Despite Nike's withdrawal: Monk Halfen training group continues with Pete Julian

Runner Konstanze Klosterhalfen will continue training with six other Pete Julian athletes despite the closure of the controversial Nike Oregon Project (NOP). The new name of the group is just as open as the future training location, said Julian the US newspaper "The Oregonian".

In addition to monastery halves, which won the bronze medal at the World Championships in Doha over 5000 meters, also the US athlete Donovan Brazer, the record holder over 800 meters, belongs to the top stars of the group. In addition, Craig Engels, Jessica Hull, Eric Jenkins, Shannon Rowbury (all US) and Suguru Osako (Japan) continue to train with Julian.

Klosterhalfen decided a year ago to switch from Bayer Leverkusen to the training group from Nike to Portland, Oregon. Since then, the 22-year-old improved the German record over the mile, 3,000 and 5,000 meters.

Sporting goods manufacturer Nike had announced the closure of the training center in Portland after Qatar's Qatar after NOP chief coach Alberto Salazar was suspended for doping for four years. The future of the five athletes who had trained directly at Salazar - such as double world champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands - is currently unclear.

Klosterhalfen will initially continue to prepare for the Olympia 2020 in Tokyo in the USA. "In November, I will travel back to the US and continue training on the campus, preparing for the 2020 Olympics," the 22-year-old said after returning from the Qatar World Cup.