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

⁠ The World Athletics Indoor Championships descend on Toruń, Poland this weekend. Here’s your event-by-event preview via Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia. - Men’s 60m: Defending champion Jeremiah Azu faces the deepest field in recent memory, led by American Jordan Anthony (world list leader, 6.43) and Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (6.46). - Women’s 60m: Julien Alfred vs. Zaynab Dosso, both at 6.99 and both in career form. Alfred seeks history as a two-time world indoor champion; Dosso has silver and bronze but never gold. - Men’s 60m hurdles: A three-way tie at 7.37 between Poland’s unbeaten home favorite Jakub Szymański and Americans Dylan Beard and Trey Cunningham, with three-time defending champion Grant Holloway absent for the first time in years. - Women’s 60m hurdles: Devynne Charlton can become the first woman to win three consecutive world indoor titles in the event, having won in Glasgow and Nanjing. Swiss world champion Ditaji Kambundji has been just 0.01 behind her twice this season. - Men’s 400m: Two of the three fastest short-track 400m runners ever, Khaleb McRae (world record pending, 44.52) and Christopher Morales Williams (44.49 all-time best, unratified), meet in a new split-final format using only lanes 3 to 6. - Women’s 400m: Several top seeds are absent, opening the door wide for Norway’s Henriette Jæger and the Netherlands’ Lieke Klaver, who beat Jæger at last year’s European Indoors. - Men’s 800m: Belgium’s Eliott Crestan enters as the top seed chasing history, but American teenager Cooper Lutkenhaus, just 17, set a world U20 short-track record of 1:44.03 last month and could become the youngest men’s 800m medalist in World Indoor Championships history. - Women’s 800m: Keely Hodgkinson is the story of the meet. The British Olympic champion broke a 24-year-old world record last month, running 1:54.87 on the very day she was born. Three injuries have kept her from the World Indoors. She finally arrives healthy and dangerous. - Men’s 1500m: World champion Isaac Nader looks to finally convert after two consecutive fourth-place finishes, chasing Portugal’s first title here since 2001. Dutch 800m specialist Sam Chapple brings a dangerous finishing kick. - Women’s 1500m: Georgia Hunter Bell leads a deep field stacked against Ethiopia’s three-athlete squad, with Nikki Hiltz’s big kick a wildcard in the final lap. - Men’s 3000m: The entire Paris Olympic 1500m podium, Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, and Yared Nuguse, races together, making this arguably the meet’s marquee event. - Women’s 3000m: Freweyni Hailu is chasing a third straight world indoor distance title, representing a broader Ethiopian dynasty that has won 10 of the last 12 world indoor 3000m crowns. ____________ Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | @preet_athletics Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS OLIPOP: Olipop’s Tropical Punch tastes like a vacation in a can. It has the perfect balance of pineapple, passionfruit, mandarin, and apple. You get that nostalgic fruit punch flavor, but way more crisp and way more refreshing. Every can contains their Olismart blend, which includes ingredients designed to support digestive health and help feed your gut microbiome. If you haven't had tried Olipop yet, grab a can and see what the hype is all about! ⁠⁠ Head to DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.⁠⁠ XENDURANCE: When you finish a hard workout, the work isn't actually done. That's when recovery starts. Xendurance Protein is designed specifically to help your body recover, rebuild, and get stronger after training. It combines four different types of protein, so your body gets both fast absorbing protein for immediate recovery and slower release protein to support muscle repair over time. ⁠⁠Check it out at Xendurance.com and use code CITIUS for 25% off your first order.

Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber unpack all of the action from this weekend. We’re talking about a nineteen-year-old freshman from BYU who just walked into the NCAA Indoor Championships and dismantled the field in not one but two distance events. A triple crown is complete for Habtom Samuel. A DQ controversy that had coaches filing protests and athletes biting their tongues. Sprint performances so fast they’re rewriting the record books — again. And a 28-year-old Ethiopian woman who showed up to her first-ever marathon and basically said, ‘yeah, this is fine, I’ll take second all-time.’ Oh, and New York City threw the biggest half marathon in American history, and we somehow need to talk about Grant Fisher’s debut...which, depending on who you ask, was either a totally reasonable first step or terrible. In this week’s episode: – Intro & headlines – Habtom Samuel’s triple crown is complete: men’s 5,000m – DQ controversy: men’s 3,000m – Jane Hedengren makes history: 3K & 5K double – Carter Cutting seizes the moment: men’s mile – Back-to-back for Wilma Nielsen: women’s mile – Chepngetich’s redemption arc & Arkansas 1-2 – Record night in the sprints: three collegiate records fall – Fotyen Tesfay: second-fastest women’s marathon ever, on debut – NYC Half recap – Grant Fisher’s NYC Half debut: hot takes and cooler heads – The Adeajah Hodge doping suspension explained ____________ Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | ⁠⁠⁠@kylemerber⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS OLIPOP: Olipop’s Tropical Punch tastes like a vacation in a can. It has the perfect balance of pineapple, passionfruit, mandarin, and apple. You get that nostalgic fruit punch flavor, but way more crisp and way more refreshing. Every can contains their Olismart blend, which includes ingredients designed to support digestive health and help feed your gut microbiome. If you haven't had tried Olipop yet, grab a can and see what the hype is all about! Head to DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders. XENDURANCE: When you finish a hard workout, the work isn't actually done. That's when recovery starts. Xendurance Protein is designed specifically to help your body recover, rebuild, and get stronger after training. It combines four different types of protein, so your body gets both fast absorbing protein for immediate recovery and slower release protein to support muscle repair over time.

This week, Chris Chavez, Mac Fleet, and Kyle Merber break down the biggest highlights from the LA Marathon, Jacob Kiplimo’s new half marathon world record, Fred Kerley’s suspension, the most anticipated events at the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend, and lots more. Discussed in today’s episode: - Nathan Martin closed out a heroic final sprint and big negative split to win the LA Marathon in 2:11:18, just 0.18 seconds ahead of runner-up Michael Kamau. He split 66:18-65:00 to reel in Kamau. - Jacob Kiplimo returned to the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon (the same course where he first made history in 2021) and broke the half marathon world record again with a 57:20 victory. He took 10 seconds off the previous record held by Yomif Kejelcha (57:30). - The AIU announced 2x Olympic medalist and 2022 World champion Fred Kerley received a two-year ban for whereabouts failures, sidelining him through August 2027. Results from Dec. 6, 2024 – Aug. 12, 2025 have been disqualified. - The most anticipated distance events at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend. + More ____________ Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Mac Fleet | @macfleet + Kyle Merber | ⁠⁠@kylemerber⁠⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 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’ve gone into this year with less pressure on myself and have not been afraid to put myself in a vulnerable situation. I’m not afraid to lose anymore and I’m not scared to put myself in a situation to lose. I don’t mind getting to the front of the race and pushing it or trying to control it so that it suits my needs a bit better than other people’s. That’s been the biggest change this year.” My guest for today's episode is Gracie Morris. If you watch the final 100 meters of the USATF Indoor Championships 1500m final, you know exactly why she's here. With 100 meters to go, Gracie was sitting in 4th place. A World Indoor team spot looked just out of reach, but when that inside rail opened up on the final turn, she didn't hesitate. She surged through on the inside, closed in 14.3 seconds for her final 100 meters, and crossed the finish line in 4:11 to claim second place and her first World Championships berth on the track. Nikki Hiltz won yet another U.S. title, so that's your team for this month's World Championships. What makes Gracie Morris's rise even more impressive is her trajectory. At TCU, she qualified for NCAAs twice but never made a final. Fast forward a year and she's a member of Puma Elite and has transformed into a dangerous miler in the United States. In 2025 alone, she won the Sir Walter Mile and the Fifth Avenue Mile. She also claimed the U.S. 2K cross country title and dropped her 1500m personal best from 4:08 to 4:04. This year, she's already run 4:02. In this conversation, we talk about that decisive final lap, the lessons she's learned about racing instincts, and the steady belief that got her through years of injuries in high school and college. ____________ Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠ ⁠@chris_j_chavez Guest: Gracie Morris | @ggraciemorris Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 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 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_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 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, 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 | ⁠@kylemerber⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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 mean Super Shoes is available now here. ____________ Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠ ⁠@chris_j_chavez Guest: Liam Tharme | @liamtharme Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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_chavez Guest: Ethan Shuley | @ethanshuley Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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 SPONSORS USATF: 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_chavez Guest: Riley Chamberlain | @riley_chamberlain04 Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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 SPONSORS USATF: 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 | ⁠@kylemerber⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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 | @kylemerber Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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 Instagram⁠ Guests: 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 SPONSORS USATF: 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 SPONSORS USATF: 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 Instagram⁠ Guests: Margot Appleton | @margotappleton on Instagram Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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. 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 Instagram⁠ Guest: Victoria Bossong | @victoriabossong on Instagram Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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 Instagram⁠ Guest: Roisin Willis | @roisin.willis on Instagram Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS USATF: 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 SPONSORS OLIPOP: 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 SPONSORS OLIPOP: 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.