Latest athletics news
Aussie runner smashes best, books Rio spot
Michael Gleeson Melbourne runner Linden Hall has run a big personal best to record an Olympic qualifier in the United States.
Astronaut Tim Peake runs the London Marathon in space
![British astronaut Tim Peake running the London Marathon at the International Space Station.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/d/z/n/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.godznf.png/1461512325059.jpg)
British astronaut Tim Peake has become the first man to complete a marathon in space, running 42 kilometres while strapped to a treadmill aboard the International Space Station.
Olympics dream over for Craig Mottram
![LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Craig Mottram of Australia competes in the Men's 5000m Round 1 Heats on Day 12 of the ...](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/d/z/e/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.godzdz.png/1461503383716.jpg)
Joe Barton Craig Mottram's dream of becoming the first Australian track and field athlete to compete at fifth Olympic Games is over.
Long walk to freedom spurs sprinter's run
![Manga Makur Chuot spends his spare time away from uni, coaching Indigenous children about running.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/d/e/d/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.god0mv.png/1461419093377.jpg)
Daniel Lane Can Perth sprinter Mangar Makur Chuot measure up to the hero his native South Sudan lost when his father, a chief and "big man", was killed in a hail of machinegun bullets when the starter fires his gun for the men's 200 metres sprint at Rio de Janeiro's Olympic Stadium?
Olympian connection spurs Indigenous kids
![Athlete Manga Makur Chuot is training in Balga, Perth.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/d/e/d/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.godjp2.png/1461734607525.jpg)
Daniel Lane One of Australia's top athletics coaches has revealed the almost mystical bond a refugee who is about to represent his native South Sudan at the Olympic Games has with the Indigenous children in Australia.
Mum's advice: 'Don't think you're the next LeBron James'
![Bound for Rio: Australian Olympian Morgan Mitchell.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/c/m/a/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gockx9.png/1461308295032.jpg)
Andrew Webster The 400m hopeful at the Rio Olympics is the next big thing Australian athletics has been crying out for - and she's adamant it won't go to her head.
Rio flame lit at Olympic birthplace
![Torch alight: The Olympic flame is symbolically passed from one torch to another after after the official ceremonial ...](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/c/b/m/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gocbm8.png/1462012737239.jpg)
Nicholas Paphitis The flame for South America's first Olympics was lit on Thursday at the birthplace of the ancient games in Greece, starting a 15-week journey culminating in the August 5 opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
Tamsyn Lewis: 'Track and field in this country has died a slow and painful death'
![Last hurrah: Tamsyn Lewis will compete for the final time next week.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/b/f/j/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gobdrk.png/1461204398224.jpg)
Andrew Webster But she plans to rebuild the sport's image alongside Bruce McAvaney for Seven at the Rio Olympics
Australian gymnast Miller's silver at test event
![Olympic hopeful Larissa Miller.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/9/z/d/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.go9zbz.png/1461044289805.jpg)
Australian gymnast Larissa Miller has boosted her Olympic chances, winning silver in the floor exercise at a test event in Rio.
Pearson slams those doubting her in Rio
![Tough talk: Sally Pearson models the Australian Olympic Games team uniform on Tuesday.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/9/p/m/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.go9x8p.png/1461096633614.jpg)
Andrew Webster She won gold in London but her detractors say she can't do it again in Rio
Sally Pearson clears biggest hurdle
![Olympic champion Sally Pearson.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/9/p/m/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.go9rcy.png/1461070931083.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Sally Pearson has made her biggest step forward yet in her bid to be fit for Rio and attempt to claim back to back Olympic gold medals by running over hurdles for the first time in nearly a year.
South Sudan readies to raise flag in Rio
![Cramped: Santino Kenyi and David Gonji Taban.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/d/m/b/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.go8t51.png/1461406326656.jpg)
Colin Cosier When South Sudanese athlete Kenyi Santino marches into Rio's Maracanã Stadium for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games, his parents will have to wait to hear about it.
Athlete bans lifted after meldonium ruling
![In the spotlight: A packet of Mildronate, aka meldonium.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/h/j/x/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.go7tcn.png/1460725678500.jpg)
TBILISI, April 15 AP - At least 14 athletes from Russia and Georgia have had their doping suspensions lifted, two days after officials relaxed the rules about meldonium.
Aussie door closes US door to Rio could open for young star
![Early promise: Mackenzie Little is now in the US.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/4/t/p/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.go4r0x.png/1460457358699.jpg)
Michael Gleeson A promising young Australian javelin thrower could potentially end up competing for America at the Rio Olympics and not Australia.
American hurdler signals warning to world
![Warning shot: Kendra Harrison posts a sizzling 12.36 seconds in the 100 metres hurdles in Athens at the weekend.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/3/j/q/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.go3bu5.png/1460365026208.jpg)
Michael Gleeson American hurdler Kendra Harrison has posted a sizzling opening run of the year and fired a warning shot ahead of Rio as reigning Olympic champion Sally Pearson continues her race to be fit for the Games.
WADA gives Kenya a month to comply
![Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the anti-doping bill could not be fast-tracked to beat the WADA deadline.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/1/8/f/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.go18e4.png/1460029512757.jpg)
Kenya has been given a one-month extension to comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code and thereby avoid future sanctions, an official said on Thursday.
Olympics
Javelin thrower Kelsey-Lee Roberts books ticket to Rio as part of new-look athletics team
![WAKAYAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 17: Javelin thrower Kelsey-Lee Roberts of Australia poses for a portrait during a photo ...](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/v/8/q/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnxj23.png/1459758914194.jpg)
Chris Dutton Javelin thrower Kelsey-Lee Roberts confident back injury won't hamper her build up to Rio.
Injured Pearson ready to come back early
![Australia's Sally Pearson.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/p/q/f/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnxhyd.png/1459726679012.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Reigning Olympic hurdles champion Sally Pearson is recovering from injury faster than first expected and now hopes to race again by the end of next month.
Injured Pearson books spot for Rio
![Olympic gold: Australia's Sally Pearson celebrates after winning the women's 100m hurdles final at the London 2012 Games.](/web/20160505050313im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/p/q/f/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnx76z.png/1459726658559.jpg)
Michael Gleeson World and Olympic champion among 28 athletes added to Australian Athletics team on Sunday night after national titles in Sydney.