The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia break down a chaotic weekend in American track and field headlined by a lead vehicle disaster at the USATF Half Marathon Championships and a slate of big results at the USATF Indoor Championships.Discussed:– The 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta were thrown into chaos when a lead vehicle guided the top women off course in the final mile with Jess McClain holding a big lead at the time. Molly Born, who stayed on course, won in 69:43. McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat all filed appeals immediately after.– USATF’s jury of appeals acknowledged the course was inadequately marked but said it had “no recourse within the rulebook” to alter the results, which was a ruling that drew widespread backlash. Atlanta Track Club CEO Rich Kenah took full responsibility.–  Because the race served as the selection event for the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, the wrong turn didn’t just cost the leaders prize money but also potentially cost them spots on Team USA. The selection situation is a tangled mess with no clean fix under current rules.– Cole Hocker won the men’s 3,000m in a blanket finish in 7:39.25. Young missed the World Indoor team by .01 to Yared Nuguse after drifting off the rail in the home straight.– Emily Mackay won the women’s 3,000m in a five-second personal best of 8:30.01, outkicking Elle St. Pierre in the final stretch for her first US title.– Hocker and Yared Nuguse then faded to 5th and 4th in Sunday’s 1500m, won by former UW teammates Nathan Green and Luke Houser.– 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus went 5-for-5 as a professional, winning the men’s 800m in 1:46.68 with a tactically sharp performance.– Nikki Hiltz extended their US title streak to eight, winning the women’s 1500m in 4:11.34.– Jordan Anthony won the men’s 60m in 6.45, beating Trayvon Bromell and Noah Lyles.Plus: Tokyo Marathon recap, the Louis Hinchcliffe NCAA return and the Iowa State/Seth Clevenger doping investigation.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

Chris Chavez, Mac Fleet, Preet Majithia, and Kyle Merber preview the top athletes and storylines to watch for in each track event at the 2026 USATF Indoor Championships this weekend.  The Championship will take place Saturday, February 28th to Sunday, March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in NYC .Time stamps:- Women’s 3000m - 3:30- Men’s 3000m - 9:35- Women’s 60m hurdles - 19:00- Men’s 60m hurdles - 21:36- Women’s 800m - 24:22- Men’s 800m - 30:14- Men's 400m - 39:08- Women’s 1500m - 44:50 - Men’s 1500m - 53:56 - Women’s 60m - 1:00:40- Men’s 60m - 1:03:19____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | ⁠@kylemerber⁠Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠⁠⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠⁠⁠using code CITIUS10 and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

The Athletic writer and author Liam Tharme joins the show to unpack the biggest shift in modern distance running: the rise of “super shoes.”Tharme’s new book, Super Shoes: How Advanced Technology Revolutionized Running, traces how Nike’s Vaporfly (and the carbon-plated, high-stack foam revolution that followed) helped trigger an avalanche of fast times and world records across the roads and track. In this conversation, Liam shares how his own running background fueled his curiosity, what he learned reporting the inside story of Breaking2, and why the technology boom has sparked debates around fairness, access, and sporting integrity.We dig into the science behind the gains, the key researchers who helped validate them, the brand arms race between Nike, Adidas, Puma, ASICS, Hoka, New Balance and On, and the tricky new reality super shoes introduce: when performance leaps can be explained by tech, it can get harder to interpret everything else we see on race day.In this episode, we cover:- How the Vaporfly changed running in 2016 and why the record books haven’t looked the same since- The origins of carbon plates + advanced foams, and what the research actually says- Breaking2’s behind-the-scenes decisions and the people who made it possible- The “shoe doping” debate, fairness, and how accessibility has evolved- The current footwear landscape and who’s winning the innovation race now- The next frontier: personalization, super-responders, and what “the perfect shoe” could meanSuper Shoes is available now here.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavezGuest: Liam Tharme | @liamtharmeProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

“Track running has really exploded recently in America. Everyone’s running super fast times. Even in the half marathon, people have dipped under 60 [minutes] this year. I think the same thing could happen in the marathon... I certainly think that American marathoners can be competitive on the global stage.”Our guest today is Ethan Shuley. If you didn’t know his name a few weeks ago, you weren’t alone. But after what he just did in Japan, the entire American distance running community is paying attention.At the Osaka Marathon, Ethan ran 2:07:14 and finished 14th overall to become the 7th-fastest American marathoner ever on a record-eligible course. No sponsorship. No professional team. No long résumé of NCAA accolades. Just a runner who, until recently, was training largely on his own while living in Tokyo and going to film school. And that’s what makes this story so remarkable.Ethan’s path to 2:07 doesn’t follow the traditional pipeline. After a promising high school career, injuries derailed his time at BYU, where he raced just once before stepping away from competitive running altogether. For a stretch, running meant little more than a few casual miles a week. Then came a move to Japan, an interest in trails and ultras, and a gradual realization that (almost accidentally) he was getting very fit again.From there, the progression was steady and stunning: a sub-15:00 5K for the first time in his life, a 2:20 marathon in Nara, then 2:18, 2:11, a 63-minute half, a 1:01 in Osaka and finally, the breakthrough that changed everything.What began as an unsponsored, self-coached experiment has become one of the most unlikely rises in American marathoning. Ethan Shuley went from unknown to the all-time list overnight and suddenly finds himself very much in the conversation heading into the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.In this episode, we get into the unconventional journey, the training he built largely outside the traditional system, how stacking consistent high-mileage weeks unlocked a new level, and what it actually feels like to go from anonymous to historic in a single race.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavezGuest: Ethan Shuley | @ethanshuleyProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia break down a packed week of results from Levin, Toruń, Castellón, Boston, and more. Plus, a final look back at the Winter Olympics and a preview of what’s ahead.– Keely Hodgkinson’s world record at Levin is still reverberating. It’s time to retire the “What about Athing Mu…” narrative.– Georgia Hunter-Bell ran 4:00 flat again at Levin but was left disappointed after a chaotic pacing situation.– The DQ heard ‘round the world: Theppiso Masalela of Botswana was disqualified from the 1500m in Toruń for an unsportsmanlike conduct gesture — a gun motion pointed at Azzedine Habz at the finish line.– A potential Nader vs. Hocker showdown at World Indoors.– Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.06m and debuted his new single “Feelin’ Myself” performed live.– European distance runners have closed the gap on East Africans in road racing, at least in the 10K.– Oregon’s DMR drama.– Parker Wolfe ran 12:59 for his first-ever sub-13 minute 5000m.– A light USA Indoors and Tokyo Marathon preview.– Bonus: Final Winter Olympics wrap.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

“[It’s about] expecting each other to perform to a certain level, holding each other to a certain level, and just love. High expectations, high love — that’s what coach always says. That’s something we do a good job with. You can’t have one without the other. Our team is definitely built on love and gratitude and we always push ourselves to be our best.” Riley Chamberlain joins us fresh off one of the biggest performances of the NCAA season.Just days ago in Boston, Riley ran 4:20.61 for the mile, breaking the NCAA record in a race that perfectly captured where collegiate women’s distance running is right now—stacked fields, fearless pacing, and a generation that keeps pushing the event forward. But talk to Riley, and she’ll be the first to tell you she’s not interested in chasing times. With championship season around the corner, her focus has already shifted to racing, competing, and figuring out how to win when the pacers step off and it’s just athletes battling athletes.In this conversation, we talk about the steady progression that led to this breakthrough, how cross country laid the strength foundation for her range from the 800m all the way to the 5K, and the training dynamic at BYU—where working alongside teammates like Jane Hedengren means getting pushed every single day. She reflects on the program’s culture of what they call “high expectations, high love,” the lessons she’s carried from past teammates, and the mindset shift from hoping she belonged at the top level to knowing she does.We also dig into the long view—how patience, development, and belief have shaped her career, why she sees championship racing as a completely different sport than time trials, and what she hopes to accomplish before closing out her collegiate chapter.Riley Chamberlain is now an NCAA record holder. But as you’ll hear, she believes the most important races are still ahead.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavezGuest: Riley Chamberlain | @riley_chamberlain04Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia jump on the mics to react to 800m Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson clocking a 1:54.87 in the indoor 800m at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meet in Liévin, France. The mark shattered Jolanda Ceplak’s 1:55.82 (2002) record by 0.95 seconds. It’s one of the largest world record improvements in the event’s history.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Preet Majithia analyze yet another packed weekend of results including:– Cole Hocker ran 3:45.94 for the mile, an American Record and the No. 2 indoor mile ever, trailing only Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s 3:45.14.– The 16-year-old phenom Sam Ruthe ran 3:52.46 in the same race.– 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus ran 1:44.03 indoors, setting a World U20 Indoor Record and moving to No. 6 all-time indoors.– Keely Hodgkinson opened her season with a1:56.3, the No. 3 indoor performance of all time. The world record is enjoying its final days.– Elle St. Pierre ran 4:17.83 for the mile at Boston University, the fastest women’s mile in the world this year. Her 3:59.3 split at 1500m broke the American indoor record.– Love him or hate him but Marco Langon is becoming must-watch.– Weini Kelati ran 66:04 at the Barcelona Half Marathon, lowering her own American Record yet again.– Jordan Anthony clocked 6.43 in the 60m, tying him for 9th all-time indoors.– Khaleb McRae clocked 44.52 for 400m indoors, a time that: Equals Michael Norman’s American record performance. Ranks 2nd-fastest ever run indoors. Could become the official world record...if ratified.– World 110m hurdles champion Cordell Tinch posted an 8.29m long jump PB at the Tyson Invitational.– Noah Lyles clocked 20.56 for 200m indoors at the Tyson Invitational, a personal best and his first indoor 200m race in five years. Says Fayetteville is one of his top 5 favorite crowds he ever raced in front of.– Elaine Thompson-Herah returned with 7.24s 60m.– USATF confirmed the 2026 Outdoor & Para National Championships will be held at Icahn Stadium in New York City.– Bonus: Random Winter Olympics talk.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | ⁠@kylemerber⁠Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠⁠⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠⁠⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

This week in track and field, Chris Chavez, Preet Majithia, and Kyle Merber unpack:– Femke Bol’s highly anticipated 800m debut, which delivered a 1:59.07, which is the fastest debut in history and sparked debate about upside, expectations, and what her future beyond the 400 hurdles might look like.– The ripple effects of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke’s move.– Georgia Hunter Bell’s world-leading 1500m, one of the standout performances from a busy stretch of indoor meets and a sign of unfinished business ahead.– Cole Hocker’s eye-opening 1000m, and what it suggests about his range.– A debate over announcing world-record attempts.– Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s injury update, and what it could mean for his season trajectory and long-term planning.– Major changes to the world ranking system, including why fast times matter now more than ever — and how that shift could favor American athletes while discouraging head-to-head racing at major meets.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | @kylemerberProduced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

“That year at Providence was really special with what we all went through together. It was such a fun year! We were all very solid and united together. It ended up in a perfect way being able to continue that training together.” - Alex Millard Kimberley May, Shannon Flockhart, and Alex Millard join us us fresh into the next chapter of their careers as members of Team New Balance Boston.All three join the team with deep NCAA pedigrees, international experience and very different paths that somehow converged at exactly the right moment. Kimberley May leaves college as one of the most accomplished 1500-meter runners in New Zealand history. Shannon Flockhart brings European championship medals and championship toughness. Alex Millard arrives fresh off world cross country relay experience and fresh off a year that included personal bests in the 1500m, mile and 5000m.In this conversation, they talk about what it actually feels like when the dream becomes real to signing pro contracts, navigating the transition from NIL relationships. We touch on their shared history as teammates at Providence and how that’s made the leap into the professional ranks easier, what altitude training was like, and why being around a group that includes a world champion has raised everyone’s standard.There’s also plenty of joy in the year ahead with new routines. With 2026 ahead, all three are excited for what’s next.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guests: Kimberley May | @kiimberleymay on Instagram + Alex Millard | @alexmillard on Instagram + Shannon Flockhart | @shannon_flockhart_ on Instagram Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

This week in track and field, Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack:– Jacob Kiplimo and the pace car controversy from his half marathon world record: Most people agree this wasn’t a surprise, wasn’t his fault, and still somehow exposed how odd World Athletics’ rulebook really is.– Catching up on the 2026 Boston Marathon and London Marathon field announcements.– Sam Ruthe’s 3:48 mile and why it’s forcing fans to recalibrate what’s possible at 16 + how that performance stacks up against Cooper Lutkenhaus’ historic 800m run last year.– Femke Bol’s upcoming 800-meter debut and why expectations range from sub-2 immediately to a low stakes launch.– Alysha Newman and Benard Kibet Koech were suspended by the AIU for anti-doping violations.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

"It's nice to have a reset. I'm looking at these people and I have something to work up to now, versus being at the top of the NCAA and hoping you get it right on the day. Now, I have, 'I need to improve by ten seconds if I want to be up there at USAs.' That kind of excites me. It's a little scary, but it's mostly exciting."Margot Appleton is a Massachusetts native now running for the home team. She has joined Team New Balance Boston and is being coached by Mark Coogan.At Virginia, she was an NCAA finalist in the 1500, stepped up to finish fourth in the 5000 meters at nationals, and then this spring put together a breakout campaign that included a 4:05.68 1500 at Raleigh Relays—fourth-fastest in NCAA history at the time—an ACC title, and a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships.Margot is comfortable moving between distances and continuing to sharpen herself against the very best in the country. And at just 23 years old, it still feels like she’s learning how good she can be. She is coming off personal bests in the 3000m and the mile at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix and the Millrose Games. She was the second American and 6th overall in the Wanamaker mile.In this conversation, we talk about her decision to join the refreshed Team New Balance Boston squad, what clicked this past season, how she thinks about racing at championship meets, and what her goals are for 2026.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guests: Margot Appleton | @margotappleton on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

“My times were dropping and it was so exciting. Every week, they were dropping, dropping, dropping. It was pretty early in the season, too. At that point, I hadn't even made NCAAs. At the time when I ran 2:00, I had the number one time in the country. There was a lot that happened super fast… I think that was my favorite race of my life. I never even thought in my mind that I could run 2:00 even earlier on in the season. It broadened the horizons of what I think I'm capable of in the future and to never limit myself.”My guest for today's episode is Victoria Bossong. This week on the podcast, CITIUS MAG is bringing you interviews with some of Team New Balance's latest signees as we celebrate five years of partnering with them on all things from the high school to the professional front. Yesterday, we brought you an interview with Roisin Willis and now we've got another strong rising 800m runner.Victoria was a star high school sprinter in Maine who almost on a whim tried the 800m late into her prep career and found success. Fast forward a few years and she's fully committed to the event. In 2025 while at Harvard, she was the NCAA Indoor Championships runner-up and ran an outdoor personal best of 1:59.48. She just opened up her indoor season as a pro with an indoor 800m PB of 2:00.36. Off the track, she's just as impressive. She has her degree in neuroscience and has worked in a Harvard Medical School lab. In our chat, she discusses how she managed to balance all of that as a student-athlete, how she comes at the 800m from more of a sprinter background, and her goals for her first professional season.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guest: Victoria Bossong | @victoriabossong on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

“I saw the door open and I really desperately wanted to take it and walk through it, but I wasn't sure if it was right – but sometimes you know deep down in your gut that it’s something you should do and you take the risk. Since making that decision, it’s felt right and true to what I want to do and where my goals are."My guest for today's episode is Roisin Willis. Right now, she's in one of those rare moments where fitness, confidence, and clarity all seem to be lining up at once. We recorded this two days before the start of a spectacular weekend for her. It's Team New Balance week on the CITIUS MAG Podcast and we'll be bringing you interviews with many of their latest signees all throughout the week. In 2026, we're celebrating six years of New Balance partnering with CITIUS and we're grateful for their support on all levels from the high school to the pros.In the span of just nine days, Roisin put together a short yet impactful indoor season. She opened up her professional career by running 1:59.59 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, looking smooth and convincing. Six days later, after deciding almost on a whim to race again, she went to Boston University and ran 1:57.97, becoming the first American woman to break 1:58 indoors and setting a new American record in the 800m. That's also a personal best for her indoors and outdoors, and she wasn't done yet. Just two days after that record, Roisin lined up at the Millrose Games and won the 600m in 1:24.87, the seventh fastest performance by an American woman in history. Three races in nine days, two victories, one American record, and proof that she's in absolutely phenomenal shape.Roisin has made the decision to shut down her indoor season. The reason for it is she has a long-term vision and a real life, which you get the sense from my conversation with her. She wants to be at a world-class level come outdoors and that means getting back to training. As she puts it plainly, she also needs to finish school at Stanford this spring.You'll hear more about the importance of finishing her degree in our chat because at just 21 years old, Roisin has already lived multiple chapters in the sport. She was a high school prodigy out of Wisconsin, became an NCAA champion as a freshman, went through a difficult period marked by anxiety and burnout, and has now come out on the other side with a healthier perspective. This recent run isn't just about how fast she's gotten, but also shows how much she's grown as a person. In this interview, we talk about the decision to chase times this year, how she made it through that rough patch, and why she decided to turn professional early.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guest: Roisin Willis | @roisin.willis on Instagram Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

The 118th Millrose Games lived up to the hype! Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, Anderson Emerole, Eric Jenkins, and Aisha Praught-Leer break down the biggest performances, top highlights, and most surprising results that went down at The Armory in NYC this afternoon.Some of the top highlights include:- Men’s Wanamaker Mile: Cam Myers won in 3:47.57, becoming the youngest ever winner of the Wanamaker Mile. Yared Nuguse finished second in 3:48.31, with Hobbs Kessler third in 3:48.68 and Nico Young fourth in 3:48.72. - Women’s Wanamaker Mile: Nikki Hiltz took the title in 4:19.64, followed by Jess Hull in 4:20.11 and Klaudia Kazimierska in 4:21.36.- Men’s Two-Mile: Cole Hocker won in 8:07.31, edging Josh Kerr (8:07.68), with Parker Wolfe third (8:07.93) and Ky Robinson fourth in 8:08.40.- Women’s 600m: Roisin Willis topped the field in 1:24.87 after setting the indoor 800m American record just a few days ago.- Three indoor collegiate records were shattered: NAU's Colin Sahlman in the 800m, Alabama's Doris Lemngole in the 3000m (with BYU's Jane Hedengren also dipping below the previous record), and New Mexico's Habtom Samuel in the two-mile. + Lots More_____________________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you’re team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

The indoor season is already on fire and now it’s time for the 118th Millrose Games at the historic Armory.We’re LIVE from New York with a CITIUS MAG Millrose Games Preview Show, breaking down everything you need to know before the fastest, deepest, and most tradition-rich meet of the 2026 indoor season.Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, Eric Jenkins, Aisha Praught-Leer, and Anderson Emerole dive into the biggest storylines, must-watch races and athletes.What we preview:• An all-time men’s two-mile field that could threaten history• NCAA phenoms Doris Lemngole and Jane Hedengren colliding with pros in the women’s 3000m• U.S. vs. Europe in a loaded men’s 800m• The first-ever CITIUS MAG–sponsored women’s 1000m• Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson and Dorcus Ewoi are chasing the win in the women’s Wanamaker Mile• Yared Nuguse going for four straight titles in the men’s Wanamaker Mile+ More_____________________How to Watch Millrose Games: The professional events begin Sunday, February 1 at 4:00 p.m. ET, airing live on NBC & Peacock.Our full written preview on CITIUSMAG.com can be found here.We’ll be on-site all weekend with live coverage, post-race interviews, and a full post-meet show dropping Sunday night._____________________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you’re team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

“Last year, I came into the indoor season with the sole goal of breaking 3:50 in the mile… That was the big goal to tick off. I thought I'd maybe have a shot at running 3:48-high or 3:49-low to mid, so to run 3:47 actually surprised me quite a lot. This year, I feel like that's almost the expectation now. The standard has definitely been raised and the bar's been raised.”My guest for today's episode is Cameron Myers. Over the last three years, the world has gotten to know what Australia has known for a while – that something special has been coming. At just 19 years old, Cam ran 7:27 for 3000m to win the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, delivering the fastest 3K ever run by an Australian that's either indoors or outdoors. In the process, he broke national records held by Ky Robinson and Stewy McSweyn. He closed in 55.98 seconds over the last 400m and surged away from a world-class field with the kind of composure that you rarely see from a teenager. To put that performance into perspective, only three men in history have ever broken 7:28 before turning 20 years old. That's Eliud Kipchoge, Jacob Kiplimo, and Jakob Ingebrigtssen. That's the company that Cam Myers now keeps.He talks about that stat in our chat, but what makes Cam so compelling isn't just the time; it's the way that he talks about the sport. He's thoughtful, honest, and remarkably grounded for someone who's already climbing so high in the global ranks. In our conversation, he's open about the challenges that he's faced, including a recent medical setback that forced him to withdraw from the World Cross Country Championships. We also talk about his breakout race in Boston, why stacking training upon training has become his guiding principle, how he's learning to race to win instead of just hanging on. Plus, he'll be one of the stars of the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games this weekend after taking third place last year in a U20 mile world record of 3:47.We're speaking with Cam as part of his announcement that he has joined the Coros roster of professional athletes, which includes the likes of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Jess Hull, and Alex Yee. He shares a bit of his data-driven approach, but you can learn more if you read their blog post on him here.Cam is already rewriting record books and he's doing it with a long view of where his journey can go since he'll be one of the stars for Australia when they host the 2032 Olympic Games.____________Mentioned in this episode:COROS Blog Post - Cam Myers' Training: A Deep Dive____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guest: Cam Myers | @camer0nmyers on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you’re team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber reunite for the first time in nearly two years on the podcast for This Week In Track and Field.At The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix:– Hobbs Kessler broke the 2000m WR (4:48.79), outkicking Grant Fisher on the final lap with a 26.31 last 200m. – Josh Hoey broke the  800m WR (1:42.50) and broke Wilson Kipketer’s legendary 1997 record (1:42.67). He was paced by his brother Jaxson Hoey, who hit textbook splits.– Elle St. Pierre won the 3000 just eight months after having her second baby with a 8:26.54 victory over Australia’s Linden Hall in a last-lap surge.– Jereem Richards took the men’s 300m 32.14 to 32.15 win, despite Noah Lyles’ WWE-style entrance from the stands.– Cian McPhillips won the men’s 600m in 1:16.37, surged late to win over American hopefuls.– Roisin Willis ran 1:59.59 wire-to-wire to win her professional debut.Elsewhere:– Cooper Lutkenhaus ran 1:45.23 to win the 800m, smashing the World Indoors standard at the Dr. Sander Invitational.– 5000m World champion Cole Hocker opened his indoor season at the Hokie Invitational and broke the U.S. 2000m record in 4:52.92 just 24 hours before Kessler and Fisher took it down.– New Zealand’s 16-year-old running phenom Sam Ruthe clocked a 3:53.83 mile at the Cooks International Classic — the fastest U16 mile in history.Other news discussed:– Two-time Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone announced Thursday she is expecting her first child with husband Andre Levrone Jr.– Grant Fisher will make his half marathon debut at the NYC Half in March.– Jakob Ingebrigtsen update: In a profile with The Guardian, he said: “I’ve fed my obsession my whole life” and added that he might be “autistic” due to his all-in intensity and singular focus. He also said he is still haunted by finishing 4th in the 1500m at Paris 2024. “Nine out of 10 times I win that race. That was the 10th.”____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | @kylemerberProduced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you’re team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

Some light results took place over the week but it’s officially the indoor track season as a few pros drop some scheduling breadcrumbs as to when they’ll plan to step out onto the track for the first time this year.Preet explains how qualifying for the World Indoor Championships works.New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is in Boston on January 24th and it’s loaded with Noah Lyles, Donavan Brazier, Bryce Hoppel, Grant Fisher, Jake Wightman, Josh Hoey, Jessica Hull, Elle St. Pierre, and a lot more. In some cases, the talent is split off into two close race distances and it’s not great!Plus, the 2026 Boston Marathon women’s elite field is out and it is stacked! Sharon Lokedi is back to defend against a modest international group but it’s a ridiculous wave of U.S. talent headlined by Emily Sisson and Fiona O’Keeffe. Plus more news from the past week!____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you’re team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

“I’m drawing a lot more confidence for the track from what I did on the grass just this last weekend. I’m really excited just to get there, get going, and keep building strength. The sky’s the limit because if I can do that on the cross course, who knows what I can do on the track. I’m super pumped for it!”My guest for today's episode is Parker Wolfe. If you're paying attention to the next generation of American distance running, his name has been on that list for a while now. Just last weekend, Parker made his World Championships debut representing Team USA at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida. In a loaded men's 10K field, he ran with patience and composure and steadily worked his way forward and finished as the top American across the finish line in 12th place.Just a few months back, Parker left the NCAA as an 11-time All-American at North Carolina, anchoring the program during the early years of coach Chris Miltenberg's tenure and leading the Tar Heels to multiple top 10 national finishes in cross country. Individually, his highlight was probably winning the 2024 NCAA Outdoor 5K title where he upset Nico Young in one of the biggest races of his career.The resume for Parker speaks for itself. He's run 3:34 for the 1500m, 3:54 for the mile, 7:30 for 3K, and 13:10 for the 5K. In this conversation, we talk about his transition from college to the world stage, what he's learned from racing these international studs, and what comes next as he steps into the next phase of his career as a pro with Swoosh TC under coach Mike Smith. Also, he's in a loaded men's two-mile at the Millrose Games on February 1st in New York City.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guest: Parker Wolfe | @parkerw19 on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you’re team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.