Citius Mag Podcast

Heading into yesterday’s U.S. 100-meter finals, Kenny Bednarek and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden were already among the best in the world at what they do.And then they got better. Both Bednarek and Jefferson-Wooden are Olympic medalists and U.S. leaders in the sprint events, and both athletes have been running fast all year. In the 100m finals, however, they ascended to a new level, one everyone knew they were capable of, but was still fantastically impressive to watch come to fruition.Bednarek picked up the first U.S. title of his career — despite being a two-time Olympic medalist, he’s heretofore always been overshadowed by the Noah Lyleses and Christian Colemans of the world. But not today: Today was Kenny’s day. He decisively dispatched an extraordinarily strong field and clocked the first wind-legal sub-9.80 of his career with a 9.79 victory, leading a field where the top five finishers ran under 9.90.Jefferson-Wooden continued doing what she’s done all year: win. But despite consistently beating the competit

Emily Infeld is one of those runners you can’t help but root for. The gritty but unflappably kind veteran of the sport has been kicking around USAs since 2010, and though she’s had plenty of success along the way, including winning World bronze in 2015 and making the Rio Olympic team, she’s never won a national title on the track — before yesterday.In recent years, Infeld has been defined by a series of injuries and coaching changes, leaving Bowerman Track Club in 2022 and shifting sponsors to Brooks. She made her most recent World team in 2022 but struggled at last year’s Olympic Trials, finishing sixteenth in the 5000m, and generally speaking, a performance like that from a then-34-year-old at the end of an Olympic cycle tends to lead to retirement announcements.But Infeld is no quitter, and her race performance — a 31:43.56 10,000m victory outkicking 2023 champ Elise Cranny — showed her grit more than anything else.Hosts: ⁠⁠Chris Chavez⁠⁠ & ⁠Aisha Praught-Leer⁠Guest: ⁠Emily Infeld⁠Produced by: ⁠⁠Mac Fl

The first day of USAs delivered a little bit of everything regardless of your taste, showcasing track’s shortest and longest events a few hours apart as reigning World champions Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson cruised through the 100m prelims and two first-time champions were crowned in the 10,000m.The stakes weren’t exactly high in in the opening rounds of the 800m, where six of the eight entrants in each heat were guaranteed a spot in the semifinal, but nevertheless all eyes were on 2021 Olympic champ Athing Mu-Nikolayev as she races her way back into national contention following a devastating fall in the final of last year’s Trials. So far, so good as Mu-Nikolayev picked up a heat win in a season’s best 2:00.06… but the job gets harder from here, with competitors like Sage Hurta-Klecker, Addy Wiley, Ajee’ Wilson, and defending champ Nia Akins looking strong.The 10,000m finals weren’t blazing fast at first — they rarely are — but their conclusions were as dramatic as racing gets. Two first-time nationa

Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet are back on the podcast to give an event-by-event preview of the top athletes, matchups, and storylines to watch at the USATF Outdoor Championships this week. Stay tuned for tons more preview content across our platforms and follow along our socials for comprehensive coverage starting Thursday.Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠ + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram⁠Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠Mentioned in this episode…Save: USATF Outdoor Championships scheduleSave: Info on our New Balance group runsSubscribe: CITIUS MAG NewsletterRead: 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships: Event-By-Event Sprints & Hurdles PreviewListen: The Final Leg PodcastListen: The Paulie Throws PodcastListen: Off The Rails With Eric And AishaSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, an

Entries for the 2025 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships closed at midnight on Tuesday. The national championship—which will determine Team USA for the World Championships in Tokyo—will start on July 31st. Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet hop on the podcast to break down the top contenders, most surprising entries, and key matchups to watch for in Eugene next week. We'll have preview newsletters and podcast episodes coming your way over the next week—stay tuned!Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on InstagramMentioned in this episode…Read: 2025 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships Entries: Who Is Doubling? Who Scratched? Who Entered What Event?Read: List of entries for USAsListen: Off The Rails With Eric and AishaListen: The Paulie Throws PodcastSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your b

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack the biggest highlights from the London Diamond League last weekend. Some of the top performances include:- Phanuel Koech continued his meteoric rise with a victory over defending World champ Josh Kerr, winning the 1500m in 3:28.82. Kerr was 2nd in a SB of 3:29.37.- Gudaf Tsegay made history in the most daring way possible, taking the women’s mile out in 59 seconds to solo a 4:11.88, an Ethiopian record and the second fastest time in history behind Faith Kipyegon’s world record.- Jessica Hull became only the eighth woman in history under 4:15 in the mile with a 4:13.68 runner-up finish, landing at #6 on the all-time list.- Sinclaire Johnson lowered her mile PB from 4:23.58 to a national record of 4:16.32.- Running into a tough headwind for the 3rd race in a row, Julien Alfred came away with a PB and WL over 200m in 21.71.- Oblique Seville dominated a stacked 100m field, running 9.86 into a headwind as the only man to break 10 on the day. Olympic champion Noah Lyles ran 10

“My view on running is that it’s the simplest sport — but the fact of that simplicity opens up the possibility that if you think about it deeply and use it deeply in your life, it can be a tool to help you understand the really important and complicated stuff.”By day, Nick Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic shaping the future of journalism. By early morning and often late evening, he's pounding the pavement between his Brooklyn home and Manhattan office, logging miles that many of us would consider as workouts. But somehow at age 49, he's still getting faster.In 2021, Nick ran a 2:29 marathon. At 45, he broke the American age group record in the 50K. Now he's the author of “The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports.” It's a book that's part memoir, part meditation on how running shapes us, challenges us, and sometimes reveals more than we're ready to face. It's out this fall.In this conversation, Nick opens up about growing up in the shadow of a gifted but tr

Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet are back on the podcast to break down everything you need to know about marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich's provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit after her positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide on March 14th.Hydrochlorothiazide can be used to mask the presence of banned drugs. The AIU notes she had an estimated concentration of 3800 ng/mL in urine.The positive test was reported to the AIU on April 3rd. She was notified and interviewed in person by the AIU in Kenya on April 16th. Chepngetich withdrew from this year’s London Marathon on April 18th and stated she was not in the right condition, both mentally and physically, to compete.Chepngetich has the right to have the case heard before a Disciplinary Tribunal.Last year, Chepngetich shattered the women’s marathon world record in 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon.Mentioned in this episode…Read: Marathon World Record Holder Ruth Chepngetich Provisionally Suspended After Testing Positive For Hydrochloroth

This week, Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet share the biggest highlights from the Monaco Diamond League, break down the top storylines to watch for heading into USAs, and preview the London Diamond League this Saturday.Highlights from today's episode:- Top results from the Monaco Diamond League: men's 800m, men's 200m, women's 1000m, and women's 100m.- Mac Fleet’s prognosis on Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s season picked up by Norwegian media + updates on Jakob’s injury - Thoughts on the men’s 800m ahead of USAs: Josh Hoey, Donavan Brazier, Hobbs Kessler, Brandon Miller, Jonah Koech, and Nathan Green - Previewing matchups to get excited for at USAs: men’s 3000m steeplechase, women’s 400m hurdles - Athing Mu’s 800m progress at the Ed Murphey Classic- Quincy Wilson ran 44.10 for the U18 World Record-London Diamond League preview - Top performances from the Sound Running Sunset Tour: Drew Hunter, Alicia Monson, Bailey Hertenstein, and Josette Andrews Mentioned in this episode…Watch: Noah Lyles' After Win

“It just takes time, having people on the team with a bit of experience, and seeing people do it well. It’s definitely building and I’m excited to see what they do over the next few years. I have to leave, but one win shows them that we can keep on winning. Hopefully we get our own little streak!”My guest for today's episode as we continue our Washington Huskies takeover is Sophie O'Sullivan. The University of Washington senior got it done — an NCAA 1500m title capping off a strong collegiate career. For the daughter of Olympic silver medalist Sonia O'Sullivan and renowned coach Nic Bideau, greatness may have been in the genes, but it wasn't always a given.Sophie didn't grow up chasing her parents' shadows. She played other sports in high school, barely trained, and still won races on grit alone. College was a different game. It took years of rebuilding mentally, physically, and emotionally, and in this conversation, she takes us through that progression, the years that shaped her, the

This week, Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet break down the top athletes and must-watch storylines heading into Thursday’s Monaco Diamond League — from a loaded men’s 800m field with world record potential to Noah Lyles’ highly anticipated return from an ankle injury. We also share our takeaways from Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Athing Mu’s performances at the Prefontaine Classic and dive into the latest on Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s injury comeback. Mentioned in this episode...Read: Monaco Diamond League 2025 Preview: 800m World Record Under Threat + More Storylines To WatchListen: PREFONTAINE CLASSIC RECAP - BEATRICE CHEBET SUB-14 5K, FAITH KIPYEGON WR + SO MUCH MOREListen:

Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet break down all the top performances, world records and biggest moments from the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic.A few highlights include:- Faith Kipyegon broke her own world record in the 1500m to win her SEVENTH Prefontaine 1500m title in 3:48.68.- Beatrice Chebet took the women's 5000m world record under 14 minutes, pulling away from Gudaf Tsegay and Agnes Ngetich over the final 200m to break the tape in an unbelievable mark of 13:58.06.- Niels Laros shocked the world with a come-from-behind victory in the Bowerman Mile, passing Azeddine Habz on the inside down the homestretch then outleaning Yared Nuguse by 0.01 seconds to claim the win in 3:45.94, becoming the seventh man in history to break 3:46.- Olympic champ Winfred Yavi just barely missed the world record in the steeplechase, running 8:45.25 to win ahead of Faith Cherotich in second in 8:48.71.- Kishane Thompson backed up his national title with a 9.85 victory in the 100m over Zharnel Hughes (9.91) and Trayvon B

We’ve got a LOADED slate of guests for a special 4th of July LIVE show from Oregon ahead of tomorrow’s 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic. Guests featured in today’s show include:Faith Kipyegon (3x 1500m Olympic champion & WR holder)Cole Hocker (Olympic 1500m gold medalist)Yared Nuguse (Olympic 1500m bronze medalist)Grant Fisher (Olympic bronze medalist at 5000m and 10,000m)Julien Alfred (Olympic 100m champion)Tara Davis-Woodhall (Olympic long jump champion)Hunter Woodhall (Paralympic 400m T62 champion)Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (Olympic 100m bronze medalist)Joe Kovacs (3x Olympic shot put silver medalist) Jasmine Moore (Olympic bronze medalist in the long jump and triple jump)Georgia Hunter-Bell (Olympic 1500m bronze medalist)Jess Hull (Olympic 1500m silver medalist) For more, read our full preview here.

“I’d been working so hard for this and had so much conscious energy going into winning this title and putting it all out there — my last attempt, last ditch effort. We’ve got to just win this thing. You could see it after in the photos. I was almost crying. I was so relieved, so happy, and so proud of the work that I’ve done.”My guest for today's episode is Nathan Green. In one of the most tactical and tightly contested NCAA 1500m finals in recent memory, Nathan Green emerged with more than just a lean at the finish line; he walked away with his second NCAA title, and perhaps more meaningfully, cemented Washington's 1500m legacy as one of the most dominant in NCAA history. He closed in 51.46 seconds to edge out UNC's Ethan Strand. In a blanket finish that saw 11 of the top 12 finishers within less than a second of each other, it was the kind of race that required patience, poise, and a final lap gear that few possess — and Green had it all to pull it off.But this wasn't just another tactical win. This was als

This week, Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia share their reactions and analysis on Faith Kipyegon's sub-four minute mile attempt at Nike's Breaking4 event in Paris. We also preview each event and the top athletes and matchups to watch for at the Prefontaine Classic this Saturday on July 5th.Mentioned in this episode...Listen: Off The Rails With Eric And Aisha: We Need To Talk About Chris Robinson’s Wardrobe Malfunction, Faith Kipyegon’s Sub-4 Attempt + Voicemails From ListenersHosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | @preetmajithia on InstagramSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and

U.S. Olympian, 6x NCAA champion and Team New Balance professional Parker Valby sits down for a wide-ranging, laidback one-on-one interview with Olympic gold medalist, U.S. high school 400m record holder and Team New Balance NIL star Quincy Wilson. Kick back, crack open a kombucha, and have a few laughs as they connect over life on and off the track.From favorite moments in Paris to handling pressure and social media madness, Parker and Quincy talk everything from screen time to school grades, the wild world of TikTok, and what it’s like to be part of the New Balance family. Quincy spills on his infamous Starbucks order, gives a kombucha a shot for the first time, and updates us on his driver’s license journey—yes, the final test is coming.This episode is part track talk and all good vibes.Follow Parker Valby on Instagram:   @parkervalby  Follow Quincy Wilson on Instagram:   @quincy_wilson  Filmed and recorded at New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2025.

This week, Chris Chavez, Mac Fleet and Paul Hof-Mahoney break down all the action from the Ostrava Golden Spike meet and Paris Diamond League, predictions ahead of Faith Kipyegon's attempt to break four minutes in the mile, thoughts on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone racing the 400m at the Prefontaine Classic on July 5th, and lots more.Mentioned in this episode...Listen: Off The Rails With Eric And AishaHosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at T

This week, Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack a huge week of track and field action across the globe:- Details and analysis on Grand Slam Track: LA being canceled- Biggest performances from the Oslo and Stockholm Diamond Leagues- Top highlights from the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships- Key results from the Portland Track Festival+ More Mentioned in this episode...Listen: Donavan Brazier’s Comeback Story: The Long Road Back, Resilience, Injury Recovery And Gratitude To Be Able To Race AgainHosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@preetmajithia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape

Grand Slam Track has canceled its upcoming meet in Los Angeles, which was set to take place June 28th and 29th at UCLA’s Drake Stadium, and be the final competition of the inaugural season. The league is still planning to return in 2026 for a second season. Several athletes who have signed onto the league are on multi-year deals, according to sources close to the league.In its first season, the league featured six event groups and planned to award $12.6 million in prize money. Winners of each Slam take home $100,000. The league made in-season changes by pivoting to a two-day model for Philadelphia. (Long distance group winners were awarded $50,000, since one of those changes was the removal of the 5000m from the schedule.)The league is planning to announce new investors and partners in the coming weeks. Grand Slam Track ends its inaugural season after three meets in Kingston, Jamaica (April 4-6), Miami, Florida (May 2-4) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 31-June 1).We'll be breaking down more of the det

“A lot of people when they go out and do things [after an injury] have this vengeance. It’s always like, ‘I’m doing it for the people who counted me out,’ or ‘I’m doing it for revenge.’ But I’m doing it for the people who say I can do it because I have such an overwhelming amount of people who have been supportive and have known I can come back. It’s so cool to prove them right.”It’s not every day that an athlete disappears from racing for nearly three years—undergoes multiple surgeries, leaves their training group, and then returns to the track to drop a 1:44 in their first 800m back. But that’s exactly what Donavan Brazier just did.The former world champion, American record holder, and longtime face of U.S. middle-distance running made a stunning comeback in Nashville this past weekend—not just running well, but dominating the field and flashing the brilliance that once made him one of the most electrifying athletes in the sport.If you’ve followed Donavan’s career, you know the road back has been anything b