Switzerland’s Marcel Hug has won his ninth Boston Marathon men’s wheelchair title with a dominant performance on a cold Monday morning in Massachusetts.
The Swiss athlete crossed the finish line in an unofficial time of one hour, 16 minutes and six seconds, aided by a helpful tailwind.
Despite the blistering pace, the phenomenal racer narrowly missed breaking his own course record by just 33 seconds.
Closing in on historical greatness
This latest triumph marks a fourth consecutive victory in the prestigious American event for the dominant wheelchair star.
He now sits second on the all-time list for men’s wheelchair victories in Boston, trailing only South African legend Ernst van Dyk, who claimed 10 titles between 2001 and 2014.
American competitor Daniel Romanchuk secured second place with a time of 1:22:44, while Jetze Plat of the Netherlands completed the podium positions.
In the women’s wheelchair division, Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper produced a superb performance to take the crown.
Early dominance sets up latest major victory
The serial champion established his authority immediately, building a 13-second advantage over British rival David Weir by the three-mile mark.
That commanding lead was relentlessly extended to 55 seconds by the time the elite field reached the halfway point of the 130th edition of the world’s oldest annual marathon.
Such dominance is customary for the Swiss racer, who has only lost one of seven World Marathon Major titles since his Berlin victory in 2022.
Freezing conditions challenge historic field
Competitors were greeted by frosty conditions in Hopkinton, with starting temperatures plunging into the low 40s.
It proved to be the coldest start to the event since 2018, providing a stark contrast to the mild 58-degree weather experienced last year.
Despite the freezing morning, ideal racing weather soon developed as defending champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir led more than 30,000 runners onto the historic course.
West Ham United will continue their desperate fight for Premier League survival when they travel across London to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday evening.
The crucial top-flight fixture is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 BST on April 20.
Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch the capital clash live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Dedicated pre-match coverage will begin at 18:30 BST, with live streaming available to subscribers via the Sky Go application.
Survival hopes and team news
Nuno Espirito Santo takes his squad to south London sitting just one point above the dreaded relegation zone.
The Hammers are determined to secure a vital victory to distance themselves from the bottom three after capitalising on dropped points elsewhere.
They arrive in confident mood following a resounding 4-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their previous league outing.
The Portuguese manager boasts a fully fit squad to select from ahead of the short trip.
Palace balance domestic and European ambitions
Oliver Glasner’s side are currently balancing their domestic commitments with a deep run into the Uefa Conference League semi-finals.
The Eagles are expected to carefully manage the fitness of key personnel, including midfielder Adam Wharton and defender Maxence Lacroix.
However, the hosts will definitely be without Eddie Nketiah, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Cheick Doucoure remains unavailable as he builds match fitness, while Evann Guessand is ruled out with a knee problem.
Global broadcast details
Fans based in the United States can tune into the action on the USA Network from 15:00 ET.
Digital streaming options are also available across the Atlantic through Fubo TV and the NBC Sports app.
For those preferring audio commentary, talkSPORT will provide live national radio updates throughout the Monday night contest.
The south Londoners will be aiming to complete a league double, having secured a 2-1 away victory over their rivals back in September.
Cesena goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann has suffered a fractured neck and head laceration following a severe collision during a Serie B match against Palermo.
The 29-year-old was taken off the pitch by ambulance in the closing stages of the weekend fixture.
Following medical tests in hospital, the Italian club confirmed the American international sustained a fracture to his first cervical vertebra alongside a head contusion.
‘A long road to recovery’
“The road to recovery will be a long one.”
Those were the worrying words of his agent, Marco De Marchi, who provided an update to reporters following the incident.
Cesena manager Ashley Cole initially stated the shot-stopper was being assessed by medical staff after suffering a significant cut to the back of his head.
Impact on Cesena’s campaign
This serious injury means the Bianconeri will have to navigate the remainder of their season without their first-choice goalkeeper.
Cole’s side currently sit eighth in the Italian second tier with just three games left to play.
The former England and Chelsea defender only took charge last month and has recorded a single victory in his five matches at the helm.
Journey from MLS to Italy
The son of German football legend Jurgen Klinsmann arrived in Italy on a free transfer in 2024 after a two-year spell with Los Angeles Galaxy.
Since establishing himself in Europe, the former Hertha Berlin prospect has made 66 appearances across all competitions for his current employers.
His consistent club form earned him a maiden call-up to the senior United States national team squad last year under Mauricio Pochettino.
Barcelona’s £26m permanent signing of on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford could hinge on the potential departure of striker Robert Lewandowski.
The England international is currently spending the season at the Nou Camp.
A clause in his temporary contract allows the Spanish club to purchase the forward permanently.
However, the Catalan giants are reportedly struggling to meet the asking price due to strict La Liga financial regulations.
Lewandowski exit could provide funds
To facilitate a permanent switch, Barcelona are attempting to negotiate a lower fee or extend the loan arrangement.
Manchester United are understood to be firmly against another temporary deal for their academy graduate.
The impasse could be resolved by the uncertain future of veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.
His current contract expires at the end of the season, and negotiations over a reduced-wage extension have yet to yield an agreement.
Juventus prepare for transfer talks
Italian side Juventus have emerged as a potential destination for the prolific goalscorer.
Representatives for the Serie A club are scheduled to hold a second meeting with Lewandowski’s agent in the coming days.
AC Milan are also closely monitoring the situation and could submit a rival offer if an opportunity arises.
If the veteran striker departs, it would drastically reduce Barcelona’s wage bill and free up crucial funds.
This newfound financial flexibility could empower the club to meet Manchester United’s valuation for their loanee.
Alternative targets explored
Despite earlier optimism, Barcelona have reportedly cooled their interest following a dip in the forward’s recent form.
The club hierarchy are now actively assessing alternative attacking options in the transfer market.
Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is a primary target, although he would command a significantly higher transfer fee.
Former Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth is also being tracked by the La Liga heavyweights.
A final decision on the reshaping of the Barcelona attack is expected before the end of the month.
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams has agreed a historic two-year contract extension worth $50m (£39.5m), making him the first non-quarterback in NFL history to surpass $400m in career contracts.
The new agreement includes $37m in fully guaranteed money alongside a $22m signing bonus.
This lucrative extension ensures the 12-time Pro Bowler will remain under contract in the Bay Area through the 2028 season.
Record-breaking career earnings
With this latest deal, the veteran lineman sets a new financial benchmark for his position with career guarantees exceeding $225m.
His representatives confirmed the historic financial milestones achieved by the new agreement on social media.
Trent is the first non-QB in NFL history to surpass $400m in contracts and $225m in guarantees.
Elite Loyalty Sports
San Francisco had previously declined to exercise a $10m option bonus due in March, leading to initial struggles in finding common ground during the offseason.
Securing the offensive line
The 37-year-old was originally slated to enter the 2026 campaign with no guaranteed money remaining and a massive salary cap hit of $38.84m.
Releasing or trading the former All-Pro was never a realistic option for the franchise, as such a move would have incurred a crippling $34.15m dead money charge.
San Francisco also lacked a proven replacement on their current roster, having only added swing tackle Vederian Lowe from the New England Patriots for rotational depth.
Chasing Hall of Fame history
This extension paves the way for the offensive anchor to achieve his stated goal of playing in the NFL until he turns 40.
Having earned second-team All-Pro honours in 2025, he now sits just two selections away from matching Bruce Matthews’ all-time record of 14 Pro Bowl appearances by an offensive lineman.
The legendary tackle will now focus on continuing to build his formidable Hall of Fame resume while chasing an elusive first Super Bowl victory.
Scientists from Loughborough University have discovered that heading a football causes a previously unreported pressure wave to the brain, suggesting new ball designs could significantly reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
The Football Association-backed study found that energy transfer into the head can be up to 55 times greater depending on the specific ball used.
Researchers examined impacts at match speeds using an advanced surrogate head model and a variety of balls from the past century.
A specialist sensor detected a distinctive pressure wave transferring energy directly into the frontal region of the human brain for the first time.
Modern designs pose similar risks
The magnitude of this blunt force relies heavily on the specific construction, the velocity of the cross, and whether the material is wet or dry.
Crucially, the research revealed that heavy leather models used in previous decades did not consistently produce higher impact results than modern equivalents.
Professor Andy Harland, a sports technology expert at the East Midlands institution, noted that risk remains prevalent across all eras.
“Our evidence suggests that high energy pressure wave transfer was not limited to leather balls, so, if this energy is associated with neurodegenerative disease, it is not a problem that has gone away with modern balls.”
Mounting pressure over player welfare
The sport is currently facing intense scrutiny regarding the undeniable relationship between aerial duels and long-term neurological illnesses.
Earlier this year, a senior coroner concluded that repeated heading was a likely contributing factor in the death of Gordon McQueen.
The former Leeds United and Manchester United defender passed away in 2023 at the age of 70 after suffering from vascular dementia.
He followed other high-profile cases like ex-England striker Jeff Astle, who is widely considered the first professional player whose death was directly linked to heading.
Paving the way for safer equipment
Dr Ieuan Phillips, lead researcher on the project, hopes these findings will inspire immediate changes to testing specifications.
“These findings provide opportunities to work towards ball designs and testing specifications that minimise energy transfer into the brain.”
He explained that while statistical observations already exist regarding retired professionals, this new discovery measures the exact physical collision in unprecedented detail.
The academic team believes this breakthrough finally gives governing bodies the tangible evidence needed to mandate vital changes to equipment manufacturing.
Chelsea retain a complex but viable route to next season’s Champions League by finishing sixth in the Premier League, provided Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish exactly fifth.
The West London club suffered their fourth consecutive league defeat over the weekend after losing 1-0 to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
That setback, combined with dramatic stoppage-time victories for both Liverpool and Aston Villa, leaves Liam Rosenior’s side severely trailing in the race for Europe.
The Blues are now seven points adrift of the fifth-placed Merseyside outfit and ten points behind the automatic qualification spots.
UEFA performance spots explained
England is set to secure an extra place in Europe’s elite tournament by topping UEFA’s European Performance Spots (EPS) for a second successive campaign.
This system rewards the two domestic leagues boasting the best overall record across all three continental competitions each season.
Consequently, the top five teams in the English top flight are virtually guaranteed a place in next year’s premier cup competition.
The intricate path to sixth place
For the current sixth-placed side to qualify, they must rely entirely on the European success of the Midlands club currently sitting above them.
Aston Villa are scheduled to face Nottingham Forest in a two-legged Europa League semi-final starting later this month.
If the Villans lift that trophy while finishing exactly fifth domestically, they will enter the Champions League as titleholders rather than via their league position.
This specific scenario would cause the EPS allocation to roll down to the team finishing in sixth place.
Tight race for European football
Securing sixth place itself remains a formidable challenge for a team struggling with poor recent domestic form.
Brentford and Bournemouth sit level on points with the Stamford Bridge outfit, while Brighton, Everton, Sunderland, and Fulham remain in close pursuit.
Furthermore, the Londoners will need Liverpool to collect maximum points to overtake Villa in the standings and ensure the Birmingham club drops to fifth.
A pivotal encounter in this qualification puzzle awaits on 9 May when Chelsea host their top-five rivals.
Brighton and Hove Albion attacker Joao Pedro will undergo a late fitness assessment before his side hosts Chelsea in the Premier League at the Amex Stadium.
The Brazilian forward is racing against time to prove his readiness for the highly anticipated Monday night fixture.
His potential absence would serve as a significant blow to the Seagulls as they prepare for a demanding domestic clash.
Injury concerns mount for the hosts
The south coast side have relied heavily on the former Watford man’s attacking output throughout the current campaign.
Medical staff will continue to monitor the 24-year-old closely in the final hours leading up to kick-off.
Meanwhile, the Blues travel to Sussex hoping to capitalise on any structural weaknesses within the home side’s lineup.
Crucial points at stake
Securing a positive result at the Amex remains vital for both clubs as the top-flight season progresses towards its concluding stages.
The west London visitors are aiming to build crucial momentum following an inconsistent period of form.
Supporters are anticipating a tense tactical battle under the floodlights regardless of the final squad selections.