You flip out about the Olympics—realize just how insane the Rio 1500 meter race was—start reading websites like CITIUS Mag (it’s true, I did). You look at Diamond League results, wait for FloTrack to upload results for meets that happened the day prior… rookie mistake.

You hear about the new supershoes—no way it’s 4% faster, right?—you drop off your resume at a running shoe store. You start working there during the summer of 2020, and keep working at running shoe stores. You figure out your favorite shoes. Saucony Freedom 3, first Saucony Endorphin Pro, and Asics Novablast 4 and 5.

You read every running book you can, from Running with the Buffaloes to The Longest Race. You read Once A Runner, and keep reading Once A Runner. You get a tattoo of a quote from Once A Runner.

Seven years of track and field. Seven years of being a fan. How fun is that?

___________________

It’s hard to remember a time in my young life where track and field had this much public momentum. Running is experiencing a post-pandemic boom, and track and field has to take advantage of it.

Leagues like Grand Slam Track and World Shot Put Series give other ways for people to cheer on the sport, working alongside the Diamond League.

Technology is developing. Times are getting faster. Throws are going farther. Debates will grow louder (which is #goodforthesport).

I know there will always be a fixation on times, meets, scheduling, shoe tech, streaming, bicarb, doping accusations, and drama. There will always be people reminiscing of eras bygone, of the records set on cinder tracks without these newfangled carbon plated cheater shoes.

And don’t misinterpret what I’m saying, I love most of the intricacies of being a track and field fan. Again: shoe nerd; “Wail On” tattoo; club runner. It’s part of the track-and-field obsession starter pack. I can’t wait to see what these next few years have in store for all aspects of the sport—technology, training, fueling, and observing.

But what keeps me coming back, what gets me excited for track and field’s foreseeable future, is what has always made the sport special: the stories, and the people that make them.

___________________

There are the expected role models in the professional levels.

People like Eliud Kipchoge and his quest to run sub-2 hours in the marathon—finding the limits and breaking them.

Like Faith Kipyegon becoming the best women’s miler of all time—an equal inspiration as an athlete and a mother.

Like Neeraj Chopra winning gold in the javelin for India in the Tokyo Olympics—the country’s first ever track and field Olympic Gold medal.

But we can also look at the colleges and high schools. At the times and records being set at all levels—all parts of track and field.

The discus world record: Mykolas Alekna following in his father’s footsteps and then clearing them.

UNC Chapel Hill’s storybook indoor season: Ethan Stand and Parker Wolfe obliterating record upon record upon record.

Athlos 2024: a celebration of women in track and field worldwide, through the lens of track and field.

THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS: Don’t get me started. I won’t stop.

And it’s not just the stars.

I watched my friends track-and-field their hearts out at NIRCA Club Nationals in early April. I didn’t go for the times (shocker) but I cheered myself hoarse as people ran the final race of their semi-organized track and field careers. It was a meet full of steeplechase face-plants, ridiculous race strategies, and brushes with heat stroke and sunburn. Team flags, morning 5ks, extremely small hotel pools, and lasting memories.

MONROE, CT — Masuk’s boys volleyball team, the No. 2 seed, defeated visiting and No. 15 Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-11) to open play in the Class M State Tournament on Wednesday.

Now the Panthers will face another SWC rival, No. 7 Pomperaug, in Friday’s quarterfinals at 5 p.m.

In the win over Kolbe Jack Hanna had 41 assists and 17 digs; Daniel Ferris had 19 kills, 9 digs, 5 total blocks, and 1 ace; Mathias Aoaeh had 11 kills, 6 total blocks, and 5 digs; and Andrew Oleyar had 3 aces and 17 digs.

Long Beach will host seven sporting events in the 2028 Paralympic Games, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee announced Tuesday.  

“We are incredibly proud and honored that Long Beach will host seven Paralympic sporting events for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “This milestone truly showcases our commitment to inclusion, athletic excellence and community spirit. We can’t wait to celebrate the incredible talents and inspiring stories of Paralympic athletes right here in our beautiful coastal city.”

The seven Paralympic sporting events to take place in Long Beach are:

• Para Climbing
• Para Swimming
• Shooting Para Sport
• Sitting Volleyball
• Blind Football
• Para Rowing
• Para Canoe-Sprint

The City of Long Beach, a 2028 Venue City, will also stage 11 sporting events for the 2028 Olympic Games. 

The 2028 Games will mark the Paralympic debut of Para Climbing, set to take place in the Convention Center Lot alongside Para Swimming, which will be held at the adjacent temporary outdoor aquatics center. Within the Convention Center, Shooting Para Sport will take place in a purpose-built, temporary indoor range where spectators can witness the ultimate test of accuracy and control. Adjacent to the Convention Center, the Long Beach Arena will stage Sitting Volleyball.

Blind Football will take place at Alamitos Beach in the temporary arena where Olympic Beach Volleyball will be held, following the successful model of Olympic-Paralympic venue sharing from previous Games to maximize the use of the temporary arena. Also announced are Para Rowing and Para Canoe-Sprint events being held at Long Beach’s Marine Stadium.

With these additions, Long Beach is now confirmed to stage 18 sporting events across seven venues citywide for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Olympic sporting events already confirmed are:

• Beach Volleyball at Alamitos Beach
• Coastal Rowing and Marathon Swimming along the Waterfront
• Sport Climbing and Water Polo at the Convention Center Lot
• Target Shooting and Artistic Swimming at the Convention Center
• Handball at Long Beach Arena
• Canoe-Sprint and Rowing at Marine Stadium
• Sailing in the waters along Belmont Shore

Hosted by the City of Los Angeles, the 2028 Olympic Games will take place July 14 through July 30, 2028, and the 2028 Paralympic Games will take place Aug. 15 through Aug. 27, 2028.

Read about Long Beach’s structural and public space revitalization efforts in preparation to host Olympic events at longbeach.gov/2028Games.

The 26^th Annual Peter J. Cutino Awards—college water polo’s highest individual honor will be presented on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Named for legendary coach Peter J. Cutino, the award recognizes the top male and female NCAA Division I water polo players each season.

The ceremony will be live‑streamed free on Overnght.com, featuring red‑carpet interviews, finalist features, and the full awards presentation.

2025 Men’s Finalists

• Ryder Dodd (UCLA) – Set the MPSF single‑season scoring record with 102 goals, led Bruins to a national title, and earned NCAA Tournament MVP honors
• Max Miller (USC) – Two‑time First‑Team All‑American; 54 goals this year and 147 career goals, 16^th all‑time for the Trojans
• Mihailo Vukazic (Pacific) – 2024 West Coast Conference Player of the Year; 63 goals in 20 games and a First‑Team All‑American selection

 2025 Women’s Finalists

• Emily Ausmus (USC) – MPSF Newcomer of the Year; USC single‑season record 114 goals, plus 55 assists and 46 steals
• Tilly Kearns (USC) – Redshirt senior with 100 goals this season; finishes USC career third all‑time with 262 goals
• Ryann Neushul (Stanford) – MPSF Player of the Year; 60 goals and the only four‑time NCAA champion in Stanford history

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
• Venue: The Olympic Club – San Francisco, CA
• Broadcast: Live on Overnght.com

For more on the finalists, check out Swimming World’s Water Polo coverage from this year’s NCAA Championships.

First presented in 1999, the Cutino Award is determined by votes from NCAA coaches nationwide and honors athletes who exemplify skill, sportsmanship, and leadership.
Winners receive a handcrafted walnut‑and‑brass trophy, while the perpetual trophy remains on display at The Olympic Club.

Stay tuned to Swimming World’s Water Polo hub for live coverage, post‑event interviews, and full reaction once the 2025 Cutino Award winners are revealed.

Past winners:

CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M Athletics proudly announces the hiring of Andrea Doa as the department’s new Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing. With multiple years of Division 1 experience, Doa joins WT from Syracuse University, where she served as a Marketing Coordinator and led innovative, high-impact initiatives across several high-profile sports programs.
 
At Syracuse, Doa was the primary marketing lead for the women’s basketball and men’s lacrosse programs and served as the on-field producer for football, overseeing all fan-facing promotions and sponsor activations. She played a key role in enhancing the Otto’s Kids Club, growing it to more than 800 members and over $27,000 in annual revenue and revitalized the department’s internship program, managing a team of 40+ game day staff. Her expertise extended to script writing, game presentation, talent management, and sponsorship fulfillment across multiple platforms, helping elevate the Syracuse game day experience.
 
“Andrea’s creativity, energy, and leadership will make an immediate impact at WT,” said Zoe Spencer, Associate Athletic Director for Branding and Strategic Initiatives. “Her experience within the Power 4 at Syracuse prepared her to lead at a high level, and her passion for engaging fans and building memorable game day experiences aligns perfectly with our vision at West Texas A&M.”
 

In her new role at West Texas A&M, Doa will oversee all facets of the department’s marketing strategy, including social media, fan engagement, and promotional campaigns across all 16 varsity sports. Her role is a key step forward as WT Athletics continues to grow its brand and enhance the fan experience.
 

“I’m incredibly excited to join the team at West Texas A&M and contribute to a department that is truly investing in the magic of college athletics. As someone passionate about marketing and fan experience, I look forward to creating meaningful, memorable moments for our fans and helping elevate the game day atmosphere in Canyon,” said Andrea Doa. “A special thank you to Doug Lipinski for welcoming me into the WT Athletics family. His transformational leadership is already making a powerful impact on a program with such pride and incredible potential.”
 

Doa holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sports Administration and is set to play a key role in enhancing the fan experience and brand presence for West Texas A&M Athletics.
 

A Massachusetts high school student who was arrested by immigration agents on his way to volleyball practice has been released from custody after a judge granted him bond Thursday.

Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, who came to the U.S. from Brazil at age 7, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Saturday.

Authorities have said the agents were looking for the Milford High School teenager’s father, who owns the car Gomes da Silva was driving at the time and had parked in a friend’s driveway

Speaking with members of the media outside the detention center shortly after his release on $2,000 bond, Gomes da Silva described “humiliating” conditions and said his faith helped him through his six days of detention.

On his wrist, he wore a bracelet made from the thin sheet of metallic blanket he was given to sleep on the cement floor.

“I’ll always remember this place,” he said. “I’ll always remember how it was.”

His lawyer, Robin Nice, told reporters after the hearing in Chelmsford that his arrest “shouldn’t have happened in the first place. This is all a waste.”

“We disrupted a kid’s life. We just disrupted a community’s life,” Nice said. “These kids should be celebrating graduation and prom, I assume? They should be doing kid stuff, and it is a travesty and a waste of our judicial process to have to go through this.”

She said Gomes da Silva was confined to a room holding 25 to 35 men, many twice his age, most of the time he was detained, with no windows, time outside, privacy to use the restroom or permission to shower.

Nice said that at one point Gomes da Silva, who is active in his local church, asked for a Bible and was denied.

Gomes da Silva, who said his father taught him to “put other people first,” said many of the men imprisoned with him didn’t speak English and didn’t understand why they were there.

He had to inform some of them they were being deported, and then watched them break down in tears.

“I told every single inmate down there: When I’m out, if I’m the only one who was able to leave that place, I lost,” he said. “I want to do whatever I can to get them as much help as possible. If they have to be deported, so be it. But in the right way, in the right conditions. Because no one down there is treated good.”

He said some days, he was given only crackers to eat, which he shared with cellmates. His first stop after being released was for McDonald’s chicken nuggets and french fries.

Not ICE’s target, but detained anyway

U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said earlier this week ICE officers were targeting a “known public safety threat” and Gomes da Silva’s father “has a habit of reckless driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through residential areas.”

“While ICE officers never intended to apprehend Gomes da Silva, he was found to be in the United States illegally and subject to removal proceedings, so officers made the arrest,” she said in a statement.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Monday that “like any local law enforcement officer, if you encounter someone that has a warrant or … he’s here illegally, we will take action on it.”

Upon his release, Gomes da Silva pushed back on ICE’s characterizations of his father: “Everything I got was from my dad. He’s a good person. He never did anything wrong.”

When he was able to call his parents during his detainment, Gomes da Silva said his father sobbed and told him the family was scared to leave the house.

Gomes da Silva initially entered the country on a visitor visa and was later issued a student visa that has since lapsed, Nice said.

He told reporters he didn’t know his immigration status until he was arrested.

He said an officer asked him, “Do you know why you were arrested?” He said no.

“I told her, ma’am, I was 7 years old. I don’t know nothing about that stuff,” he recalled. “I don’t understand how it works.”

Nice described him as deeply rooted in his community and a dedicated member of both the school marching band and a band at his church.

The immigration judge set a placeholder hearing date for a couple of weeks from Thursday, but it might take place months from that, Nice said.

“We’re optimistic that he’ll have a future in the United States,” she said.

A shaken community

“I love my son. We need Marcelo back home. It’s no family without him,” João Paulo Gomes Pereira said in a video released Wednesday. “We love America. Please, bring my son back.”

The video showed the family in the teen’s bedroom. Gomes da Silva’s sister describes enjoying watching movies with her brother and the food he cooks for her: “I miss everything about him.”

Students at Milford High staged a walkout Monday to protest his detainment.

Other supporters packed the stands of the high school gymnasium Tuesday night, when the volleyball team dedicated a match to their missing teammate.

Amani Jack, a recent Milford High graduate, said her classmate’s absence loomed large over the graduation ceremony, where he was supposed to play in the band.

She said if she had a chance to speak with the president, she’d ask him to “put yourself in our shoes.”

“He did say he was going to deport criminals,” she said. “Marcelo is not a criminal. He’s a student. I really want him to take a step in our shoes, witnessing this. Try and understand how we feel. We’re just trying to graduate high school.”

Veronica Hernandez, a family advocate from Medford who said she works in a largely Hispanic community where ICE has had an active presence, said cases like Gomes da Silva’s show immigration enforcement is serious about taking “anybody” without legal status, not just those accused of crimes.

“I think seeing that something so simple as a child driving themselves and their friends to volleyball practice at risk struck a chord,” she said.