Shelby Houlihan made a stunning statement in just her second race back from a four-year ban, clocking 4:20.30 in the mile yesterday in Boston. The time is the second-fastest ever recorded by an American woman, trailing only Mary Slaney’s legendary 4:16.71 from 1985.
Houlihan’s performance comes after years away from the sport, yet she showed no signs of rust as she powered through the field with her signature closing speed. Her return has been highly anticipated, and this result signals that she is still a force to be reckoned with on the track.
The former American record holder in the 1,500m and 5,000m was handed a four-year suspension in 2021 after testing positive for nandrolone, a ruling she has consistently denied wrongdoing for. Now, back on the competitive stage, she appears intent on reclaiming her place among the country’s top middle-distance runners.
Running 4:20.30 in only her second race back suggests Houlihan is already in world-class shape. The question now is how much faster she can go as she regains more race sharpness. With the 2025 season heating up and the U.S. distance running landscape more competitive than ever, Houlihan’s resurgence adds another layer of intrigue.
What comes next? Will she attempt to qualify for major championships? Is an even faster mile in her future? Regardless, her performance in Boston has undoubtedly put the track world on notice Shelby Houlihan is back, and she means business.
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