Top 6 running upsets of 2018

The past year was packed with history-making accomplishments in the running world, some of them expected, or at least hoped for (such as Kipchoge’s world record at Berlin), others less so. Here’s a look back at some of the most surprising victories of 2018, in chronological order. (Click on the headline to see the story we published at the time of the upset.)

RELATED: Top upsets in running of 2017

1. Japan’s Kawauchi wins Boston marathon in spectacular upset

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhp2VRHFbIp/

Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi used the adverse weather conditions to his benefit, reeling in and overtaking defending champion Geoffrey Kirui to nail the biggest win of his career thus far. Kawauchi was the first Japanese man to win Boston since 1987, when Toshihiko Seko won (for the second time) in 2:11:50.

2. American Desiree Linden wins Boston marathon

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bht1Jr9BUfb/

Similarly, Linden became the first American woman to win at Boston since Lisa Larsen Weidenbach (now known as Lisa Rainsberger) won in 1985. In a battle against the elements that saw 23 elites DNF, Linden struggled early in the race, telling Shalane Flanagan she might drop out and offering to help her before surging to victory herself.

3. Shelby Houlihan upsets Jenny Simpson at USATF Championships

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkYmTL5A6ue/

Iowa native Houlihan, who attended Arizona State University and now trains with the Bowerman Track Club out of Portland, Oregon, won both the 1,500m and the 5,000m at the USATF championships in Des Moines in June. She beat Simpson, a former world champion and Olympic bronze medallist, in the 1,500m. (Simpson is also a nine-time USATF champion.) Houlihan had gone sub-3 at Lausanne Diamond League earlier in the summer, and went on to break Shannon Rowbury’s American 5,000m record of 14:38.92 in July with a 14:34.45 at Heusden, Belgium. 

4. McBride bested by Arop in 800m upset on final day of ACTF competition

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk_ixhQhRrL/

On July 8, the final day of the Athletics Canada Track and Field Championships in Ottawa, defending senior men’s 800m champion Brandon McBride was beaten by a teenager. Marco Arop, 19, was able to hold his early lead for the win in 1:46.15.

5. Jakob Ingebrigtsen, 17, gets the double at Euro Champs

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmX4mTxlRl4/

Jakob Ingebrigtsen had a massive season in 2018, starting with his victory over Olympic medalists Paul Chelimo and Matt Centrowitz in the 1,500m at Payton Jordan. Later he made history both as the youngest competitor ever to win a European track title (with his 1,500m win in Berlin on August 10) and a few days later as the first person, male or female, ever to win both the 1,500m and the 5,000m at the European Championships. In the 5,000m he beat his brother Henrik (who won the 1,500m at the 2012 Euro Champs and was fifth at the 2012 Olympics), and France’s Morhad Amdouni, this year’s 10,000m winner.

6. Gen Lalonde wins ACXC

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqnoadUgaSX/

New Brunswick native Lalonde, though an Olympian and holder of the Canadian 3,000m steeplechase record, had not raced cross-country in five years. She left defending champion Claire Sumner and Natasha Wodak in her wake in the 10K race, securing her position on Team Canada for NACAC and worlds in early 2019.