Renee Washington has been named Woman of the Year as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
Washington receives the honour in recognition of the work she has done to promote the advancement of gender equity in athletics, particularly in her role as chief operating officer at USA Track &amp; Field (USATF).
Her achievements include pioneering new USATF initiatives for women and mothers in the sport. With a goal of removing barriers to competition for all athletes, she spearheaded a partnership with period product supplier August to provide menstrual hygiene products for athletes.&nbsp;
Washington has also implemented expanded maternity support for track and field athletes and championed increased benefits including medical expense reimbursements, competitive opportunities support, funding to attend events and coaching stipends.
In her role at USATF, Washington manages the organisation's record $40 million budget and 68-person national staff. Alongside the USATF CEO, she spearheads a mentorship group to support elite athletes for life after their sports careers end, by providing them with the necessary tools to successfully transition info life after sport. She also sits on the board of the Indianapolis Chapter of WISE (Women in Sports and Events) and participates in panel discussion on topics impacting women and young professionals in the workforce.&nbsp;
Under her guidance and leadership at the national governing body, Washington has strived to provide childcare stipends and support at USATF competitions, so women do not need to choose between their family and their career.&nbsp;
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Alongside her work at USATF, Washington has served on various boards and working groups addressing key issues affecting international sport, including the World Athletics Women&rsquo;s Committee and the USOPC Council for Racial and Social Justice. She is a member of the World Athletics Executive Board Remuneration Committee, with gender equity being a primary focus.
Washington has been a guest on the Business Case for Women&rsquo;s Sports podcast to discuss how USATF addresses gender equity and supports female athletes. She also featured in Diverse Representation&rsquo;s National Black Women in Sports Day, which celebrates black women in the sports industry and advocates for greater representation.
&ldquo;I am deeply humbled and incredibly honoured to accept the World Athletics Woman of the Year Award,&rdquo; said Washington. &ldquo;2024 has been an unforgettable year for our sport, filled with groundbreaking achievements and historic moments from the grassroots to the elite level. I am so proud to be acknowledged for the work I get to do each and every day at USA Track &amp; Field.&nbsp;
&ldquo;To me, this award symbolises the power of intentional leadership &ndash; leadership that ensures everyone, regardless of their background or position, is seen, heard, valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. I am so energised by what lies ahead for our sport. Together, we are creating a future where athletics is not only a platform for competition, but a powerful force for representation and inspiration. I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported and championed me throughout this journey.&rdquo;
The Woman of the Year Award is the second honour announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024. Further World Athletics Awards announcements will be made this weekend, with the World Athletes of the Year and Rising Stars being revealed on Sunday (1 December).
World Athletics

Renee Washington receives the honour in recognition of the work she has done to promote the advancement of gender equity in athletics, particularly in her role as chief operating officer at USA Track & Field

Washington wins Woman of the Year Award

Trevor Painter has received the Coaching Achievement Award, becoming the first winner to be announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The British coach has been guiding athletes for almost a quarter of a century. He has coached more than 30 athletes to international level, including the women&rsquo;s 800m champion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Keely Hodgkinson.
Painter is the founder and head coach of the M11 Track Club, a professional track &amp; field team based in Manchester, UK, that specialises in the 400m, 800m and 1500m events. The team currently includes 19 international athletes &ndash; eight of those competed at the Paris Games and three won Olympic medals in the French capital.
Following her three successive silver medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the past two World Championships, Painter guided Hodgkinson to her first senior global gold as she won the 800m at the Paris Olympics in 1:56.72. She had gone into the race as the favourite to win, having clocked a world-leading British record of 1:54.61 at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in London &ndash; a time that has remained the fastest of the year and moved Hodgkinson to sixth on the world all-time list.
Two places behind Hodgkinson in London was her fellow Painter-coached athlete Georgia Bell, who ran a PB of 1:56.28 &ndash; the fourth-fastest time of the year &ndash; and went on to claim Olympic 1500m bronze in Paris in a British record of 3:52.61. That performance completed a remarkable return for Bell, who made a comeback after quitting athletics in 2017.
Painter&rsquo;s third Olympic medallist in Paris was Lewis Davey, who formed part of GB&rsquo;s bronze medal-winning men&rsquo;s 4x400m team after claiming world silver and bronze relay medals in Budapest in 2023.
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Passionate about the work he undertakes and the mentorship he provides, Painter has also become an ambassador in helping athletes to transition from their own professional careers into coaching. One of Painter&rsquo;s first major successes was coaching his wife Jenny Meadows to world 800m bronze in 2009 and she now works alongside Painter as a coach at the M11 Track Club.
Other athletes and coaches to have been mentored by Painter include Paralympic medallist Graeme Ballard, world relay medallist Kirsten McAslan, nine-time Danish champion Annemarie Nissen, Darren Borthwick, Danny Kevan and Aneta Lemiesz.
The Coaching Achievement Award recognises coaches who have made outstanding achievements and contributions to develop, encourage and strengthen coaching at all levels in athletics.
As well as his work guiding some of the world&rsquo;s best athletes, Painter regularly speaks at conferences and on podcasts, both nationally and internationally. He achieved his MSc in Elite Coaching Practice at the University of Central Lancashire.
&ldquo;2024 has been such a wonderful debut year for M11 Track Club, with many standout performances,&rdquo; said Painter. &ldquo;In Paris, we achieved more than our wildest dreams. Keely finally getting that gold was a wonderful start to the week and then for Georgia Bell to add a bronze in the women&rsquo;s 1500m followed by a men&rsquo;s 4x400m bronze for Lewis Davey, it turned into an incredible week.
&ldquo;I would like to thank everybody at World Athletics for this award. It&rsquo;s a huge honour to join some of the legendary names that have won this in the past. I would also like to thank everyone that has helped behind the scenes with M11 Track Club, none more so than my wife, Jenny Meadows. Hopefully we can continue to build on what the team has already achieved.&rdquo;
The Coaching Achievement Award is the first of the honours celebrated as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024. Further announcements will be made this weekend, with the World Athletes of the Year and Rising Stars being revealed on Sunday (1 December).
World Athletics

Trevor Painter has received the Coaching Achievement Award, becoming the first winner to be announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024

Painter receives Coaching Achievement Award

Ethiopia&rsquo;s Sisay Lemma, the course record-holder at the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich, will return to the Spanish city on Sunday (1) to defend his title at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.
It&rsquo;s only in recent weeks, however, that the organisers were able to confirm that the race will go ahead. At the end of October, the province of Valencia was hit by extreme floods, claiming the lives of 229 people. The natural disaster lasted for more than two weeks, causing substantial damage in the area.
While the effects are still being felt in many parts of Valencia, the city has been able to recover enough for this weekend&rsquo;s race to go ahead.
&ldquo;These have been days of great pain, fear, uncertainty and anxiety for the city of Valencia and its entire province,&rdquo; the organisers said in a statement two weeks ago. &ldquo;But after every storm comes the sunrise.
&ldquo;This marathon will be much more than a race. It will be a hug to this wounded city and a promise of recovery, a moment in which sport becomes hope and help for those who need it most. It will also be a symbol of support for every family that has suffered, for every street and every corner of Valencia that is in the process of reconstruction.&rdquo;
The organisers also confirmed that all the proceeds from the sponsors, the organisation&rsquo;s own funds and the runners will be donated to one or more projects for the reconstruction of the affected areas.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/674462a77b62a41c0453a3bb.jpg" alt="Valencia Marathon Livestream" /></a></div>
Lemma won in Valencia last year in 2:01:48, finishing 83 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger and moving to fourth on the world all-time list. He went on to take the Boston Marathon title earlier this year in 2:06:17, winning by 41 seconds.
But despite decisive victories in his last two marathons, Lemma may not have it all his own way on Sunday.
Three-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion Kenenisa Bekele is also returning to Valencia. The Ethiopian, whose PB of 2:01:41 puts him one place ahead of Lemma on the world all-time list, finished fourth in Valencia last year in 2:04:19, then went on to take second place in London earlier this year in 2:04:15, his fastest time in five years.
Four months later, Bekele competed at the Olympic Games and placed 39th in 2:12:24, so he&rsquo;ll no doubt be looking for some form of redemption to end his year on a high.
Three other Ethiopian men with sub-2:04 PBs will be in Valencia: Birhanu Legese, Guye Adola and Deresa Geleta.
Legese is a two-time Tokyo Marathon champion. He finished third in Valencia in 2020, clocking 2:03:16, while his most recent marathon outing was a third-place finish in Rotterdam earlier this year in 2:05:16.
Adola won the Berlin Marathon in 2021, but he hasn&rsquo;t raced so far in 2024. He competed twice in 2023, finishing second in Paris (2:07:35) and third in Frankfurt (2:07:44).
Geleta has enjoyed a strong year, kicking off with a PB of 2:03:26 to win in Seville, then placing fifth at the Olympic Games, just 31 seconds shy of a medal.
Much of the focus will be on some of the athletes who&rsquo;ll be making their marathon debuts in Valencia.
World half marathon champion Sabastian Sawe has contested nine half marathons to date, all of them comfortably inside 60 minutes and topped by his PB of 58:02. World half marathon silver medallist Daniel Mateiko is similarly consistent at the 13.1-mile distance, having bettered 59 minutes on seven occasions. Hillary Kipkoech, a 59:22 half marathon performer, was one of Lemma&rsquo;s pacemakers in 2023, but this year is entered as a contender in his own right.
Following the recent withdrawal of course record-holder Amane Beriso, Megertu Alemu heads to Valencia as the fastest in the women&rsquo;s field.
She clocked a PB of 2:16:34 to finish fourth in London earlier this year, but failed to finish the marathon at the Paris Olympics.&nbsp; The 27-year-old will be looking to recapture the form that carrier her to podium finishes in London in 2022 and in London and Chicago in 2023.
Hiwot Gebrekidan was third in Valencia last year, clocking a PB of 2:17:59, though she hasn&rsquo;t contested a marathon since then. Fellow Ethiopian Tiruye Mesfin also set her PB in Valencia, clocking 2:18:47 in 2022. More recently, she finished ninth at this year&rsquo;s Boston Marathon.
Stella Chesang set a Ugandan record of 2:20:23 on her marathon debut in Hamburg last year. She heads to Valencia looking to capitalise on her current good form and improve her national marathon record, having set a half marathon PB of 1:07:59 and finished eighth in the marathon at the Paris Olympics this year.
USA&rsquo;s Sara Hall, the London runner-up in 2021, is also looking to end her year on a high after finishing 15th in Boston and 18th in Chicago this year.
Kenya&rsquo;s Evaline Chirchir could be one to watch. She has completed just two marathons to date, her fastest being a 2:22:11 clocking in Daegu earlier this year. But her PBs for 10km (30:43) and the half marathon (1:06:01) suggest she&rsquo;s capable of an even faster marathon time.
<h2>How to watch the&nbsp;Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich</h2>
A live stream of the&nbsp;Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich will be available to watch on <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inside Track</a> on Sunday 1 December.
Use the&nbsp;World Athletics eCalendar&nbsp;to&nbsp;sync your calendar and receive a notification.
<a href="https://ql.e-c.al/3Mfds0H" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sync calendar</a>
<h3> Elite field</h3>
Women Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:16:34 Hiwot Gebrekidan (ETH) 2:17:59 Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:18:47 Stella Chesang (UGA) 2:20:23 Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32 Majida Maayouf (ESP) 2:21:27 Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:22:11 Chimdesa Kumsa (ETH) 2:22:13 Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:23:27 Malindi Elmore (CAN) 2:23:30 Sofia Assefa (ETH) 2:23:33 Fionnuala McCormack (IRL) 2:23:58 Jessica Stenson (AUS) 2:24:01 Gerda Steyn (RSA) 2:24:03 Laura Hottenrott (GER) 2:24:32 Camilla Richardsson (FIN) 2:24:38 Clara Evans (GBR) 2:25:04 Fatima Azzaharaa Ouhaddou (ESP) 2:25:30 Laura Luengo (ESP) 2:25:35 Susana Santos (POR) 2:25:35 Moira Stewartova (CZE) 2:25:36
Men Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:01:41 Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:01:48 Birhanu Legese (ETH) 2:02:48 Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:03:27 Guye Adola (ETH) 2:03:46 Tadesse Abraham (SUI) 2:05:01 Alphonce Simbu (TAN) 2:05:39 Sondre Moen (NOR) 2:05:48 Samwel Fitwi (GER) 2:06:27 Andamlak Belihu (ETH) 2:06:40 Maru Teferi (ISR) 2:06:43 Shokhrukh Davlyatov (UZB) 2:07:02 Richard Ringer (GER) 2:07:05 Zerei Kbrom (NOR) 2:07:10 Iliass Aouani (ITA) 2:07:16 Samuel Barata (POR) 2:07:35 H&eacute;ctor Garibay (BOL) 2:07:44 Ibrahim Chakir Elosri (ESP) 2:07:48 Sabastian Sawe (KEN) debut Daniel Mateiko (KEN) debut Mathew Kimeli (KEN) debut Hillary Kipkoech (KEN) debut Carlos Mayo Nieto (ESP) debut Pietro Riva (ITA) debut Chimdessa Debele (ETH) debut

Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma will take on Kenenisa Bekele at the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich on 1 December

Lemma takes on Bekele in Valencia, Megertu out for redemption

World Athletics this week joined efforts with the Monegasque Ministry of Environment in its initiative to reduce, reuse and recycle as a way of marking Monaco&rsquo;s Waste Reduction Awareness week.
In addition, as the festive and cold season slowly creeps in, World Athletics partnered with Monaco&rsquo;s Semeurs d&rsquo;Espoir (Sowers of Hope) for a special collection of clothing, shoes and food, all of which will be donated to the homeless and the poor in neighbouring communities.
Staff at World Athletics headquarters donated 6kg of food donations, 17kg of sports shoes and 118kg of clothes.
Jean-Pierre Debernardi, a representative of the Monegasque Semeurs d&rsquo;Espoir Association, collected the donations. He, along with about 90 colleagues, dedicates his free time to deliver clothing and food to the homeless, poor and Ukrainian refugees living in Monaco&rsquo;s neighbouring communities.
Swiss sprinter Ajla del Ponte and Italian high jumper Elena Vallortigara, two of World Athletics&rsquo; champions for a better world, expressed their support from afar.
&ldquo;I really like to hear about this new initiative,&rdquo; said Del Ponte. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m trying to do as much as I can back at home in Switzerland, as sponsored athletes we get clothing packages very often and it happens that some things will never be used. I make sure to donate to associations or I ask to my club if there are some kids in need. I&rsquo;d like kids or young adults to not have to think about this by giving a bit of mine. A small gesture can change a lot.
&ldquo;In Switzerland we also have an initiative called &lsquo;The magic table&rsquo; which helps people in need to avoid alimentary poverty,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;I always try to donate either coffee, rice, pasta or anything they need at the moment. Again, a small gesture for us, but a big impact for someone else.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I always try to stick to the rules of reduce-reuse-recycle,&rdquo; said Vallortigara. &ldquo;I pay special attention to the quality of the products I buy, whether it&rsquo;s food, clothing, items in general. I try to be as essential as possible: when I really need something, according to my financial means, I choose the option with the best quality price ratio. But quality, as synonymous of sustainability, is always a priority.
&ldquo;We should all have the interest and curiosity to know more about what we buy: being better informed can leading to more respectful choices,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;There are so many ways to reuse food and clothes; the internet is full of delicious recipes and clothes can find a new life with other purposes and people.&rdquo;
Reducing, and in many cases entirely eliminating, food waste have become important components of event sustainability initiatives in recent years.
Organisers of the World Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 partnered with a food bank in the city&rsquo;s east end to redistribute all excess food from the event &ndash; more than 1000 meals &ndash; to forge a positive partnership that has set the path for future events at the Glasgow Arena. The food donation was the first such initiative by an event hosted at the arena since its opening a decade earlier.
At the Oslo Bislett Games, any leftover food is immediately delivered to a local mosque which distributes the meals in the immediate community. And at the Berlin Half Marathon, all unused prepackaged meals are distributed among the breakdown teams and all unused fruit is donated to the Berliner Tafel Community Food Bank.

World Athletics this week joined efforts with the Monegasque Ministry of Environment in its initiative to reduce, reuse and recycle

World Athletics participates in 2024 European Waste Reduction Week

Ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2024, a digital exhibition has been created featuring the 11 images shortlisted for World Athletics Photograph of the Year.
From the 114 images that were submitted, a panel of judges &ndash; comprising Valerie Adams, Raquel Cavaco Nunes, Mathieu Forget, Pascal Rondeau and Christian Taylor &ndash; selected the below 11 shortlisted images and then the three finalists.
The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/finalists-2024-photograph-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finalists were announced on 19 November</a> and the winning photograph will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
<h2>Digital exhibition of shortlisted images</h2>
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745b8ced0141397ef7ec3d8.jpg" alt="(Photo of the Year 2024 shortlist) Selemon Barega and Berihu Aregawi after the 10,000m at the 2024 Olympic Games" />
Selemon Barega and Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia after finishing the 10,000m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris Photo by Sona Maleterova
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745b965d0141397ef7ec3db.jpg" alt="(Photo of the Year 2024 shortlist) Noah Lyles of USA crosses the line to win 100m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics" />
Noah Lyles of United States crosses the line to win 100m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Photo by Agustin Marcarian / Reuters
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bbf25838b6af69ddb76f.jpg" alt="Markus Rooth, Janek Oiglane, Lindon Victor, Rik Taam and Karel Tilga compete in the decathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics" />
Markus Rooth of Norway, Janek Oiglane of Estonia, Lindon Victor of Grenada, Rik Taam of Netherlands and Karel Tilga of Estonia compete in the 110m hurdles during the decathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Photo by Joel Marklund / Bildbyran
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bc185838b6af69ddb772.jpg" alt="(Photo of the Year 2024 shortlist) Leo Neugebauer lands after a successful jump on way to decathlon silver in Paris" />
Leo Neugebauer of Germany lands after a successful jump on his way to the decathlon silver medal in Paris Photo by Dylan Martinez
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b826674549a2448fee5d3.JPG" alt="Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France Photo by Mattia Ozbot
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bcf85838b6af69ddb775.jpg" alt="Mondo Duplantis of Sweden in action while clearing 6.25m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris" />
Mondo Duplantis of Sweden in action while clearing 6.25m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris Photo by Casey Sims
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bd555838b6af69ddb778.jpg" alt="Mondo Duplantis after breaking his own pole vault world record at the Silesia Diamond League meeting" />
A surprised Mondo Duplantis after breaking his own pole vault world record when he cleared 6.26m at the second attempt at the Silesia Diamond League meeting Photo by Pawel Skraba
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b828f74549a2448fee5d6.jpg" alt="Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan collide during the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands collide during the women's marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Esplanade des Invalides Photo by Michael Steele / Getty Images
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bdea021a2e6c015748be.jpg" alt="(Photo of the Year 2024 shortlist) The women&rsquo;s 10,000m final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris" />
Sunset during the women&rsquo;s 10,000m final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris Photo by Jaroslav Svoboda
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b82c974549a2448fee5d9.JPG" alt="Noah Lyles celebrates with his 100m gold medal during the medal ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Noah Lyles of USA celebrates with his gold medal during the medal ceremony for the men&rsquo;s 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France Photo by Anna Szilagyi / EPA Images
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745be3f021a2e6c015748c1.jpg" alt="Tommy Murphy gestures to Charlie Cummins during the primary boys mile race at the 2024 Cork City Sports athletics meet" />
Tommy Murphy from Beaumont Primary School gestures to Charlie Cummins of St Joseph&rsquo;s National Boys Cobh on the home stretch of the primary boys mile race at the 2024 Cork City Sports athletics meet Photo by Morgan Treacy / INPHO
&nbsp;
</div>
</div>
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A digital exhibition has been created featuring the 11 images shortlisted for World Athletics Photograph of the Year

Digital exhibition: 2024 World Athletics Photograph of the Year shortlisted images

Italy&rsquo;s Nadia Battocletti and Burundi&rsquo;s Rodrigue Kwizera confirmed their supremacy at the Cross Internacional de la Constitucion &ndash; the eighth Gold meeting in this season&rsquo;s World Athletics Cross Country Tour &ndash; in Alcobendas, Spain, on Sunday (24).
On a pleasant sunny day, Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Battocletti achieved her first win at this event, while Kwizera became the only athlete to claim victory three consecutive times.
The women&rsquo;s 8.04km contest witnessed an early lead by the two main favourites: the eventual winner and Germany&rsquo;s 2022 European 5000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen, competing in Alcobendas for the first time. That duo built a 20-metre advantage on the rest of the field some four minutes into the race, with the Italian taking on pacing duties and the German trailing in her wake.
Battocletti&rsquo;s relentless rhythm paid off before they reached the third kilometre and it was then that the European cross country silver medallist broke away from Klosterhalfen with ease. By midway, they were separated by 14 seconds, the German another 28 seconds ahead of the chasing group headed by Italy&rsquo;s Federica Del Buono.
The second half of the race became a solo run for Battocletti as she extended her margin on Klosterhalfen. By the bell, with 2.3km left after a powerful 7:20 loop, the gap had grown to 40 seconds, with Klosterhalfen another 38 seconds clear of her distant pursuers. Finally, Battocletti ran home unopposed &ndash; a 7:18 closing lap seeing her win by 1:13 ahead of Klosterhalfen.
Attention turned to the battle for the third place on the podium, with five athletes fighting hard. Del Buono was up against Ecuador&rsquo;s Ruth Tisalema and the Spanish trio of Alicia Berzosa, Claudia Estevez and Claudia Arce, the latter finally prevailing after unleashing a strong change of speed over the last 200 metres.
&ldquo;I was not sure of winning today as Klosterhalfen is a great athlete but I felt strong and managed to win,&rdquo; said Battocletti. &ldquo;Honestly, I love the Alcobendas circuit; it&rsquo;s so tough but at the same time a perfect dress-rehearsal for the Europeans which are usually held two weeks later.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Asked about her ambitions for the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, the 5000m and 10,000m European champion said: &ldquo;I would like to medal there.&rdquo;
The Italian&rsquo;s next competitions will be a 5km race on home soil on 31 December and the Campaccio cross country race on 6 January.
<h2>Kwizera unchallenged</h2>
Right from the start, Ugandan teenager Samuel Cherop picked up the pace to open a small advantage over Ethiopia&rsquo;s Abrham Sime and Kwizera, with Uganda&rsquo;s Martin Kiprotich and Kenya&rsquo;s Mathew Kipsang completing the leading pack. Shortly after covering the opening kilometre, Kiprotich moved to the front to take turns with his fellow Ugandan Cherop in trying to leave Kwizera behind but, on his fifth consecutive appearance in Alcobendas, Kwizera ran effortlessly in third.
Some 10 minutes into the race the Spanish-based Burundian took charge of the pacing duties and soon Sime and Kipsang began to lose ground. Kwizera&rsquo;s tactics also left Cherop way back before the fifth kilometre, when the contest became a battle between the two-time winner here and Kiprotich, as was the case last year.&nbsp;
The lead duo covered the penultimate 2.3km circuit in a brisk 6:30 to build an 11-second gap on a lonesome Cherop and the key movement came with just over a kilometre remaining when Kwizera produced a powerful attack to get rid of Kiprotich in a matter of a few strides.
Kwizera reached the finish line in 22:58, comfortably clear of Kiprotich (23:09), while Cherop completed the podium another 24 seconds back.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s my third win in a row here &ndash; four counting the year I was disqualified for not wearing my club&rsquo;s shirt &ndash; so I have to be satisfied,&rdquo; said Kwizera.
&ldquo;The circuit is not easy but my experience here plays in my favour. I have used my usual tactics, to wait and see in the first half, then to move to the front to assess my rivals&rsquo; energies to finally attack over the closing kilometre. I&rsquo;ll next run at the Aranda de Duero cross country permit next Sunday.&rdquo;
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women&nbsp; 1 Nadia Battocletti (ITA) 26:14 2 Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER) 27:27 3 Claudia Arce (ESP) 27:50 4 Ruth Tisalema (ECU) 27:54 5 Federica Del Buono (ITA) 28:01 6 Alicia Berzosa (ESP) 28:03
Men&nbsp; 1 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 22:58 2 Martin Kiprotich (UGA) 23:09 3 Samuel Cherop (UGA) 23:31 4 Mathew Kipsang (KEN) 23:37 5 Yahya Aouina (ESP) 23:38 6 Abrham Sime (ETH) 23:46
<h2>Kipruto and Chemutai win in Carhaix-Plouguer</h2>
Kenya&rsquo;s Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto secured his second successive win of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold season, while Uganda&rsquo;s Belinda Chemutai got her campaign off to a successful start at the Festival du Cross-Country meeting in Carhaix-Plouguer, France, on Sunday (24).
One week on from winning the 10.2km senior men&rsquo;s race at the Cinque Mulini meeting in Italy, 19-year-old Kipruto secured top spot after racing the 7.31km event at the Site de Kerampuilh.
Kipruto, who claimed world U20 cross country bronze in Belgrade in March, this time clocked 22:35 to win by 12 seconds ahead of his compatriot Robert Kiprop Koech and Kipruto&rsquo;s fellow teenager Harbert Kibet of Uganda, who finished fifth in the 3000m at the World U20 Championships in Lima in August. Koech and Kibet both clocked 22:47, with Koech getting the nod for the runner-up spot, while it was also close for fourth place as Kenya&rsquo;s Vincent Kimaiyo and Uganda&rsquo;s Titus Musau both ran 23:07.
Chemutai was also a clear winner in the women&rsquo;s 7.31km race. Clocking 25:51, she won by seven seconds ahead of another close battle for second place. Kenya&rsquo;s Maurine Jepkoech Chebor secured the runner up spot as she clocked 25:58, the same time as Ethiopia&rsquo;s Asmarech Anley in third place.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Robe Dida was fourth, one place ahead of Kazakhstan&rsquo;s 2022 3000m steeplechase champion Norah Jeruto.
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Belinda Chemutai (UGA) 25:51 2 Maurine Jepkoech Chebor (KEN) 25:58 3 Asmarech Anley (ETH) 25:58 4 Robe Dida (ETH) 26:00 5 Norah Jeruto (KAZ) 26:03 6 Flavie Renouard (FRA) 26:29
Men 1 Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto (KEN) 22:35 2 Robert Kiprop Koech (KEN) 22:47 3 Harbert Kibet (UGA) 22:47 4 Vincent Kimaiyo (KEN) 23:07 5 Titus Musau (UGA) 23:07 6 Saymon Amanuel (ERI) 23:09
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-tour/calendar-results/7213897/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>

Italy’s Nadia Battocletti and Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera confirmed their supremacy at the Cross Internacional de la Constitucion

Battocletti and Kwizera excel in Alcobendas

Italy's Nadia Battocletti and Burundi&rsquo;s Rodrigue Kwizera are the star names at the Cross Internacional de la Constituci&oacute;n &ndash; the eighth Gold level event in this season&rsquo;s World Athletics Cross Country Tour &ndash; in Alcobendas on the outskirts of Madrid on Sunday (24).
Battocletti earned Olympic silver over 10,000m in Paris earlier this year, finishing just 0.10 behind two-time world cross-country champion Beatrice Chebet. The 24-year-old Italian set national records when winning the 5000m and 10,000m at the European championships earlier in the summer, then went on to improve on them in Paris with marks of 14:31.64 and 30:43.35.
The European cross-country silver medallist opened her winter campaign last Sunday at the Cinque Mulini, where she finished third. Having finished third in Alcobendas last year and second in 2022, Battocletti hopes that this weekend&rsquo;s race will be third time lucky.
Germany&rsquo;s Konstanze Klosterhalfen, the 2022 European cross-country silver medallist, will also be in contention in the women&rsquo;s 8.04km race. The 27-year-old last raced four weeks ago at the Valencia half marathon, where she finished ninth in 1:07:07.
Federica del Buono will also be a contender. The versatile Italian competed over 10,000m at the European Championships, then dropped down to the 1500m at the Paris Olympics. She placed 10th at the Cinque Mulini, 19 seconds ahead of Hungary&rsquo;s Lili Anna Vindics-Toth, also entered for Sunday&rsquo;s race. Alicia Berzosa, who finished 12th in the 10,000m at the European Championships, should lead the Spanish challenge.
The men&rsquo;s contest, also held over 8.04km, features defending champion Rodrigue Kwizera. The Burundian suffered his first defeat of the current cross-country season last weekend when he was outsprinted by Thierry Ndikumwenayo at the Cross de It&aacute;lica. The 25-year-old reached the finish line first at the past three editions of this race, although he was disqualified in 2021 for not wearing the vest of his Spanish club, Playas de Castell&oacute;n. He made amends with victories in 2022 and 2023, and so goes into this weekend&rsquo;s race as the hot favourite.
He may not have it all his own way, though. Kenya&rsquo;s Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang, Ethiopia&rsquo;s Abrham Sime and Ugandan duo Martin Kiprotich and Samuel Cherop will be keen to make an impact. Kipsang has achieved podium finishes in Atapuerca, Soria and San Vittore Olona in recent weeks, while Kiprotich was fifth in Atapuerca. Cherop, who was 11th in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships earlier this year, is fresh from a 13:46 run over 5km in Lille. Sime, who has a highly respectable steeplechase PB of 8:02.36, clocked 13:36 in Lille for fifth.
With many of Spain&rsquo;s top distance runners building up for the European Cross Country Championships on 8 December, Juan Antonio P&eacute;rez &ndash; a 27:46.08 performer for 10,000m &ndash; should lead the home challenge.
Notable past winners here include Portugal's 1993 world cross-country champion Albertina Dias (1996), Eritrea's former world half marathon record-holder Zersenay Tadese (2005), Kenya&rsquo;s 2016 Olympic 5000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot (2009), Ethiopia&rsquo;s Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola (2015) and Uganda&rsquo;s two-time world cross country champion Jacob Kiplimo (2018).
Weather forecasters predict a sunny and windless day on Sunday with temperatures ranging between 12-14C.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

Italy's Nadia Battocletti and Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera are the star names at the Cross Internacional de la Constitución

Battocletti and Kwizera the athletes to beat in Alcobendas

<ul>
<li>Almost 400 athletes will battle it out over three nights to become ultimate champions</li>
<li>Clashes include the 100m, pole vault and new 4x100m mixed relay</li>
<li>Athletes compete for a share of the US$10m prize pot, with $150k for the ultimate champions</li>
</ul>
World Athletics has appointed Tata Communications and HBS as the host broadcaster of the new <a href="https://bit.ly/4eFlATL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Ultimate Championship</a>&nbsp;that will light up the Budapest National Athletics Centre and screens across the globe in 2026.
This agreement builds on the five-year global host broadcasting services deal covering World Athletics Series events that was announced between World Athletics and Tata Communications in June.&nbsp;
HBS brings its years of experience as a world-class host broadcaster to the World Athletics product, leading the push to innovate and expand viewership around the exciting launch of the new Ultimate Championship event and across all World Athletics Series events during the five-year cycle.
World Athletics has also appointed Infront to lead the charge on international media rights sales for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, working in true partnership with World Athletics on a new and coordinated approach to market this made-for-TV event.
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship is a groundbreaking new global event set to transform the athletics calendar and define which athlete is the best of the best. The inaugural edition of this sensational sports showdown will be held across three evenings of thrilling action on 11-13 September 2026 in Hungary's capital city of Budapest.
With a focus on enhancing the viewing experience &ndash; both at home as well as in the stadium &ndash; the World Athletics Ultimate Championship will showcase a fast-moving new format for athletics. Staged every two years to fulfil World Athletics&rsquo; ambition of having a global championship every year, the event will provide a spectacular conclusion to the summer athletics season, in the years where there is no World Athletics Championships.
Each session will be under three hours in duration, with athletes representing both themselves and their national teams, wearing national kit. The event will be an accelerator for innovation in athletics, using data collected from across the sport.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: &ldquo;This new global event will be a game-changer for our sport and for our athletes. We want to bring our fans athletics like they have never seen it before &ndash; with the best of the best athletes in our sport competing head-to-head in a passion-fuelled, high octane, festival of sport, with sound, light and innovation.
&ldquo;We are also delighted to announce Tata Communications and HBS as host broadcaster. They have an unparalleled track record for delivering world-class live content across multiple platforms and will deliver an innovative and engaging product for our audiences across the globe, a product that is already exciting broadcasters as our highly experienced and talented media partner Infront embarks on its role to sell the rights with a focus on free to air platforms.&rdquo;
Secretary of State for Sports Adam Schmidt said: &ldquo;It is a great honour that after the exhilarating World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, the wonderful National Athletics Centre will once again open its doors for a major international sporting event.
&ldquo;We are delighted to welcome the best of the sport back to Budapest for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. Budapest has become a true sports capital in recent years. I am confident this new event will provide unforgettable sporting moments for sports fans around the world, in addition to promoting athletics in Hungary. What an honour it is to be considered an important partner by World Athletics, we are thankful for this trust. Our main objective in organising international sporting events is to ensure that many of our fellow citizens get to know and love the sport through the performance of the biggest heroes, and incorporate regular physical activities into their lives on a day-to-day basis. I am sure that the World Athletics Ultimate Championship will help us in this mission.&rdquo;
Dhaval Ponda, Tata Communications Vice President and Global Media Head, added: &ldquo;Tata Communications is thrilled to partner with World Athletics for the Ultimate Championship, a groundbreaking addition to the global track and field calendar. The latest collaboration marks a new era in fan engagement, one that will deliver a more immersive, high-energy and unparalleled viewing experience. We&rsquo;re excited to showcase the exceptional athleticism and drama of this unique and innovative format to billions worldwide, pushing the limits of what sports broadcasting technology can achieve.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The Ultimate Championship is poised to bring a fresh energy to athletics, engaging audiences worldwide in a way that is new and exhilarating,&rdquo; said Julien Ternisien, Infront Senior Vice President Summer and Winter Sports. &ldquo;We are excited to bring our experience and expertise to this landmark event, continuing our partnership with World Athletics alongside the Diamond League to push the boundaries of how the sport is presented and consumed.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We are very excited and honoured to be starting this new project with World Athletics, it is a real opportunity to help shape the way coverage of athletics evolves over the coming years &ndash; and to have the new Ultimate Championship involved in this mission adds an additional level of interest,&rdquo; said HBS CEO Dan Miodownik.
&ldquo;Our partnership with Tata Communications brings together a major leader in technology and infrastructure communication with the experts in host broadcasting, and we believe this perfect match will combine with World Athletics&rsquo; ambitious vision. Our selection of long-term athletics experts NCP as our live editorial partner ensures we will bring unparalleled entertainment, through world-class coverage, to athletics fans around the world, as well as attracting new audiences across traditional and new media platforms.&rdquo;
<h2>Disciplines unveiled</h2>
In the battle to determine the champion of champions, the world&rsquo;s best athletes will clash in 28 events across the three evenings of competition. Settling the debate in 16 disciplines, the programme will feature 26 individual events &ndash; 16 track and 10 field &ndash; plus two relays, including the new mixed 4x100m.
World Athletics Ultimate Championship disciplines:
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; height: 176px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; 100m</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; Pole vault</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; 200m</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; High jump</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; 400m</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; Long jump</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; 800m</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; Triple jump (W)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; 1500m</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; Hammer (M)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; 5000m</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; Javelin</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; 100m/110m hurdles</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; Mixed 4x100m</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; 400m hurdles</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 160px;">&bull; Mixed 4x400m&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon said: &ldquo;The Ultimate Championship was developed to bring together the very best athletes from our sport in a selection of events that bring the athletics stadium to life and allow the viewer to see each and every run, jump and throw across three nights of unmissable &lsquo;made for television&rsquo; competition.
&ldquo;The Ultimate Championship is also a chance for us to really innovate how we deliver our sport, presenting it in new formats and across different platforms which are specifically designed to keep the entire venue engaged, ensuring constant, fast-paced excitement.&rdquo;
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship will provide the pinnacle of the 2026 track and field season, to define which athlete is the best of the best &ndash; pitting world champions, Olympic champions, the Wanda Diamond League winners and the year&rsquo;s best performing athletes against each other, to crown the ultimate champion.
The stakes are high. Those athletes will all be competing for their share of a record-setting prize pot of US$10 million, the largest ever offered in track and field &ndash; with champions set to receive US$150,000. Partnerships and enhanced promotional rights for athletes will also unlock greater financial opportunities for the stars and the sport.
Olympic pole vault champion and world record-holder Mondo Duplantis said: &ldquo;Nothing beats competing in front of a live crowd. Anyone that knows me or has watched me compete knows this is where I thrive. The new Ultimate Championship in 2026 will be the ultimate high in a year when we do not have a World Championships or Olympic Games. Even with fewer events there will still be 26 individual events taking place over just three nights - the pace will be insane. It will be time to fly, so strap in and tune in.&rdquo;
Gabby Thomas, who won 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, said: &ldquo;Competing against the best in the world is always a privilege. This new event in 2026 will be incredible and will give the best athletes an opportunity to compete in a major championship in a non-Olympic or World Championships year. It&rsquo;s great to have an event in 2026 that will give us championship focus, and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship does that. I remember the amazing crowds in Budapest at the 2023 World Championships, so can&rsquo;t wait to run for gold in 2026.&rdquo;
<h2>World&rsquo;s best back in Budapest</h2>
Three years on from hosting arguably the most successful World Athletics Championships in history, Hungary&rsquo;s capital city of Budapest will welcome the stars of the sport once again.
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship will be held in Budapest&rsquo;s National Athletics Centre, purpose-built for the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23.
Located on the eastern bank of the Danube River on the south side of the city, the National Athletics Centre will provide the perfect stage for almost 400 athletes from around 70 countries to compete for Ultimate Championship honours.
Each event will shine the spotlight on fields featuring between eight and 16 of the world's top-ranked athletes per discipline, with selections based primarily on world rankings.
With no cap on how many stars from each country can compete in each event, it&rsquo;s not only about where athletes are from. It&rsquo;s about where they finish.
World Athletics

World Athletics has appointed Tata Communications and HBS as the host broadcaster of the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship that will light up the Budapest National Athletics Centre and screens across the globe in 2026

Host broadcaster Tata Communications and HBS to showcase Ultimate Championship as full list of disciplines announced

Olympic finalist Edwin Kurgat of Kenya and Emily Venters took the top honours at the Cross Champs &ndash; a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting &ndash; in Austin, Texas, on Thursday (21).
Kurgat came from behind in the final few kilometres to overtake early leader Athanas Kioko and open up a comfortable winning margin of five seconds. Venters, meanwhile, dominated from the outset and crossed the line 24 seconds ahead of her nearest challenger.
Kioko went straight into the lead of the men&rsquo;s 8km race, completing the first one-mile circuit in 4:42 while Kurgat and Bradley Makuvire followed six seconds later with a larger chase pack just a few strides behind.
Kioko&rsquo;s lead grew slightly to seven seconds by the end of the second lap, but Kurgat &ndash; now running five seconds ahead of the chasers &ndash; still had the leader in his sights. The margin between the Kenyan duo shrunk to just four seconds by the end of the third lap, Kurgat having covered that circuit in 4:27 &ndash; the fastest split of the race up until that point.
A couple of minutes later, Kurgat passed a tiring Kioko and never looked back. He extended his lead in the closing stages and crossed the line in 22:51 with Kioko taking second place in 22:56. Mexican 1500m record-holder Eduard Herrera emerged from the chase pack to take third place in 23:14.
In the women&rsquo;s race, Venters darted into the lead and had built up an eight-second margin at the end of the first lap. Her lead continued to grow with each passing lap, while further back Mercy Chelangat and Katie Izzo ran side by side for much of the race.
There was no catching Venters, who went on to win in 26:03. Chelangat, meanwhile, shook off the challenge from Izzo to take the runner-up spot in 26:27 with Izzo finishing third (26:32).
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Emily Venters (USA) 26:03 2 Mercy Chelangat (KEN) 26:27 3 Katie Izzo (USA) 26:32 4 Amy Cashin (AUS) 26:41 5 Everlyn Kemboi (KEN) 26:47
Men 1 Edwin Kurgat (KEN) 22:51 2 Athanas Kioko (KEN) 22:56 3 Eduard Herrera (MEX) 23:14 4 Cruz Gomez (USA) 23:19 5 Damien Dilcher (USA) 23:20

Olympic finalist Edwin Kurgat of Kenya and Emily Venters took the top honours at the Cross Champs

Kurgat and Venters victorious in Austin

Six finalists have been nominated for the Member Federations Award ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The Member Federations Award recognises a Member Federation that has distinguished itself in its accomplishments throughout the year and, as a result, positively contributed to the growth and profile of the sport. The shortlisted federations were nominated by each of the six area associations.
The winner will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The six nominees, listed alphabetically, are:
<h3>Ghana (Ghana Athletics Association, Africa)</h3>
In March, Ghana&rsquo;s capital city of Accra held the African Games, where winners included the host nation&rsquo;s Joseph Amoah in the 200m, and Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah and Evans Yamoah in the high jump.
The federation in Ghana has been very active in the Western Region and has ensured the organisation of major competitions in the area. 
<h3>India (Athletics Federation of India, Asia)</h3>
The Athletics Federation of India further developed its Coaches Education Programme in 2024. Offering three progressive courses, the programme is designed to elevate the quality of athletics coaching across the country. Since its launch, more than 3000 coaches have completed the AFI Pre Level 1 course, making a significant impact on grassroots coaching.
The federation is also working to broaden the reach of its Kids' Athletics programme. Notably, its U14 programme has seen significant success, with more than 4000 annual participants and the introduction of Kids Javelin. 
<h3>Paraguay (Federacion Paraguaya de Atletismo, South America)</h3>
Federacion Paraguaya de Atletismo will complete the first half of its second strategic plan in 2024, with four areas of work &ndash; events, collaborators, public and alliances &ndash; being implemented.
Athletes from Paraguay won an unprecedented number of South American Championships medals, including one gold each at U20 and U23 level, while training for schoolteachers was organised as part of Kids&rsquo; Athletics. Other achievements include the organisation of JEEN (National School Games) and the South American School Games, collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the Paraguay Olympic Committee, and continued 4x100m relay development. 
<h3>Portugal (Federacao Portuguesa de Atletismo, Europe)</h3>
Federacao Portuguesa de Atletismo organised three major events in 2024: the Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) U20 Clubs in Pombal, the European Throwing Cup in Leiria and the ECCC Cross Country in Albufeira, with a participation record at the latter and strong online exposure at all three events.
Portugal also achieved an increase in club numbers and total members, with 145 new clubs and more than 1400 new members, while the nation&rsquo;s athletes gained one medal at the Olympic Games and three medals at the European Championships. 
<h3>Solomon Islands (Athletic Solomons, Oceania)</h3>
Athletic Solomons had a successful year in 2024, following its hosting of the Pacific Games in November 2023 and the nation&rsquo;s involvement in the Sport Inclusion Australia Programme.
The Pacific Games marked the largest gathering of its kind ever hosted in the country and led to significant improvements in sports facilities as well as a sense of unity and national pride, encouraging more youth participation in athletics. The Sport Inclusion Australia Programme, in partnership with Oceania Athletics, aimed to create inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition, the Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme in the Solomon Islands has made significant strides, focusing on promoting physical activity, inclusivity and overall wellbeing among children. 
<h3>United States (USA Track &amp; Field, NACAC)</h3>
US athletes achieved 34 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, securing the top spot on the medal table, with performances including world records by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400m hurdles and by the mixed 4x400m team. The team&rsquo;s Olympic performance in Paris was driven by a diverse range of medals in sprints, jumps and throws.
The federation also showcased its strength by achieving first place in the medal tables at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 and the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24. One of the key factors behind these successes has been the implementation of an athletics development programme that covers all categories and events.
World Athletics

Six finalists have been nominated for the Member Federations Award

Nominees announced for 2024 Member Federations Award

The three finalists for the Photograph of the Year award have been selected ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
From the 114 images that were submitted, a panel of judges &ndash; comprising Valerie Adams, Raquel Cavaco Nunes, Mathieu Forget, Pascal Rondeau and Christian Taylor &ndash; narrowed the entries to 11 shortlisted images before deciding on the three finalists.
Photographers from 46 countries across all six continental areas submitted entries.
The shortlisted images will form part of a digital exhibition on the World Athletics website that will go live later this month.
The winning photograph will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
<h2>The finalists</h2>
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b826674549a2448fee5d3.JPG" alt="Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" /></div>
<h3>Mattia Ozbot</h3>
Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b828f74549a2448fee5d6.jpg" alt="Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan collide during the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" /></div>
<h3>Michael Steele</h3>
Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands collide during the women's marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Esplanade des Invalides
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b82c974549a2448fee5d9.JPG" alt="Noah Lyles celebrates with his 100m gold medal during the medal ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" /></div>
<h3>Anna Szilagyi</h3>
Noah Lyles of USA celebrates with his gold medal during the medal ceremony for the men&rsquo;s 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France
&nbsp;
<h2>About the photographers</h2>
Mattia Ozbot (ITA) A freelance photographer based in Milan, Ozbot specialises in sports photography and has covered the Olympic Games, European Football Championship and most major international sporting events around the world. Using his dynamic style, he always seeks new perspectives with creative and emotional images.
Michael Steele (GBR) Steele has been a professional sports photographer since 1986 and has worked as a staff photographer at Getty Images since 1999. Athletics is one of the many different sports that he covers.
Anna Szilagyi (HUN) Szilagyi has worked as a staff photographer for the European Pressphoto Agency in Munich since 2023. Before that, she was a stringer for the Associated Press in Budapest, where she was born.
World Athletics

The three finalists for the Photograph of the Year award have been selected

Finalists announced for 2024 World Athletics Photograph of the Year

<h3>&bull; Video release coincides with sport panel at UN Climate Change Conference</h3>
<h3>&bull; Athletics Kenya, supported by Minister of Sport, participates in COP29</h3>
<h3>&bull; Sport&rsquo;s youngest athletes share strong concerns about the climate crisis, latest World Athletics survey shows&nbsp;</h3>
&nbsp;
Olympians from across the sport of athletics sounded the climate change alarm in a new video released today to coincide with the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference which is currently underway in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In 'Becoming a Champion for a Better World: Athlete Messages for COP29', Olympians Eliza McCartney (NZL), Sam Mattis (USA), Ajla Del Ponte (SUI), Rhydian Cowley (AUS) and Elena Vallortigara (ITA) share personal experiences of how climate change has impacted their performance and training, explain what it means to champion for a better world and suggest ways that sport can contribute solutions to the climate crisis.
The athletes are part of &lsquo;Champions for a Better World&rsquo;, a group established by World Athletics in 2022 who are lending their voices to sustainability campaigning within the sport and encouraging their fellow athletes to collectively raise awareness about the threats posed by climate change.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lcM6xWAu1Hw" width="100%" height="480" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
"Our athletes continue to speak clearly and passionately about the ways that the climate crisis is impacting their lives and their sport,&rdquo; said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. &ldquo;They are also providing creative solutions.&rdquo;
"The science is clear. We must continue to act on our athletes' concerns and use the influence we have as the world&rsquo;s most universal sport to ensure a healthy environment, for the future of our sport and the future of our planet."
<h2>Athletics on the COP29 agenda</h2>
The video&rsquo;s release coincided with &lsquo;Sports for Climate Action: Playing to Win Against Climate Change&rsquo;, a two-hour panel session held today (18) at COP29 that brought together ministers, athletes and sustainability practitioners from around the world to discuss actions and strategies to help sport address the climate crisis.&nbsp;
Mattis and two-time Olympic champion David Rudisha participated on an athlete panel while Kipchumba Murkomen, the Cabinet Secretary for the Kenyan Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, also took part to highlight some of the ways that Athletics Kenya has involved the athletics community and their stakeholders to identify and scale climate solutions through their events.
&ldquo;The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports recognises that despite being the least contributors to Green House Gas emissions and Climate change, Kenya is taking a leadership role on this critical global agenda,&rdquo; Murkomen said. &ldquo;We are happy with the work Athletics Kenya is doing on delivering on the UNFCCC commitment and the Government will continue to offer support.&rdquo;
In 2021, World Athletics signed on to The Sport for Climate Action Framework, a commitment to measure, reduce and offset its carbon emissions while advocating for climate action among its stakeholders. Later that year, Athletics Kenya became the first member federation to join World Athletics as a signatory and has quickly become one of our sport&rsquo;s leading voices in the battle against climate change.
&ldquo;Since joining us as a signatory to the UN Sport for Climate Action Framework, Athletics Kenya has embedded sustainability and care for the environment into all its competitions,&rdquo; said Coe. &ldquo;Our Kenyan colleagues understand the important role that sport can have to combat climate change and have taken it to heart. The Cabinet Secretary&rsquo;s participation at COP29 underscores that urgency.&rdquo; 
Athletics Kenya President and World Athletics Vice President Jackson Tuwei, who is leading the Athletics Kenya delegation at COP29, said: &ldquo;Climate change is affecting Kenya&rsquo;s high performing and upcoming athletes, and the impact is felt during training and also at international competitions. Climate risk is real and is affecting sports in general and athletics in particular. Athletics is a top sport in Kenya and we are concerned, and so are other athletics nations. Taking action is now not optional for us. Seeking partnership like we have with UNEP and Stockholm Environment Institute to help further address this crisis in line with our commitment on Climate action is paramount.&rdquo;
<h2>Climate change concern high among younger athletes</h2>
Coinciding with COP29, World Athletics also released findings from its fourth annual survey that gauges the attitudes of elite athletes about environmental and social issues. This year&rsquo;s was conducted at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, to focus on the concerns of our sport&rsquo;s younger athletes.
A survey of 141 athletes from 51 countries found that their concerns about the environment largely mirrored those of athletes who participated in previous World Athletics surveys conducted in <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/athlete-survey-cop26-united-nations-climate-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021</a>, <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/athletes-share-serious-concerns-about-climate-crisis-world-athletics-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022</a> and <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/climate-change-impact-world-athletics-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023</a>. Some key findings:
<ul>
<li>74% are extremely concerned or very concerned about climate change</li>
<li>85% are extremely concerned or very concerned about air pollution</li>
<li>70% said climate change has impacted them directly; and&nbsp;</li>
<li>74% said climate change has impacted our sport.</li>
</ul>
Additionally, more than 70% said that they either occasionally or frequently discuss their concerns about the changing climate with family and friends.

Sport’s youngest athletes share strong concerns about the climate crisis, latest World Athletics survey shows 

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