Sports
2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 19, 2025, Week Two , Day Six, the tenacity of Donavan Brazier.
This is the second week of RunBlogRun’s Summer Mileage Program, day 6 and
On Saturday morning, if you were up early, you could have watched the London Diamond League meeting, held in the Olympic stadium in London, where I watched the London 2012 Olympics and the 2017 World Championships.
This year, there was a sell out crowd of 50,000 plus, the largest Diamond League crowd of the year. British fans are true athletics geeks, and they know the sport. Track and Field actually matters in the UK, but, just do not tell their national broadcasting, BBC that, as they have been throwing it on their streaming and seldom watched channels.
In the much anticipated 800 meters, Emmanuel Wayonyi, the Kenyan Olympic champion, just fought off the always tough Marco Arop, in 1:42.00 for the 800 meters. That is two 51 second laps, one after another, without a break! Your top high school 400 meter runner may run that, if you are in a pretty normal high school, or, if you are in a strong program, you may have three on your 4x400m who have dipped under 51 seconds.
If you look at results, as I do, you would have seen Donavan Brazier, the 2019 World Champion at 800 meters, having finished sixth in a 1:43.08. From earlier in the week, you might remember that Donavan, a Michigan high school cross country champ and 800m champ, has been injured for several years, having just returned to action in June with a 1:44 time. Just a bit of a time line of Donavan’s return. In 2019, Donavan ran 1:42.34, 1:43.15 in 2020, 1:44.21 in 2021, 1:46.29 in 2022, nothing in 2023, 2024, and now, in 2025, 1:43.08!
Each of the three races that Donavan Brazier has raced gives him hope. He is now down to 1:43.08. Donavan knows, better than most, that he needs to get down to 1:42 low to be a player in the US and to be a medalist in Tokyo, Donavan will have to be able to race at a 1:41 mid level.
The problem and challenges with the USATF champs and Tokyo is the rounds. The 800m rounds are one tough race after another, with no let up and few easy qualifying rounds.
Donavan Brazier is a champion. He knows what it feels like. He also knows that he is getting closer, but he must stay alert to his body, the races, and his desire to get back really fast. Wilson Kipketer, a former world record holder in the 800m, and world champion, was a Danish Librarian by trade. Wilson contracted Malaria and he had to be very careful as he came back to racing and training. Wilson told me, ” I knew what it felt like to be fit, and i wanted it. I had to be very careful not to come back too fast.”
Donavan Brazier is improving day by day, race by race. This writer has intervewied Donavan a half dozen times over the years. I recall Donavan telling me that his longest run in high school was 8 miles! In high school, Donavan ran a 15:15 for 3 miles I believe, and 1:47 for the 800 meters!
Now, in two weeks, this World Champion is seeking to make the toughest team to make in the world, the USA Track & Field team at 800 meters, we wish him luck.
For more on Donavan Brazier, check out this interview, it was done during the pandemic and was an early #Socialing the Distance Interview:
Socialing The Distance featuring Donavan Brazier (Full Interview)
The road to 2025 Cross country is just beginning
Time to build some mileage for fall cross country!
Today is July 19, 2025
Week One, Day Six, Summer Mileage.
Saturday , warm-up, 50-60 minutes of easy running in a park, have some fun, cool-down OR
3k-2 mile track all comers run, or 5k road race (hilly), then, 30 minutes of easy, easy running.
Some thoughts on summer mileage program.
Have you considered cross country?
Cross Country is offered in over 16,500 high schools and many junior high schools. It normally goes from mid-August to November for most. To prepare for cross country, we at RunBlogRun encourage you and your 550,000 closest friends who like the 400m to 5,000m, consider cross country!
It is a great way to stay in shape and it builds your fitness so that you are ready for the challenges of cross country.
What motivated Steve Prefontaine in the summer between his sophomore and junior year?
Was it the knowledge that he had not done his very best in track and field? Perhaps, he had not taken his commitment as serious as he thought he should?
When you have not achieved what you expected, how do you respond? Are you being called to put in some more effort? Many of us have had those challenges, and Summer mileage is a great program to get one self focused.
Think about five things you can do better for fall cross country, write them on a post card, and tape it to a place in your room where you will see it at least once a day!
Remember to drink 8 glasses of water, 12 ounces each a day!
When Pre was in high school, after he failed to make his State track meet as a sophomore, he became obsessed with daily training. These were not just easy runs, they were bone-churning, gut-wrenching efforts focused to make him unbeatable. In his junior year of cross country, Pre saw that his summer of running made a huge difference.
Do you want to be a better cross country runner than you were in the past? Focus and follow our training. It is all about the consistency.
Other book suggestions include Self Made Olympian by Ron Daws, A Clean Pair of Heels by Murray Halberg, and Pre! by Tom Jordan.
The Nike Pegasus PLUS is a great entry shoe for high school cross country. You should consider it, and learn more about it at nike.com. It is light, cushioned, a good summer mileage shoe. If you need a little more cushioning, try the Vomero 18. The Vomero 18 has more cushioning that the Pegasus PLUS. If you like NIKE, I would suggest high schoolers use the NIKE Pegasus PLUS for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I would suggest the Vomero 18 for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I always suggest two pairs of training shoes. Why on Vomero 18? It is a cushioned shoe that feels great and is good on the roads and trails.
MacCudden is the third member of the Bears’ 2026 class to receive AVCA All-America recognition.
Defensive Specialist Is A 2025 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention
The California volleyball team has added another member to its incoming freshman class, with defensive specialist Siena MacCudden officially set to join Abby Zimmerman, Anna Flores and Nicole Milosevic as new Golden Bears in 2026. Both MacCudden and Flores have enrolled early and will be practicing with the team this spring.
“Siena is a great competitor and has played high level volleyball her entire career,” Cal volleyball head coach Jen Malcom said. “We appreciate how she carries herself on the court – steady in serve receive and scrappy on the defensive end. She will be a great addition to our back court group this spring. When she said she wanted to join the team early, we knew that we got someone who is all in and wants to be great.”
A native of Nashotah, Wisconsin, the 5-foot-9 product of Arrowhead Union High School was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention after a senior season in which she collected 685 digs, third most in the state, and was named Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association (WVCA) All-State and the Classic 8 Conference Libero of the Year for the second consecutive season while earning AVCA All-Region 6 honors. MacCudden was also named WVCA All-State and All-Conference Honorable Mention as a sophomore in 2023 after leading her team to the first of two consecutive regional titles.
With MacCudden’s assistance, her club team, Milwaukee Sting, won the national championship at the 2023 Girls Junior National Championships (GJNC) 15s, a year in which she was named to the AVCA Phenom and Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) Watch Lists for the first time. MacCudden was also recognized by the JVA Watch List in 2024 and 2025.
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GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T men’s and women’s track and field programs started off their respective seasons with programs capturing four first-place finishes apiece over the weekend at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-off hosted by the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, NC.
The Coastal Athletic Association awarded some of those accomplishments by naming junior sprinter Hayleigh Bryant Women’s Track Athlete of the Week and senior Dyimond Walker Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.
Bryant captured her first career weekly honor. She took first place in the seeded 200 meters by running an indoor personal-best 24.03, the eighth-fastest time in the country and the best in the CAA. Bryant joined junior Kymara Brodie, freshman Richari Wildgoose, and junior Serenity Brazell to win the 4×400-meter relay in 3:45.85. Their time is also a CAA-best thus far this season.
Meanwhile, Walker led a strong contingent of Aggies in the 800m. Walker won the event with a time of 1:52.68. Four other Aggies finished in the top 10 to dominate the event, including freshman Taysaun Wilson (2nd, 1:53.05), senior Dawson Grogan (3rd, 1:54.25), sophomore Elijah Thomas (5th, 1:55.69), and junior Kaleb Conway (9th, 1:59.15).
Walker also joined senior Ha’Mir Hampton, Wilson, and junior Isaiah Taylor to run a 3:12.29 to win the 4×400-meter relay. Walker’s 800m time is the best in the CAA and ranks ninth nationally. The Aggies are second in the CAA in the 4×400 and 12th nationally. Bryant, Walker, and the Aggies are not scheduled to return to action until January 17, when they will participate in the Mondo Collegiate Invitational at the JDL Fast Track.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – [BOX SCORE | BRACKET] The Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats won their third consecutive Red Banner on Tuesday night in the Tyson Events Center against the Northwestern (Iowa) Red Raiders in four sets (25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19).
At the beginning of the season, Indiana Wesleyan had a bumpy start, battling injuries. The Wildcats recorded losses to Concordia (Neb.), Bellevue (Neb.) and Viterbo (Wis.) before hitting their stride. IWU then went on a 17-match win streak before a loss to Crossroads League opponent Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio). The Wildcats then went on a 12-match winning streak, which culminated in a conference title and a trip to the NAIA national championship match for the third consecutive year.
Northwestern had only three blemishes on its record this season, the last of which came on Sept. 20 to Oklahoma Wesleyan. Since then, the Red Raiders have gone on a 22-match win streak that saw them capture the Great Plains Athletic Conference title and advance to the NAIA national championship match for the second time in three years.
The 2025 championship match is a rematch of the 2023 championship match, in which Indiana Wesleyan won its first title, and Northwestern made its first championship appearance. They also met earlier this season on August 20, when Northwestern traveled to Indiana Wesleyan and the Wildcats won the match in four sets.
Tonight, the two teams meet again, with the Wildcats hoping for a third title and the Red Raiders their first.
The match opened with teams trading points until seven all on the scoreboard before Indiana Wesleyan went on a 12-point run. Northwestern hung around and made their move at 23-18, where the Red Raiders went on a five-point scoring run to tie the score at 23. However, with a kill by Eva Joldersma and a solo block by Marin Sanchez, IWU took the opening set 25-23.
NWC opened up the second set with the first three points and held the lead until a 7-2 scoring run that gave the Wildcats their first lead of the set at 11-9. A quick back-and-forth and the teams were tied again at 11 and 12 before another 7-2 scoring run by the Wildcats. But Northwestern wasn’t done yet as they went on a five-point run at 23-20, sparked by a kill off the hand of Stella Winterfield that closed out set two, 25-23 in favor of the Red Raiders.
With a tie of one set apiece on the scoreboard, the teams continued the Battle for the Red Banner into set three. IWU struck first blood in the third set with a kill from Marissa Mullins. The teams fought through seven ties, but at 14 all, a kill from Shae Williams sparked a four-point run that gave the Wildcats the advantage they would not relinquish for a 25-18 set four win, which was clinched with a kill from Eva Joldersma.
Marissa Mullins started things off for the Wildcats in set four as IWU took the initial lead in the set. The teams traded points until 14 all when an 8-2 scoring run gave Indiana Wesleyan a six-point lead that they would see through to a 25-19 set and match win.
With the win, IWU became part of an elite group with three other teams (Fresno Pacific (Calif.), Brigham Young-Hawaii, and Hawaii-Hilo) that have won three consecutive titles.
All-Tournament Team
Eve Fountain, Bellevue (Neb.)
Ashley Keck, Concordia (Neb.)
Ella Waters, Concordia (Neb.)
Makayla Roginski, Corban (Ore.)
Kiera Vaughn, Eastern Oregon
Brooke Womack, Eastern Oregon
Eva Joldersma, Indiana Wesleyan
Shae Williams, Indiana Wesleyan
Marissa Mullens, Indiana Wesleyan
Enya Fierens, McPherson (Kan.)
Gabi Jakubowska, Missouri Baptist
Zavyr Metzger, Northwestern (Iowa)
Stella Winterfeld, Northwestern (Iowa)
Bella Thompson, Providence (Mont.)
Setter of the Tournament: Bella Thompson, Providence (Mont.)
Defender of the Tournament: Zavyr Metzger, Northwestern (Iowa)
Attacker of the Tournament: Stella Winterfeld, Northwestern (Iowa)
Tournament MVP: Eva Joldersma, Indiana Wesleyan
Coach of the Tournament: Candace Moats, Indiana Wesleyan
CHARLESTON – The Charleston Southern Track & Field programs released their schedules for the 2026 outdoor season on Wednesday afternoon. They will compete in seven meets up and down the East Coast during the regular season with each scheduled for consecutive weekends.
The season will begin in mid-March with some student-athletes traveling to Charlotte for the 49er Classic while others will stay back to compete in the home meet, the Buccaneer Invitational. The home meet is scheduled for Friday, March 20 while Charlotte’s is from Thursday, March 19 through Saturday, March 21.
Following this, they will be on the road for four consecutive trips to ACC and SEC programs before finishing the regular season at Charlotte. Those big trips include the Raleigh Relays, hosted by NC State, (3/26-3/28), Florida Relays (4/3-4/4), Duke Invitational (4/9-11) and Georgia Tech Invitational (4/17-4/18). The season ends at the Charlotte Invitational, which is held from Friday, April 24 through Saturday, April 25.
The Buccaneers will then enjoy a pair of weekends of rest and recovery before traveling to High Point, North Carolina for the Big South Championships. The Panthers are serving as the hosts for this year’s championship meet which is scheduled for Monday, May 11 through Wednesday, May 13.
The NCAA East First and Second Round Regional meet returns to Lexington, Kentucky with the University of Kentucky to host the event. It is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27 through Saturday, May 30. The NCAA Championships are in Eugene, Oregon with the University of Oregon hosting. The meet is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10 through Saturday, June 13.
The AVCA is proud to announce its 44th annual All-America teams for NCAA Division II women’s volleyball.
The 2025 All-Americans include 42 players—14 on the first, second, and third teams—from 29 schools, and 117 honorable mention selections. Two programs have three players on those teams: Point Loma (one on the first-, second-, and third-team) and Missouri-St. Louis (two first-team picks and a third-team selection).
The 2025 AVCA Freshman of the Year is Valeriya Kozlova of Barry. The outside hitter had 475 kills, averaged 5.48 points per set, and she hit .351. She helped the Bucs to a 25-5 record, and the team was ranked in the top 5 of the AVCA Poll every week since early October.
Abi Nua of Point Loma earns her third All-America award, as she’s made the first-team the past two seasons after being a third-team pick in 2022. Caitlin Bishop of Missouri-St. Louis and Peyton Neff also are two-time, first-team All-Americans. Three third-team selections—Elizabeth Blinn of Bentley, Anna Coulter of East Stroudsburg, and Mikayla Weiss of Fresno Pacific—become the first players in their respective school’s history to make one of the three AVCA All-America teams.
Freshman of the Year: Valeriya Kozlova, Barry University, OH
Player of the Year: Makenna Nold, Concordia University-St. Paul, RS, So.
Coach of the Year: to be announced Dec. 11
Assistant Coach of the Year: to be announced Dec. 11
The 2025 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division II All-America Committee: Chuck Waddington of Angelo State University (chair), Wick Colchagoff of University of Findlay, Chris Herron of Washburn University, Travis Hinkle of Fairmont State, Danielle MacKnight of Adelphi University, Mika Robinson of Rollins College, Jonathan Scott of Point Loma, and Michael Smith of Mars Hill University.
Click here to see links to bios on First-, Second-, and Third-Team All-Americans.
ALL-AMERICANS
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