Shelby Houlihan finishes fourth in return to big-time after infamous four-year 'Burrito Ban'

TOKYO (AP) — American distance runner Shelby Houlihan knows some people will see her fourth-place finish at the world championships in the first big-time race since her “Burrito Ban” and wonder if it's legit.

She doesn't much care about them.

“I surround myself with people who love me and support me, and that's way louder than anything the haters would say," Houlihan said. “It’s nice to stick it to them every once in a while.”

The 32-year-old Houlihan, who missed four years and two Olympics as the result of a much-debated ban for what she said was eating a drug-tainted burrito, finished one spot out of the medals Saturday in the 5,000 meters, one of the most-stacked races on the program.

She ran in the front for most of the first 12 laps of the 12.5-lap race — not the game plan she came in with, but something she said just felt right with nobody moving to set the pace.

She finished in 14 minutes, 57.2 seconds — exactly 2 seconds from winning a medal.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet added the 5,000 to her 10,000 crown, holding off 1,500 champion Faith Kipyegon down the stretch.

Houlihan's fourth place matched the same result she got in her last outdoor major before the ban. That was in the 1,500 at worlds in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

“I think there’s a lot of emotion,” she said. “How that played out, that was everything I had, and I’m very proud of that.”

Houlihan, the 2025 American champion at 5,000 meters and still considered one of the country's best runners, said this is the start of a new chapter for a career that got waylaid by her now-famous doping ban that revolved around a complex contamination case.

It divided both her sport and the anti-doping world; she's well aware the result in her return will raise eyebrows both from those who believe her and doubt her.

But, she said, the time for explaining or defending herself has long passed.

“If I had proof that I didn't (cheat) I wouldn't have served a four-year ban,” she said. “It's unfortunate that I couldn't prove it, but it doesn't change the fact that I didn't intentionally cheat, and that's not something I would do or ever did.”

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

United States' Shelby Houlihan reacts after competing in women's 5,000 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Ethiopia's Fantaye Belayneh, United States' Shelby Houlihan, Italy's Nadia Battocletti, United States' Josette Andrews and other athletes compete in the women's 5,000 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Italy's Nadia Battocletti, bronze, Kenya's Beatrice Chebet, gold, embrace as United States' Shelby Houlihan walks past after the women's 5,000 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' Shelby Houlihan competes in the women's 5,000 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

NEW YORK (AP) — The anticipation of winter weather has forced the New York Mets, Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox to change scheduled night games to afternoon starts on Tuesday.

The Mets announced Monday that scheduled night games against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday and Wednesday have been changed to afternoon games because of expected cold and windy conditions.

The Mets scheduled the first pitch for each game for 4:10 p.m. ET. The games had been set for 7:10 p.m. starts.

Tuesday’s game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians has been moved up five hours to a 1:10 p.m. ET first pitch. The change was made because temperatures are expected to be below freezing at night.

The time change was also made to avoid a backlog in the schedule or another doubleheader early in the season. Kansas City had a twinbill against Milwaukee on Saturday after Friday’s game was postponed, while Cleveland is coming off a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday when Saturday’s game was rained out.

Meanwhile, the White Sox moved up the first pitch for Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles from 6:40 p.m. CT to 2:10 p.m. because of expected cold temperatures.

The Mets said in appreciation for the fans' “understanding, commitment and flexibility” the team was offering a limited number of complimentary tickets to each game.

The Mets said the complimentary tickets to the afternoon games will be offered on a first-come, first-served bases. Fans can log onto Mets.com/Tickets and enter code THANKYOU to claim up to four tickets for each game.

Additionally, the Mets are offering vouchers to a future game to fans who have already purchased tickets for the Tuesday or Wednesday games. The vouchers will be good for home regular-season games scheduled for Monday through Thursday.

All tickets for the previously scheduled night games will be valid for the afternoon games.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Fans take selfies as they arrive at Citi Field for an opening-day baseball game between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Fans arrive to Citi Field for an opening-day baseball game between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)