Running News Daily

Audrey Werro’s extraordinary 2026 season has entered another fascinating chapter, with the Swiss middle-distance star now within striking distance of one of athletics’ most enduring world records.

Just two days after producing a sensational 1:53.70 Swiss record at the Zürich Diamond League, Werro is set to return to action at the Gala dei Castelli in Bellinzona, where anticipation is building around the possibility of another historic performance.

Her display in Zürich was a statement of intent. Werro delivered one of the fastest 800m races ever recorded, lowering her Swiss record and moving to third on the all-time world list, behind only Jarmila Kratochvílová’s legendary 1:53.28 world record set in 1983 and Nadezhda Olizarenko’s 1:53.43 recorded in 1980.

What makes Werro’s rise even more remarkable is the consistency of her performances at an extraordinary level. Earlier this season, she ran 1:53.98 in Stockholm, becoming only the third woman in history to break the 1:54 barrier. She then improved to 1:53.80 in Paris before producing her latest masterpiece of 1:53.70 in Zürich.

In the space of just a few months, Werro has transformed herself from an emerging European star into one of the fastest 800m runners the world has ever seen.

Her current progression is remarkable: 1:53.98 in Stockholm, 1:53.80 in Paris and 1:53.70 in Zürich. Each performance has brought her closer to a record that has survived for more than four decades.

Werro’s confidence is also being fuelled by her championship success. The Swiss star recently captured the European 800m title in Birmingham in 1:54.81, demonstrating that her spectacular form is not limited to Diamond League competition.

Now, all eyes turn to Bellinzona.

The target is unmistakable — 1:53.28.

Werro needs to improve by just 0.42 seconds on her Zürich performance to erase Kratochvílová’s 43-year-old world record. While 0.42 seconds may appear to be a small margin, breaking a record of such longevity requires an exceptional combination of speed, endurance, tactics and perfect execution.

A pacemaker is expected to help establish a demanding tempo, potentially giving Werro the conditions required to launch another assault on the record.

The 22-year-old has already demonstrated that she can repeatedly run at speeds that have historically been reserved for the very greatest 800m athletes. Her progression from 1:53.98 to 1:53.80 and then 1:53.70 suggests that another breakthrough may not be beyond her reach.

Bellinzona therefore promises to be more than another race on Werro’s schedule. It could become another defining moment in the rapid rise of a young athlete who is now challenging one of the oldest records in the sport.

The world record stands at 1:53.28.

Audrey Werro is 0.42 seconds away.

History is no longer a distant possibility. It is beginning to look increasingly within reach.

Jamaica's Elaine Thomspon has split with her coach Shanique Osbourne less than a year before the Paris Olympic Games.

As reported by Radio Jamaica Sports, Thompson’s agent Marvin Anderson could not be reached for comment and her coach, Osbourne declined to field questions when she answered her telephone late Monday night.

She only noted that she was not accepting any media to her training base. The specific reason for the split has not been disclosed, but speculation is that both parties could not agree on remuneration.

Meanwhile, Thompson had been struggling from an Achilles tendon injury, which saw her placing fifth in the 100m final with 11.06 seconds at the Jamaican Championship on July 7.

The Jamaican missed out on an individual slot at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and did not even compete in the final of the 4x100m relay team.

After the World Championships, Thompson headed to the Diamond League Meeting in Zurich where she clocked 11.00 to finish third. She posted her first sub-11 performance at the Gala dei Castelli where she clocked 10.92 to win the race.

She then clocked 10.84 seconds at the Diamond League Meeting in Brussels on September 8, before ending the season with 10.79 seconds on September 16 at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Final Meeting.