Faith kipyegon
Kipyegon made 2025 a year of ambition as she pushed to be the first woman to run under four minutes in the Breaking4 showcase in Paris in June. She fell just short of her goal but rode that momentum to lower her own world record in the women's 1,500m to 3:48.68 at the Prefontaine Classic in July. At world championships in Tokyo in September she won her fourth world title in the 1,500m.
Sabastian Sawe
Sawe commanded the major marathon stage with wins in London in April (2:02:27) and a world leading 2:02:16 in Berlin in September. He vowed to leave no doubt that he competed drug-free and was voluntarily tested 25 times before the Berlin Marathon.
Beatrice Chebet
Chebet's legend continued to expand in 2025 as she became the first woman to run under 14 minutes in the 5,000m with a 13:58.06 stunner at the Prefontaine Classic in July. She raised the stakes at world championships with double gold in the women's 5,000m and 10,000m.
Mondo Duplantis
Duplantis was the master of the pole vault as he pushed higher and cleared distance on the way to four world records and a world title in a single year.
Noah Lyles
Lyles saved his best for the end of the season, winning the men's 200m at the Diamond League meet in Monaco in July before heading to world championships in Tokyo in September where he grabbed bronze in the 100m. Lyles would later win gold in the the 200m for his fourth straight world title and later led Team USA's men's 4x100m relay squad to the win.
Tara Davis-Woodhall
Davis-Woodhall was simply electric when it mattered the most and captivated the world championship crowd in Tokyo in September as as she soared to gold in the women's long jump on a 7.13m attempt.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Wanyonyi cemented his status as short distance specialist all year and put the 800m out of reach for his competitors as he ran a 1:41.95 world lead in Stockholm in June, then lowered the mark to 1:41.44 in Monaco in July. He later claim the Diamond League title in Zurich in August — and clocked a championship record time of 1:41.86 at world championships in Tokyo in September.
John Korir
Korir was determined to make his name echo louder at the marathon distance and with his 2:04:45 win in Boston in April he made history by joining his brother Wesley as the first brothers to win Boston. He ended the year with a 2:02:24 victory in Valencia in December that put him eighth fastest all-time.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
Jefferson-Wooden was flawless all year and unafraid of competing for her status as the fastest women's 100m and 200m sprinter on the planet. She grabbed national titles in both races in Eugene in August and was simply unreal on the world showcase as she won gold in the 100m, 200m and helped Team USA to gold in the women's 4×100m relay in Tokyo at world championships.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
McLaughlin-Levrone was more visible on the track this year and continued to stake her claim at owning the 400m after moving from the 400m hurdles. She broke the U.S. record in the women's 400m in 48.29 at world championships in Tokyo in September. She later won the gold in the event and anchored Team USA's women's 4x400m relay to victory.
Puma Fast-R 3
Puma's top racer shook the performance footwear balance of power all year and became one of the most sought after shoes at retail. An eye-catching design was paired with a lightweight upper, nitrogen-infused foam and carbon fiber plate to keep the supershoe wars raging for another season of fast mileage — and racing.
Nike Vomero Plus
Nike's beefed up Vomero Plus is one of nine shoes of a revamped running lineup directly targeting the mass market they company has lost to rivals the past couple of year. The Vomero Plus is a major leap as a shoe that is stacked, bouncy, stylish, durable and reintroduces an established name that is no long lost in a crowded stable of trainers.
On Cloudmonster Hyper
On has continued to write its own rules in a crowded footwear market packed with established rivals now in envy of the company's cool factor. The Cloudmonster Hyper kept On competitive with a high stack trainer with noticeable looks that had crossover appeal with runners and the lifestyle crowd.
asics novablast 5
The "Blast" family got two additions this year but the Asics Novablast continues to anchor the entire running division with a plush ride, upper that simply works and the shoe continues to stick to a formula that worked from its first iteration.
Brooks Hyperion Max 3
The max trainer arena has no shortage of contenders but the Hyperion Max 3 had the formula to separate itself from the pack with a cushy ride on Brooks' DNA Gold foam, major revisions to the knit upper, a new nylon plate and an overall package that pushed this model light years ahead of previous iterations.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2
In an ongoing arms race in the supershoe category, the Endorphin Elite 2 arrived with a retooled design, bouncy ride on some of the softest foam on any shoe in 2025 and a design that immediately encouraged forward — and fast — propulsion. Generous energy return delivered step after step ensure that the Endorphin Elite 2 was geared specifically with race day miles in mind.
Nike Streakfly 2
The ruler of short distance road racing returned with updates that kept the Nike Streakfly 2 as the standard for a light, plated model that has only one mission: fast. The Streakfly 2 is the easy pick to rip road miles all the way to 5K distance when objective is speed by any means.
New Balance Rebel v5
The Rebel saw major improvements over its predecessor and arrived in 2025 with more stack, refined styling, solid mix of cushioned ride and ground feel — and became a reliable daily trainer option that simply worked right out of the box.
Asics Megablast
A shift in the top tier trainer world got a major jolt with the arrival of the Megablast, a chunky stack versatile model that is capable of wearing many hats from intervals to lining up at the start on race day. Asics packed in a ton of performance without relying on a plate and despite pushing well into the $200 price point, the Megablast looks and feels premium with few compromises.
Adidas Adizero Evo SL
The Evo SL boldly carved its path as a multitool workhorse that delivered with a wallet-friendly package that rides on a super light (and dense) Lightstrike Pro midsole, extremely breathable upper, sleek looks in a setup that can easily take on a range of distances. In a jam-packed running shoe space the Evo SL is the "just right" solution that fits in any weekly training rotation.
nike
Amidst a major effort to regain its footing, Nike's ambitious running shoe revamp saw 9 models across Pegasus, Vomero and Structure lines reach the market, while Faith Kipyegon's Breaking4 showcase and the After Dark Tour were attempts to stay visible and relevant as established — and new — rivals remain vigilant. But a steady supply of innovation, memorable moments and some of the most recognizable athletes on its roster will ensure the brand is a tastemaker for the foreseeable future,
on
On's LightSpray technology has shaken up performance footwear and the company's relentless approach to design, marketing and appeal to a younger generation fixated on performance has keep the brand several steps ahead as it surges forward. All of the pieces have fallen in place at the same time for On while a pro presense led by Yared Nuguse, Hellen Obiri, Bella Whittaker and Ditaji Kambundji are proof that eye-catching product and victory will always be a winning combination.
new balance
Another year of a solid footwear lineup that saw revamps of the 1080, Rebel, SC Trainer and SC Elite gave New Balance an arsenal for the road while extending its partnership with New York Road Runners kept the brand visible in the biggest city on the running planet. A robust athlete roster that boasted Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Shohei Ohtani, Cooper Flagg, Gabby Thomas and Femke Bol is a clear declaration that New Balance is more than just a contender — it is a major player as the stakes continue to rise.
tracksmith
Tracksmith has stuck to its formula of premium apparel drenched in retro-flavored styling that has spread beyond the New England region and has event extended into footwear. The Eliot Racer burst into a field of supershoes as a model that pulled performance footwear over to its dedicated fanbase willing (and accustomed) to paying top dollar for attention to detail, subdued taste and stylish pieces that function beyond the miles
soar
The UK-based apparel brand is strictly about engineering some of the highest quality gear that willingly serves on the run while injecting a sense of fashion that has quickly become a checklist item for the modern runner. The emphasis on some of the best materials on the road are a standard priority and Soar's packed lineup of a shirts, shorts, tights, jackets, hats, singlets and accessories position the brand for a retail expedition across the pond in 2026.
satisfy
Satisfy is unapologetically premium with its products, priced accordingly and in turn offers apparel that learn toward the technology of materials with a fashionably boutique experience as part of the package. And while the mission to supply runners with some of the best clothing essentials is key to the brand, Satisfy flexes a cool pass that other manufacturers simply cannot begin to match.
district vision
District Vision continues to boldly show that the brand is far more than high-end eyewear, with premium running apparel and release rollouts that are about attention to detail, quality and evoking emotion. Notable footwear partnerships with New Balance this year displayed how the brand tastefully treads a fine line of fashion and core function on the run.
adidas
With robust and distinct sports and lifestyle divisions, Adidas remains a cultural staple of the apparel world as it mixes innovation alongside a legacy of ingraining the "three stripes" in our collective fashion sense. Shoes like the Adizero Evo SL helped carry the brand — and runners — all year while collaborations with pop icon Pharrell showed how Adidas effortlessly balances performance sporting goods with lifestyle tastemaking.
bandit
Bandit continues to question and redefine cool in the running space and back up its findings with apparel offerings that have challenged larger brands for the attention — and buying power — of runners looking its way for alternatives that make them feel like they're separating from the pack inside of a more exclusive club.
asics
Asics rode a major footwear wave this year with performance running models that further beefed its lineup into a powerhouse with the release of the Sonicblast and Megablast. Meanwhile, collaborations with Kith, Ronnie Fieg, Concepts, Kiko Kostadinov, Atmos, Bodega, Hidden.ny and Comme des Garçons Shirt have kept the brand locked in place as a lifestyle must-have with consumers flocking to retro-flavored silhouettes.
Kishane Thompson runs 9.75 in the 100m - 6th all time
Thompson bolted to a 9.75 in 100m at the 2025 Jamaican National Championships in June for the world lead and the sixth fastest time ever.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen breaks the indoor mile world record in 3:45.14
Ingebrigtsen pulled off a stunner in Liévin, France in February when he shattered the indoor mile world record in 3:45.14 — just five days after Yared Nuguse set the record in 3:46.63 in New York City.
Cooper Lutkenhaus stuns at USATF outdoor nationals in the 800m
At the USA Track and Field Outdoor Nationals in August, Lutkenhaus clocked a 1:42.27 in the men's 800m final, taking second place and breaking the U18 world record — and punched his ticket to world championships the following month.
Alphonce Simbu and Amanal Petros' stunning marathon photo finish at worlds
Alphonce Simbu and Amanal Petros brought a dramatic finish to the men's marathon at world championships in Tokyo after triggering a photo finish inside Japan National Stadium as both crossed the line in 2:09:48 but Simbu took the win by just 0.03 seconds.
Mondo Duplantis gets his 14th world record at world championships
Duplantis sealed the men's pole vault title at world championships in Tokyo in September with a 6.15m height but kept jumping and brought the crowd to a roar when he cleared 6.30m for a new world record on his final attempt — his 14th world record and fourth in 2025.
Hellen Obiri wins the New York City Marathon in a course record
Obiri won the final major of the year with a roar as she powered her way to a 2:19:51 with at the New York City Marathon in November, setting a new course record and breaking the 22-year-old course mark of 2:22:31 set by Margaret Okayo in 2003.
María Pérez wins 20km and 35km racewalk double gold at worlds
Pérez was on a mission on the streets of Tokyo at world championships in September as she grabbed two gold medals in the 20km and 35km racewalk just six days apart in humid conditions.
Grant Fisher gets the indoor 5,000m record at 12:44.09
FIsher was on a tear in February and a week after breaking the 3,000m indoor record at the Millrose Games in New York City, he shattered the indoor 5,000m world record at the BU Valentine Invitational in 12:44.09.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breaks the American 400m record at 47.78 - second fastest all-time
McLaughlin-Levrone capped her electric season in Tokyo at world championships in September and bolted to a 47.78 in the women's 400m, the second-fastest time ever and the new American record to win the gold.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden runs 4th fastest 100m ever at 10.61
Jefferson-Wooden saved some of her best for last in September at world championships in Tokyo as she won three gold medals and ran 10.61 in the women's 100m for the fourth fastest time ever.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce retires
Fraser-Pryce left the sport on her terms and took a victory lap at September's world championships in Tokyo, in a career that saw her win three gold, four silver and bronze on the Olympic stage. She also won ten gold, five silver medals and a bronze for Jamaica at world championships and competed in the 60m, 100m and 200m. Regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all-time, Fraser-Pryce was instrumental in solidifying an era of Jamaican dominance in the sport.
Nina Kuscsik (1939-2025)
Kuscsik was instrumental in the fight to bring women into long-distance running and racing in the face of opposition in the sport and passed away on June 8. She was the first woman to officially win the Boston Marathon in 1972.
eliud kipchoge's six-star journey ends
A mammoth career distance running came full circle on November 2 at the New York City Marathon as Kipchoge completed all of the majors, received a custom six-star medal and later alluded to winding down arguably the greatest distance campaign ever. Kipchoge won 11 major marathons, became cultural phenomenon in the sport, broke the world record at the 2022 Berlin Marathon and became the first human to run below two hours at marathon distance (1:59:40.2) in 2019 at an non-record eligible exhibition in Vienna.
Bill Dellinger (1934-2025)
Dellinger made his mark on the Olympic stage for the United States in 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics — winning bronze in Tokyo in 1964 in the 5,000 meters but was also known for elevating the University of Oregon's track and field programs of the late 1970s and 1980s. He also guided the paths of Steve Prefontaine, Matt Centrowitz, Rudy Chapa, Bill McChesney and Alberto Salazar. Dellinger passed away on June 27 at age 91.
des linden retires
Just hours before the start of the 2025 Boston Marathon, Linden announced that the race would be her final competitive effort, closing the book on a career that saw her appear in two Olympics, pull off a captivating win in Boston in 2018 and propel her into a fan favorite on the distance running circuit. Linden took second in the 2010 Chicago Marathon and second in the 2011 Boston Marathon.
Clyde Hart(1934-2025)
Hart transformed Baylor's track program into a powerhouse and helped it gain the reputation of “Quarter Miler U” after producing numerous 400m standouts like Olympic champion Michael Johnson. He passed away on November 1 and was a driving force behind Baylor’s surge in collegiate track, with 34 national champions along with 566 All-American performances. Johnson, Jeremy Wariner, Greg Haughton, Darold Williamson and Sanya Richards-Ross were all coached by Hart.
dalilah muhammad retires
Muhammad revealed earlier in the year that she was stepping away from the sport after dominating in the 400 meters hurdles for more than a decade. She won two gold medals and a silver medal in the Olympics along with two gold, two silver and one bronze on the world championship stage.
Joe Vigil (1929-2025)
Vigil was a the legendary mainstay whose coaching at Adams State University and contributions to key research in physiology that helped revolutionized distance running. He passed away on July 20 and left an imprint on the running was far-reaching and extended into his athlete mentorship, leading cross country and track and field teams to numerous national titles along with adding to the science that advanced modern running.
evan jager retires
Jager announced his retirement last month, capping a career where he won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, bronze in the event at the 2017 world championships and holds the current American record at the distance in 8:00.45.
atreyu shuts down
Atreyu launched in 2020 as a direct-to-consumer footwear brand founded by Michael Krajicek in Austin and initially sold shoes priced lower than established manufacturers while prioritizing performance and quality. The brand shut down in late 2025 due to financial issues but served as a blueprint, of sorts, for the momentum small brands in the sport could generate.
Donavan Brazier wins the 800m at USATF nationals
Brazier battled back from injuries that date back to 2023 and at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Eugene in August, he surged to a 1:42.16 win in the men's 800m final, a personal best and locked in a spot on Team USA's world championship roster.
Shelby Houlihan returns from 4-year ban
Houlihan returned from a four-year doping ban in January and made her debut at the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas with a win in the women's indoor 3,000m. In August, she won the gold in the women's 5,000 meters at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
Ryan Crouser wins gold in only appearance of the year
Crouser battled elbow ailments all year but still made an appearance at world championships in Tokyo in September and defended his shot put title with a 22.34m toss on his fifth attempt. Crouser is one of two athletes to win three straight world titles in the event.
jake wightman returns from injury, wins silver in the 1,500m at worlds
Wightman missed the 2023 world championships and 2024 Paris Olympics due to injury but regained his form and won silver in the men's 1,500m in 3:34.12 at world championships in Tokyo in September.
Cole Hocker wins 5,000m gold at Worlds after 1,500m Disqualification
Hocker found himself in wave of emotion at world championships in Tokyo in September when he was disqualified from the men's 1,500m semifinal for jostling but rebounded with a gold medal performance in the men's 5,000m in 12:58.30.
jakob ingebrigtsen recovers from Achilles injury in time for worlds
Ingebrigtsen had a solid, record-breaking indoor campaign earlier in the year but suffered a strained Achilles tendon in May which derailed his season. He recovered in time for world championships in Tokyo in September, competed in the men's 1,500m but did not advance past the first round. Ingebrigtsen would make the men's 5,000m final, where he finished tenth.
Shericka jackson wins 200m bronze at worlds in return from injury
Jackson was forced to withdraw from the 2024 Paris Games due to injury but returned in April to kick off her outdoor season. She won the Rabat Diamond League women's 100m in 11.04s as her road to dominance continued. At world championships in Tokyo in September, Jackson won bronze in the the women's 200m.
Jazmin sawyers wins british long jump title after 20-month recovery from injury
Sawyers revealed in April 2024 that she ruptured the Achilles tendon on her take-off leg and underwent surgery, causing her to miss the Paris Olympics months later. She faced a 20-month recovery and in August won the women's long jump at the 2025 UK Athletics Championships — her fifth title.
Priscah Cherono wins the marathon project at 45 in return from retirement
Cherono surged to a 2:25:17 personal best win at The Marathon Project in December, a feat she achieved at age 45. She won bronze in the 5,000m for Kenya at the 2007 world championship and is a former Olympian. She retired during the Covid-19 pandemic and struggled with injuries before making her return to racing.
Oblique Seville powers past toe ailment to win 100m world title
Seville has tackled injuries in recent years, including groin issues that caused him to finish last in the men's 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But lingering ingrown toenails on both big toes have been problematic for years and Seville endured the pain all season in 2025 but still won the men's 100m world title in Tokyo in September in 9.77. Shortly after he underwent surgery on both feet to correct the issue.
alexis ohanian
Ohanian has already established himself as a force in tech but made waves in 2024 when he launched Athlos, the all-women track event in New York City that drew widespread praise from athletes and fans. The 2025 event was an even bigger production, added the long jump and served as a prelude to the upcoming Athlos league next year.
doris lemngole
In 2025, Lemngole was locked in on dominance for Alabama and was equally effective in the 3,000m steeplchase and 5,000m on her way to four national titles. Lemngole grabbed the indoor 5,000-meter and outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase championships, was the national runner-up for the indoor 3,000m but also won three SEC tiles in the indoor 3,000m, outdoor 3,000m steeplechase and the outdoor 5,000m.
quincy wilson
Wilson has created headlines at every turn after becoming the second youngest track and field Olympic gold medalist in history. The 17-year-old lowered his personal best in the 400m in July to 44.10 to add to a stacked list of accolades. in November he announced he would join the University of Maryland's track and field roster.
Cooper Lutkenhaus
Lutkenhaus, the 17-year-old prep phenom, made the most of his final kick to take second place in the men's 800m in Eugene at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in August and turned pro shortly before world championships the following month. His 1:42.27 time in the 800m in Eugene shattered the U18 mark in the event by 1.1 seconds.
gout gout
Gout is the holder of the Australian under-16 100m and 200m records. And in 2025, the 17-year-old's growing status continued to take shape as he inked a deal with Adidas and propelled himself to an even bigger stage at world championships in Tokyo in September when he reached the semifinal of the men's 200m.
Pamela Kosgei
Kosgei has been dominant for New Mexico in just her freshman year, winning six Mountain West individual titles, five All-American wins, and two outdoor national titles. She made the Kenyan national team in the 3,000m steeplechase for world championships in Tokyo in September.
Jane Hedengren
BYU's Hedengren has already made waves as the Big 12 Women’s Runner of the Year and Women’s Newcomer of the Year for 2025 after winning the individual title at the conference 6,000m race in October. She placed second at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in 18:38.9 in November — behind Doris Lemngole — which was the fastest freshman time in meet history.
jordan anthony
Anthony won The Bowerman in December and is the third Arkansas athlete to win the award, following Jarrion Lawson (2016) and Jaydon Hibbert (2023). He boosted his profile on the national stage this year with national titles in the indoor 60m and outdoor 100m along with winning the outdoor SEC crowns in the 100m and 200m. He also turned heads with a 9.75 in the 100m that tied the world lead for 2025.
runna
Runna pushed its way to the front of the running training app pack with an AI-driven platform that quickly grew in popularity and on the radar of Strava, which purchased the UK-based company in April. Strava and Runna will co-exist for now, but an integration of the best parts of both apps in the future is certainly not out of the question.
anta
Anta has already made its presence outside of China with the signings of NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, but the sportswear maker has bigger ambitions — and has a performance running shoe lineup that rivals legacy brands. It has also been rumored to be a potential suitor for Puma, which could be uo for sale next year.
Strava buys Runna, then looks to file IPO
Strava pulled off one of the biggest deals in running when it acquired Runna for a reported $200 million in April. And now with a $2.2 billion valuation, Strava was rumored in September to be looking at investment banks to facilitate its public offering next year.
Brittany Brown cashes in at Athlos — again
Brittany Brown seemingly cracked the Athlos code again and stole the show with a pair of wins in the 100m and 200m, pulling in $120,00 combined and a pair of Tiffany & Co. crowns that were presented to her on stage by Serena Williams.
NYRR financial impact in NYC is nearly $1 billion
Running continues to be major business in the Big Apple and New York Road Runners released a report in September that showed its local economic impact from races like the New York City Marathon generated nearly $1 billion in spending based on figures in fiscal year that ended in March.
Running footwear retail is up 9% to $5.3 billion
Running retail footwear sales in the United States rose 9 percent to $5.3 billion over the previous point last year, mostly fueled by higher prices in shops. An uptick in average selling price tell the deeper story, with per unit sales rising 4 percent to 52.5 million after a 2 percent dip (50.6 million) just a year ago. But the average shoe price at retail is now $102, a 5 percent increase over the $97 average price from the same point last year.
Olympics sells naming rights for LA2028 venues
For the first time in Olympics history, venues will have corporate sponsorship as LA2028 organizers will allow the selling of naming rights for a host of venues like the Honda Center and Intuit Dome. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will not be included in any bidding for naming rights,
619,288 spectators attend 2025 world championships
In nine days of competition at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in Sepetmber, 619,288 spectators packed Japan National Stadium in track and field's season ending showcase. Some days of competition included day sessions, adding to the increased interest in the sport — which pushed the total to a new record for a world championship.
Phil Knight donates a record with $2 billion to charity
Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny Knight, continued their philanthropy and made a record $2 billion donation to the Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute in August. It is the largest single gift ever given to a U.S. university or academic health center.
Skechers goes private in $9.4 billion acquisition deal
Skechers is no longer public after 26 years after it was acquired by private equity firm 3G Capital for $9.4 billion in a deal that closed in September — at around $63 per share. Despite the massive deal, some investors felt like the sale price was undervalued and are challenging the acquisition in court.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone makes the Forbes top 20 female earning athletes
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone struck gold throughout 2025, topped the podium on the world championship stage and cashed in as one of the sport's top earners during the year. She was named one of Forbes' top 20 highest paid female athletes with an estimated $8.2 million in earnings that placed her in a tie for 18th with Lindsey Vonn.
Dick’s Sporting Goods acquires Foot Locker
Foot Locker saw a year of changes from corporate and even with ending of its long-time prep cross country series, but in May the company was acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods or $2.4 billion. Included in the deal were brands like Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos and transformed Dick's into the largest sporting goods brand in the United States.
apple watch ultra 3
Apple's Ultra Watch 3 is touted as the company's latest ultimate sports watch and is packed with more features and refinements that continues to push the device into an arena usually dominated by Garmin and Coros models. Health insights are a priority in this iteration along with better battery life, access to satellite connectivity, an amazing display and a packed watch operating system that simply has no rivals in the wearable space.
Oura Ring 4
The Oura Ring takes the wearable data tracking away from the wrist and is a far more compact package that pulls in health insights in what feels like a stealthier setup. Cost aside, the ring is a tracking phenom, getting sleep analysis, stress indicators and other key data points and syncs the information to an app that concisely breaks down each metric.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
After six long years the Powerbeats Pro line got an update this year with a massive overhaul that included a much smaller case (with wireless charging), in-ear heart rate detection, USB-C connectivity, comfortable earhooks to keep the buds in place, rich sound, noise cancellation, spatial audio and constant use for 10 hours under a single charge.
Hyperboot by Nike × Hyperice
The Hyperboot combines Nike design with Hyperice's workout recover technology into an innovative wearable footwear solution that provides air compression or heat directly to the feet without staying in place — like all compression boots. Three mode of heat and compression along with over an hour of battery life brings a new form of warm-up and recovery to a game-changing pair of wearables.
Strava app
Strava continues to be a catch-all destination of fitness data that serves as a hub to sync activities and interaction with other users (and their workout metrics) in a environment that feels less like the close chaos of social media. Strava will likely boost its standing in 2026 after a high-profile acquisition of Runna in April gave it a major piece of training tech that will ultimately keep runners in its ecosystem and spending more time what could evolve into to a more powerful version of its app.
Shokz Open Run 2
The personal audio arena is packed with a ton of contenders for sound quality, durability and price but the SHOKZ OpenFit 2 headphones are a worthy contender and meet the needs to a run or gym duties and stay secure with earhooks. At just 9.4 grams, each earbud stays in place without feeling heavy.
garmin forerunner 970
Garmin stepped up its running watch offerings this year with the new Forerunner 570 and 970 as the company continues to trim is crowded lineup. The 970 comes loaded with a rich AMOLED display, flashlight, speaker and microphone for calls, upgraded heart rate sensor, durable materials on the body and lens a batter that keeps the watch active for up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and over 20 hours in GPS mode.
Wahoo KICKR RUN
Wahoo is new to the treadmill space but has quickly drawn the kudos of runners intent on ripping indoor miles on a device that can hold up to extremely fast miles that push toward a maximum of 4-minute a mile pace. The KICKR RUN fills the void that goes beyond standard gym treadmills and pulls in the connectivity — and future software updates — that position it as an attractive option.
whoop 5.0
Whoop released a pair or new "faceless" wearables with the introduction of the 5.0 and MG models that continue to push the company into a data-driven brand that is leaning even further into providing medical insights to its users.
Coros Heart rate monitor
The Coros heart rate monitor dives deeper for more accurate readings that wrist monitors and is positioned on a user's bicep instead of straps that are traditionally positioned on the chest. It easily integrates with a running watch via Bluetooth and is hardly noticeable during workouts.
Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles clash
The USA Track and Field Outdoor championships in Eugene in August ended with roar in the men's 200m final when Kenny Bednarek shoved Noah Lyles in the back following the race — which Lyles won. The two exchanged words in the post-race broadcast, with Lyles stating that the two would address the issues away from the public.
Grand Slam Track files for bankruptcy
Grand Slam Track filed for bankruptcy in December, adding another chapter to the league's brief history after months of speculation over financial problems that would be officially revealed in court documents with millions owed to athletes and numerous vendors.
Ruth Chepng’etich given a three year doping ban
Ruth Chepng’etich clocked a stunning 2:09:56 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon but months later she would test positive for a banned substance an in October was given a three-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit. However, her world record will stand.
Fred Kerley signs with the Enhanced Games
Kerley drew headlines in September when he announced that he was signing with the Enhanced Games, an organization that permits its athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs. Enhanced will stage its first showcase in May 2026 in Las Vegas.
Strava files patent lawsuit against Garmin
Strava accused Garmin of infringing on a pair of patents relating to segments and heatmaps and filed a federal lawsuit filed in Colorado in October. The companies had a working relationship since 2015 but continued to develop their own separate technology. Strava dropped its lawsuit after 21 days.
Foot Locker Cross Country shuts down
Foot Locker's Cross Country Championships end after a 45 year run in August with the event initially starting in 1979 as the Kinney Cross Country Championships and was staged at the Morley Field Sports Complex in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. Foot Locker was acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods this year and said it was evaluating how it can impact the running community following the cancelation of he event.
World Athletics year-end awards snubs
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet all had stellar seasons on the track that included multiple world championship gold medals, by were noticeably excluded as finalists from World Athletics' year-end awards.
Ed Eyestone and Dave Smith have war of words
BYU's Ed Eyestone and Oklahoma State's Dave Smith clashed over a growing debated of the use of international athletes in NCAA cross country events with Eyestone saying using the athletes amounted to "shortcuts." Smith pointed out that current rules permit the athletes and any coach who did not like the rules should find ways to work within them or lobby for change.
United States refuses to pay WADA dues
The strained relationship between the United States and the World Anti-Doping Agency dates back to the 2020 Olympics when 23 Chinese swimmers were allowed to compete despite drug tests showing evidence of banned substances. The U.S. government responded by refusing to pay member dues in January to WADA despite the funds making up a notable portion of the agency’s operating budget.
Puma is rumored to be up for sale
Puma drew headlines in 2025 as the brand's retail struggles tipped its stock price downward, leading the company to declare a full-year loss, revise its financial forecast and was the topic of speculation of being sold to potential suitors like Anta, Li Ning or Asics.
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