Historic Weekend for On Athletes
With the first Diamond League win for a female On athlete and the first WTCS Podium, there was plenty to celebrate for On athletes this past weekend.
ZURICH, Switzerland, 26 May 2024 - On athletes put on a historic show over the weekend with the first-ever Diamond League win for an On-sponsored female athlete, the first-ever WTCS podium finish for an On triathlete in Cagliari and the best team performance in Bowerman Mile history. Along with Olympic Standards and PBs, the weekend was a great success for all athletes competing across the world.
On athletes bring the heat to Diamond League Eugene
Tsigie Gebreselama delivered the first celebration of the Diamond League Meet in Eugene for the On-athlete team, celebrating the victory and new world-leading time in the 5000m. Locked in a neck-and-neck battle on the home straight, Gebreselama edged her way to the victory, ahead of fellow Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye, crossing the finish line in 14:18.76. A new PB for Grebeselama, her victory also marked the first-ever female win at a diamond league meet for On.
Four On Athletes started in one of the deepest Bowerman men's Mile fields ever. The heavily anticipated race featured mile world champion Josh Kerr (GBR), current Olympic champion Jacob Ingebrigsten(NOR), and On’s own Yared Nuguse (USA), the North American Mile record holder, all with a shot at taking home the title. Alongside Nuguse, fellow OAC athletes Ollie Hoare (AUS), Geordie Beamish (NZL), and Mario Garcia (ESP).
The first 400m of the race whizzed by in 55.91, and the 800m split followed in just 1:52.74. With only 600m to go, Kerr moved to the front, with Ingebrigsten and Nuguse close on his heels. Nuguse managed to stay close to Ingebrigsten and crossed the line in third position with a season-best time of 3:46.22.
Fellow On athletes Beamish, Hoare, and Garcia crossed the line in fifth, ninth, and tenth place, each with a season-best result and a new Personal Best for Beamish. All four OAC athletes dipped beneath the Olympic standard and completed the best team performance in the Bowerman Mile in history. Geordie Beamish is now the only athlete to hold the Olympic Standard for the 1500m, 3000m Steeple Chase and 5000m distances.
Sage Hurta-Klecker secured seventh place in the women’s 800m final, with a new season-best time of 1:58.48, while Courtney Wayment mirrored similar efforts in the 3000m steeple chase race, setting a season-best time of 9:14.48 and taking home ninth place.
Tertsch secures first WTCS podium for On
The second stop for the WTCS series took place in Cagliari, Italy. It was the final opportunity for athletes to showcase their abilities ahead of the Olympic Team selections in the next few weeks. On, athletes rose to the occasion, with Lisa Tertsch (GER) securing the Swiss sportswear brand's first-ever podium finish in a WTCS race and reaffirming their qualifications for Paris.
Lisa Tertsch made little notice of her power during the first part of the race, sitting back in the chase group after the first transition out of the water. Coming into the final transition, about 24 athletes had become the chase group, and with just the run to go, the fight was well and truly on for the podium. Tertsch made her way up through the field, joining the lead group halfway through the run, looking fresh and calm as others started to drop from the lead group. Four athletes battled it out for the podium as the bell rang, with Tertsch fighting against Beaugrand and Potter to determine the finishing order. Beaugrand (01:47.25) managed to break away, securing the win, followed by On athlete Tertsch (01:47.28) and Potter (01:47.31) rounding off the podium. On athlete, Kate Waugh (GBR) crossed the finish line in 10th (01:48.19), and Verena secured her Olympic spot, finishing as the best Italian in 13th position (01:48.34).
Speaking after her race, Tertsch said: “I was fighting until the end, but I am very happy. I know how people races, I observe them, we were all watching each other… it was fun”, said Lisa. “I already qualified for the Olympics last year, so this year is just preparing for it, but I am very happy with how preparations are going”.
On the men’s side, Pierre Le Corre (FRA) secured sixth place and once again reaffirmed his great form ahead of the Games in Paris. He is the only French triathlete who has met all the federation standards since 2023. On teammate Alberto Gonzales finished in 11th, securing a third slot for the Spanish federation, and British youngster Hugo Milner came in 13th, displaying his running talent with the third fastest running split of the day. Norwegian Triathlon giant Kristian Blummenfelt put on a strong display in his second race of the season, but a flat tire with five laps to go cost him valuable time that he couldn’t make up at the end.
Ben Flanagan wins the 10k Canadian Road Championship
At the Canadian 10k Road Championships held on May 26th in Ottawa, Canada, Benjamin Flanagan took home the championship title with a new personal and national record of 28:09 over the distance, lowering the previous record set by himself by two seconds. The race started with a kilometer split of 2:57 and progressively got faster, with the third kilometer already being completed in 2:45. The Canadian record holder made his move halfway through the course, dropping Rory Linkletter and Jeremy Coughler to run a negative split and take home the title.
RESULTS
Diamond League Eugene
- Tsigie Gebreselama - 5k - 1st, 14:18.76, World Lead Time, PB
- Yared Nuguse Mile - 3rd, 3:46.22, Olympic Standard, Season-best
- George Beamish Mile - 8th, 3:49.09, Olympic Standard, Personal best
- Olli Hoare Mile - 9th, 3:49.11, Olympic Standard, Season-best
- Mario Garcia Romo Mile - 10th, 3:50.14, Olympic Standard, Season-best
- Courtney Wayment SC - 6th, 9:14.48, Season-best
- Sage Hurta-Klecker - 800m - 7th, 1:58.48, season best,
- Joselyn Brea Abreu 5k - 17th, 15:13.02
WTS Cagliari
- Lisa Tertsch - 2nd, 1:47.28
- Kate Waugh - 10th, 1:48.19
- Verena Steinhauser - 13th, 1:48.34
- Nora Gmur - 36th, 1:52.56
- Pierre Le Corre - 6th, 1:40.39
- Alberto Gonzalez - 11th, 1:41.34
- Hugo Milner - 13th, 1:41.57
- Kristian Blummenfelt -31st, 1:44.30
Canadian 10k Road Championships
- Benjamin Flanagan, 1st, 28:09, Canadian Record
About On
On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fourteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.
On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.