Celebrating Underrated Athletes in Athletics — image accompanying Athletics Weekly's report. Image accompanying Athletics Weekly’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Katharine Merry praises athletes like Lieke Klaver, who ran 400m under 50 seconds eight times in 2026. Despite her achievements, Klaver often remains in the shadows.
Merry also mentions Jereem Richards, who has a long career in 200m and 400m. His smooth style and consistent performance make him a standout, yet he often goes unnoticed. Read more racing coverage.
Mark English and Brittney Reese are other examples. English won the European 800m title, while Reese is a seven-time world champion in long jump. Both athletes have faced underappreciation. Related: Former European Champion Ciara Mageean Dies at 34.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
Reader questions
Questions about this report
What should runners know about Celebrating Underrated Athletes in Athletics?
Katharine Merry highlights overlooked athletes who excel consistently. Katharine Merry praises athletes like Lieke Klaver, who ran 400m under 50 seconds eight times in 2026. Despite her achievements, Klaver often remains in the shadows.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on November 3, 2026. The underlying Athletics Weekly report was dated November 3, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
THE WEEKLY BRIEFING
Start the week a step ahead.
A concise edit of the running stories worth knowing, sent every Monday.