The 2023 Runner’s World Racing Superlatives

The high school yearbook is an American motif as prevalent as apple pie and red solo cups. And no yearbook is complete without some senior superlatives.

We took the idea and applied it to the 2023 racing season. This year, we saw incredible performances across track and field and distance running, from two marathon world records, a thrilling World Athletics Championships in Budapest, and plenty of athletes making an impact outside of their sport.

Throughout the year, the Runner’s World news team was right there watching it all unfold, so we invite you to crack open our yearbook and enjoy our 2023 racing superlatives.

Best nickname: The Goose

Yared Nuguse had a breakout year in 2023—setting five American records, including the outdoor mile record, which had stood for 16 years. On the final day of his track season, Nuguse obliterated Alan Webb’s mark from 2007, lowering the record by almost 3 seconds, taking it from 3:46.91 to 3:43.97. The only blip on Nuguse’s spectacular season was a fifth-place finish in the 1500 meters at the World Championships in Budapest, when many observers thought he should have medaled.

It wasn’t just what Nuguse did in 2023 that brought track fans joy; it was the way he did it. Nuguse’s nickname is just the start. His Instagram (@yaredthegoose) shows his quirky humor. It’s evident in the Reel of his beloved pet turtle, Tyro, preparing for hibernation, a sweet sendup of so many social media “get ready with me” videos. On other posts, he sincerely thanks his family, friends, and coaches.

Look for the Goose to fly even higher during the upcoming Olympic year.

Most likely to change the world: Nikki Hiltz

The first openly nonbinary U.S. national champion has not only represented Team USA at two global championships and holds the American record in the mile, they’ve also honed their voice as a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in running and beyond.

Since coming out as transgender nonbinary in 2021, Hiltz has used their platform as a professional runner to speak out for trans rights and the importance of inclusion. Through their advocacy efforts, Hiltz has also led a huge push for charitable giving towards nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting trans individuals. Since 2020, they’ve hosted the Pride 5K, a virtual race for LGBTQ+ people and allies. For the first three years, the event raised over $112,000 for the Trevor Project, a crisis support service for LGBTQ+ youth. From the 2023 race proceeds, they raised $50,000 for Point of Pride, a nonprofit that helps trans individuals access health and wellness care.

Perfect attendance: Courtney Dauwalter

This year, the ultrarunning superstar reached legendary status by winning an unprecedented triple crown. In June, Dauwalter started her daring race schedule by running from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California, winning the 2023 Western States 100 in a new course record. Three weeks later, the Leadville, Colorado, runner demolished another course record at home by claiming the Hardrock 100 title. On September 1, the streak continued with a hard-fought victory at the most prestigious ultra race in the world, the Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, France.

As a result, Dauwalter became the first runner in history to achieve consecutive victories at all three grueling events. Known for her joyful take on racing and intuitive approach, Dauwalter has honed a unique mindset—no coach, no training plan—that’s led her to become one of the greatest ultrarunners of all time.

Most likely to succeed: Graham Blanks

When the 2023 NCAA cross-country season kicked off in September, it was unclear who the best runner in the country was. Fast forward to December—we have our clear-cut answer.

Graham Blanks, a junior from Harvard University, had a break-out season, winning the NCAA Cross-Country Championships in November, thanks to a thunderous last 1,000 meters. Then, two weeks later, Blanks proved that his win wasn’t a fluke. He set a collegiate record in the indoor 5,000 meters, running 13:03.78 to take down many of the same runners he faced on the grass.

Collegiate records and national titles aside, Blanks is in rare company in American distance running. He’s only the third man to run under the 2024 Olympic 5K standard of 13:05, meaning that if he finishes in the top three at June’s Olympic Trials, he’ll be jetting off to Paris before his senior year.

Comeback athlete of the year: Sha’Carri Richardson

Sha’Carri Richardson probably won’t like that we’re giving her this award. All year, she’s been repeating what’s become her catchphrase: “I’m not back. I’m better.”

Richardson stormed on the world scene when she won the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021, but after being banned for testing positive for cannabis, she missed out on her chance to represent Team USA at the Olympics. And last year, she failed to make the finals of the 100 and 200 meters at the U.S. Championships.

But 2023 was a different story. Richardson started out her season with one of the fastest all-conditions times ever in the 100 meters, and only got better from there. She won a U.S. title in the 100 meters in July, then proved to the world what many expected her to do in Tokyo, winning gold at the World Championships in the 100 meters in 10.65. Days later, she took bronze in the 200 meters, then capped the meet off with a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay.

Best social media follow: Allie Ostrander

Allie Ostrander knows how to be a serious runner. But, perhaps more importantly, she’s knows it’s important to have fun while doing it. After turning pro in 2019 on the heels of winning three NCAA championships in the steeplechase, Ostrander struggled to find her footing on the professional scene, dealing with numerous injuries.

Ostrander, however, has found a knack for addressing serious topics on social media, while sharing funny moments along the way.

For example, on Instagram, she’ll post motivational content, but she’ll also sprinkle in moments of levity with her trademark sarcasm and wit. She laughs at the funny faces she made in old races, or weaves in sponsor posts in creative ways with her partner, Spencer Brown (who has his own YouTube channel). But Ostrander is not afraid to open up about her struggles. In June, she posted a video on her YouTube page entitled “An Eating Disorder Nearly Ended My Career. I’m Not Alone.” It’s a must-watch.

While it’s difficult to straddle the line between serious and silly, Ostrander sets the bar for everyone and proves running can be—and should be—fun.

Weirdest viral moment: Diplo runs the LA Marathon on LSD

Yes, it sounds like a sentence in Mad Libs, but it happened. In March, the world-famous DJ Diplo finished the Los Angeles Marathon in 3:55:11, achieving his (very specific) pre-race goal of beating Oprah’s time of 4:29:20 from 1994. But it got even weirder when he revealed a few days later that he’d taken a psychedelic drug before the race.

In an interview with Esquire two months later, he explained his reasoning: “I do a lot of LSD, but I’m not tripping and looking at the stars going ‘Whaaa?’ I micro-dose it, maybe a little more. I was nervous before the race because 14 miles was the most I had ever ran. But woke up kind of late, put it in my water and drank it on the way to Dodger Stadium. It was maybe half of a tab of acid.”

But make no mistake, Diplo realized it probably wasn’t the right call after he started bonking hard. “My body started to break down by mile 17,” he said. “It was the longest I had ever ran and I didn’t even notice it. I attribute that to the LSD. I wouldn't recommend anyone else do it, I wanted to experiment.”

Newcomer of the year: Kelvin Kiptum

Technically, Kelvin Kiptum burst on the scene in December 2022, when he won the Valencia Marathon in 2:01:53, the fastest debut marathon in history. In 2023, the Kenyan fulfilled that promise, and then some. In April, he won London in 2:01:25, just 16 seconds off Eliud Kipchoge’s then-world record of 2:01:09. What was most tantalizing about Kiptum’s London run was that he ran the second half in 59:45, which suggested the 23-year-old was still learning how to dole out his energy over 26.2 miles. At Chicago in October, Kiptum ran the first half more aggressively, but still closed with a sub-60:00 second half. He finished in 2:00:35 to shatter Kipchoge’s previous record.

The biggest running news of 2024 might well be not something that happens at the Olympics, but that Kiptum becomes the first person to run a sub-2:00 marathon on a record-eligible course.

Best dressed: Noah Lyles

Okay, we admit it—the Runner’s World news desk isn’t full of fashionistas. We can, however, appreciate effort. And no one is putting more effort into their outfits than Noah Lyles. The 26-year-old had big goals this year, and achieved nearly all of them, winning three gold medals in the sprints at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. But Lyles has been intentional about establishing himself as a star off the track as well.

Throughout 2023, he and his agent organized fashion walks before some of the biggest meets of the year, where athletes showed off their personality through their outfits. Lyles had some ambitious ones. And the world has taken notice. In September, Lyles walked at Milan Fashion Week and in October, he was announced to the crowd during the Chiefs-Jets football game, sporting a black leather jacket with “Three Peat” and “American Record Holder” on the back. Subtlety isn’t always his style—and Lyles wouldn’t have it any other way.

Most likely to medal in a new event: Sifan Hassan

It’s not unprecedented for a runner to be world-class from the mile to the marathon. But in the same year? That has never happened in modern times. Or at least it hadn’t until this year, when Sifan Hassan sandwiched world championship medals on the track with marathon wins in London and Chicago.

The Dutch superstar won her marathon debut in London in April in true Hassan fashion, stopping twice in the 12th mile to stretch her quads and then working her way back to the lead pack before sprinting to victory. Four months later, she took silver in the 5,000 meters and bronze in the 1500 meters at the World Championships. For good measure, she was steps away from winning the world 10,000-meter title before stumbling and falling to the track. Then, only six weeks after Worlds, she won Chicago in 2:13:44; the time makes her the second-fastest woman in history at a distance she claims she’s just getting familiar with.

Hassan has hinted that she might attempt a 1500/5K/10K/marathon quadruple(!) at next summer’s Olympics. If she does, we’re certainly not going to bet against her.

Faster as a master: Jeannie Rice

Jeannie Rice turned 75 this year. New age group, same fast times.

Among them: She ran 3:33:15 at the Boston Marathon, a few days after her birthday, averaging 8:08 pace. Boston is not a record-eligible course, however, but she did follow it up with a 3:34:32 in Chicago, improving the current age group world record by more than 4 minutes.

Rice also took to the track in 2023, setting age-group world records in the 1500 meters (6:14), 5,000 meters (22:41), and 10,000 meters (46:53) at the USATF Masters Championships in July in Greensboro, North Carolina. The meet was the first time she had ever competed on a track. Rice is barely slowing as she ages—and showing that it’s never too late to try new things.

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