic in Eugene won the 200m over Olympic gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana.
Taylor, 18, ran 19.75 seconds into a .9 meter-per-second headwind at Pre. The only teenagers to ever run faster were American Erriyon Knighton (19.49 at age 18) and Australian Gout Gout (19.67 at 18).
#taylor
The meet at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon marks the first time the U.S. is hosting since 2014, when the old Hayward Field was the venue.
The U.S. roster includes Quincy Wilson, who in 2024 became the youngest male Olympic track and field medalist with 4x400m relay gold at 16.
Plus Tate Taylor, who at the July 4 Pre Classic in Eugene won the 200m over Olympic gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana.
Taylor, 18, ran 19.75 seconds into a .9 meter-per-second headwind at Pre. The only teenagers to ever run faster were American Erriyon Knighton (19.49 at age 18) and Australian Gout Gout (19.67 at 18).
#taylor
2 months ago
The Diamond League season continues with a fascinating field in action in Monaco.
The men’s 100m looks packed with quality, with Oblique Seville, Letsile Tebogo and Jordan Anthony all in action – though Marcell Jacobs has been forced to withdraw after a rapid wind-assisted time recently.
The women’s sprinters will be on show in the 200 metres, too, with Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred battling Gabrielle Thomas, winner over the longer distance at Paris 2024.
British interest includes middle-distance star Jake Wightman and Alex Yee, with the triathlete looking to lower his personal best in a rare track outing in what could be a fast and furious 5000m.
Here’s everything you need to know.
The men’s 100m looks packed with quality, with Oblique Seville, Letsile Tebogo and Jordan Anthony all in action – though Marcell Jacobs has been forced to withdraw after a rapid wind-assisted time recently.
The women’s sprinters will be on show in the 200 metres, too, with Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred battling Gabrielle Thomas, winner over the longer distance at Paris 2024.
British interest includes middle-distance star Jake Wightman and Alex Yee, with the triathlete looking to lower his personal best in a rare track outing in what could be a fast and furious 5000m.
Here’s everything you need to know.
2 months ago
The stakes continue to rise for Tate Taylor, and the track and field phenom continues to deliver.
Taylor is an 18-year-old from San Antonio Harlan School in Texas who is less than a month removed from his high school graduation. But he stole the show at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic July 4 at Hayward Field, winning the men's 200-meter dash in a personal-best 19.75 seconds.
The performance shattered Taylor's own U.S. high school record, is the 29th-fastest overall time in world history and was fast enough to beat the reigning Olympic champion, Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, who finished second in 19.93.
Taylor also moved up to third on the world U20 all-time list, surpassing Usain Bolt.
"I didn't even know I passed Bolt's record, so that's pretty cool," Taylor said with a smile. "God is good; all glory to God. To beat the Olympic champ — I was literally telling my coach before this, 'They cannot possibly come out here and expect me to win.' I said it just like that. ... It means a lot. I look up to Tebogo, for real. I'm excited to see how the rest of his career and season pan out.
Taylor is an 18-year-old from San Antonio Harlan School in Texas who is less than a month removed from his high school graduation. But he stole the show at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic July 4 at Hayward Field, winning the men's 200-meter dash in a personal-best 19.75 seconds.
The performance shattered Taylor's own U.S. high school record, is the 29th-fastest overall time in world history and was fast enough to beat the reigning Olympic champion, Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, who finished second in 19.93.
Taylor also moved up to third on the world U20 all-time list, surpassing Usain Bolt.
"I didn't even know I passed Bolt's record, so that's pretty cool," Taylor said with a smile. "God is good; all glory to God. To beat the Olympic champ — I was literally telling my coach before this, 'They cannot possibly come out here and expect me to win.' I said it just like that. ... It means a lot. I look up to Tebogo, for real. I'm excited to see how the rest of his career and season pan out.
2 months ago
The 2026 Prefontaine Classic may not have produced any world records like in years past, but this year's big track and field meet in Eugene, Oregon was a major milestone for a couple of American athletes, including a teenager who produced one of the shock races of the season.
At just 18 years old, San Antonio's Tate Taylor took down a 200-meter field headlined by reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and 2025 World Championship bronze medalist Bryan Levell. Taylor's winning time of 19.75 was run into a fairly considerable headwind, which makes his accomplishment even more impressive.
Taylor not only significantly lowered his own US high school national record (19.94 seconds, which he set last month in Texas), he moved up to third on the all-time U20 list above some fella named Usain Bolt, whose best time in this event as a youth was 19.93 seconds as a 17-year-old. Only Australian sensation Gout Gout and the currently suspended Erriyon Knighton have ever run that fast that young.
It was a result so stunning that it even surprised Taylor himself.
"I didn't even know I passed Bolt's [mark], so that's pretty cool," Taylor said to SB Nation after the race. "To beat the Olympic champ—I was literally telling my coach right before this, 'They cannot possibly come out here and expect me to win.' I said it just like that. I was like, 'I'm not winning this race.' But if somebody is going to win, they have to go crazy just to beat me, and sure enough God made a way, so I guess my doubted myself on that.
At just 18 years old, San Antonio's Tate Taylor took down a 200-meter field headlined by reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and 2025 World Championship bronze medalist Bryan Levell. Taylor's winning time of 19.75 was run into a fairly considerable headwind, which makes his accomplishment even more impressive.
Taylor not only significantly lowered his own US high school national record (19.94 seconds, which he set last month in Texas), he moved up to third on the all-time U20 list above some fella named Usain Bolt, whose best time in this event as a youth was 19.93 seconds as a 17-year-old. Only Australian sensation Gout Gout and the currently suspended Erriyon Knighton have ever run that fast that young.
It was a result so stunning that it even surprised Taylor himself.
"I didn't even know I passed Bolt's [mark], so that's pretty cool," Taylor said to SB Nation after the race. "To beat the Olympic champ—I was literally telling my coach right before this, 'They cannot possibly come out here and expect me to win.' I said it just like that. I was like, 'I'm not winning this race.' But if somebody is going to win, they have to go crazy just to beat me, and sure enough God made a way, so I guess my doubted myself on that.
2 months ago
Where to watch Prefontaine Classic 2026: Full schedule, TV channel, live stream for track and field meet originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
An annual summertime special, the Prefontaine Classic is back in Eugene, Oregon, over Fourth of July weekend.
Named after legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine, the Classic is the nation's premier track and field meet, drawing the most elite athletes to Hayward Field since 1975. This meet is steeped in history, and became a founding stop of the Diamond League circuit in 2010.
For the 51st edition of the meet, fans can expect to see appearances from Olympic gold medalists Sha'Carri Richardson, Rai Benjamin, Letsile Tebogo, Cole Hocker, Masai Russell, Faith Kipyegon and more.
You won't want to miss this.
An annual summertime special, the Prefontaine Classic is back in Eugene, Oregon, over Fourth of July weekend.
Named after legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine, the Classic is the nation's premier track and field meet, drawing the most elite athletes to Hayward Field since 1975. This meet is steeped in history, and became a founding stop of the Diamond League circuit in 2010.
For the 51st edition of the meet, fans can expect to see appearances from Olympic gold medalists Sha'Carri Richardson, Rai Benjamin, Letsile Tebogo, Cole Hocker, Masai Russell, Faith Kipyegon and more.
You won't want to miss this.
2 months ago
Where to watch Prefontaine Classic 2026: Full schedule, TV channel, live stream for track and field meet originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
An annual summertime special, the Prefontaine Classic is back in Eugene, Oregon, over Fourth of July weekend.
Named after legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine, the Classic is the nation's premier track and field meet, drawing the most elite athletes to Hayward Field since 1975. This meet is steeped in history, and became a founding stop of the Diamond League circuit in 2010.
For the 51st edition of the meet, fans can expect to see appearances from Olympic gold medalists Sha'Carri Richardson, Rai Benjamin, Letsile Tebogo, Cole Hocker, Masai Russell, Faith Kipyegon and more.
You won't want to miss this.
An annual summertime special, the Prefontaine Classic is back in Eugene, Oregon, over Fourth of July weekend.
Named after legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine, the Classic is the nation's premier track and field meet, drawing the most elite athletes to Hayward Field since 1975. This meet is steeped in history, and became a founding stop of the Diamond League circuit in 2010.
For the 51st edition of the meet, fans can expect to see appearances from Olympic gold medalists Sha'Carri Richardson, Rai Benjamin, Letsile Tebogo, Cole Hocker, Masai Russell, Faith Kipyegon and more.
You won't want to miss this.
