Citius Mag Podcast

“In the track and field world, every four years is a whole new story, a whole new plan. Everyone’s trying to rush to get things together. I think for us coming off a crazy Paris, having an idea of the direction we’re going and the team that’s going to help us get to that place is really exciting, so we’re really looking forward to the next four years.”My guests for today's episode are two of the most electric and inspiring figures in track and field: Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall. They're not just standout athletes; they're also a powerhouse couple rewriting the playbook on how to achieve success in the sport and market themselves.Fresh off of double gold medal performances in Paris, Tara and Hunter have just signed with Nike. In this episode, we chat with them about why they chose to go with the swoosh, but also, more importantly for Hunter, why it signals the brand's deeper commitment to Paralympic athletes.Tara, a two-time Olympian and the reigning Olympic and world indoor champion in the long ju

“It’s almost been ten years and for me it was just kind of time. Contract changes, life changes now with having a two-year-old and wanting to grow the family side of things... A lot of factors all came together at the right time for me to make the decision.”My guest for today’s episode is Clayton Murphy, who’s been part of American middle-distance running history for the better part of a decade and is now officially hanging up his spikes.From the small town of New Madison, Ohio, to the Olympic podium in Rio — Clayton’s career is the stuff of dreams. He was the kid from the Mid-American Conference who took down giants. The collegiate star who doubled up at NCAAs. The 21-year-old who kicked his way to Olympic bronze in the 800 meters — running 1:42.93, still the fifth-fastest time by an American in history.Over the years, Clayton’s worn the red, white, and blue across the globe — from the Pan Am Games, where he struck gold, to two Olympic Games, multiple U.S. titles, and countless memorable finishes.But it hasn

The final day of Grand Slam Track Miami did not disappoint. With storm clouds overhead and a packed crowd at the Ansin Sports Complex, seven athletes claimed Slam Champion titles — each earning $100,000 and etching their names in the history books of this inaugural season.Kenny Bednarek continued his undefeated run, taking the 200m in a world-leading 19.84 and securing the Men’s Short Sprints crown. Alison dos Santos switched up his tactics and delivered a personal best 44.53 in the 400m flat — adding another Slam title to his growing resume. Reigning Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino crushed her own Dominican Republic national record with a 22.30 win in the 200m, completing a sweep of the Women’s Long Sprints group.Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once again made the 400m look easy, cruising to a 49.69 and wrapping up her second Slam title of the season. Up next? A surprising switch to the 100m hurdles in Philly.Trey Cunningham was unstoppable, winning the 100m in a huge PB of 10.17 after a 110mH win the night before

Big names. Big performances. Big moves in the standings. Day 2 in Miami brought the heat and the athletes answered.Josh Kerr is officially back. After illness and injury slowed the start to his 2025 season, Kerr showed he's back to full strength with a statement in Miami—winning the 1500m, then dropping a 1:45.01 lifetime best in the 800m to edge Marco Arop by just two points in the overall Slam standings. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden locked up her second Slam title by winning the 100m then coming back for third in the 200m in a lifetime best of 22.15. That was just enough to hold off Gabby Thomas, 18 points to 17.Ackera Nugent looked sharp with a 12.34 season’s best in the 100m hurdles, but it only got her third. She made up for it in a big way, bouncing back the next day to run 11.09 in the 100m, sealing the overall short hurdles title in dramatic fashion.Jereem Richards took the long sprints crown with a 19.86 win in the 200m and a 44.32 season’s best in the 400m, finishing with 20 points and $100,000 to s

The second Grand Slam Track meet of 2025 kicked off in spectacular fashion under the lights in Miramar, Florida—and right out of the gate, history was made.Masai Russell stole the show, blazing to a 12.17 in the 100m hurdles to break the American record and move to #2 on the all-time list. She edged fellow American Tia Jones by just two-hundredths, with Jones jumping to #3 all-time in the process. That head-to-head thriller was just one of many standout performances on a night packed with fireworks: two national records, two world leads, and a wave of personal bests.In the men’s 200m, Jereem Richards dipped back under 20 seconds for the first time in two years, clocking 19.86 to edge Alexander Ogando in a photo finish. Ogando’s runner-up finish came with a silver lining—a new Dominican national record. Marileidy Paulino kept the momentum going with a hard-fought win over Salwa Eid Naser in the women’s 400m, stopping the clock at a season-best 49.21.Alison dos Santos continued his unbeaten streak in the men’s

The Grand Slam Track series heads stateside for the first time, and we’re breaking it all down in this jam-packed episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole and a special return of Kyle Merber as the crew previews the Miami Slam from every angle—diving into the matchups, storylines, and athletes you won’t want to miss.Chris kicks things off by sharing some personal news: he’s stepping into the broadcast booth as a distance analyst for the Grand Slam Track studio show this weekend! From there, the team dives into a comprehensive preview of what’s set to be a thrilling three-day meet at the Ansin Sports Complex.You’ll get a full breakdown of the unique Grand Slam Track format, where athletes compete across six event groups and accumulate points in pursuit of a $100K prize. With top talent from across the globe descending on Miami, there’s no shortage of drama on tap.We highlight the key events and rivalries to watch, including:– Kenny Bednarek vs. Fred Kerley and the re

“If I just focus on competing, it’s turned out to be really fun and turned out to work in my favor each time. That’s been the mindset: Let's just race, focus on competing, and not really worry about the clock. That’s a lot of how I approached Boston.”After finishing one spot off of the Team USA squads in the marathon and the 10,000m for the Olympics and the half marathon for the World Road Running Championships, Jess McLain has made it a habit of being so close, yet just off of these national teams.But on Patriots Day in Boston, she kicked it open, running a smart, gutsy race that saw her surge through the Newton Hills strategically with Emma Bates and Sara Hall chasing a lead pack and then closing in 5:15 seconds for the final mile. Jess cemented her place as one of the top contenders in American distance running.In today's conversation, we get into what changed with this particular marathon build, from training under coach David Roche to how she's getting used to these major marathon scenes. We talk a lot a

“I just like being an underdog. It has this feeling that almost reduces the pressure… I’m not going to change anything, but I’m going to try and go out there and show everyone that I can do it. That it’s possible.”In a race built on tradition, it takes something truly special to rewrite history, and that's exactly what Sharon Lokedi delivered at the 2025 Boston Marathon. Facing off once again with Hellen Obiri, the two-time defending champion and the Olympic bronze medalist, Lokedi flipped the script. When Obiri made a move with about one mile to go, Sharon just didn't hang on; she countered with a decisive surge of her own, and the result was a 2:17:22 victory – the fastest Boston Marathon ever run by a woman, smashing the old course record by more than 2.5 minutes. It was a win built on boldness.Lokedi stayed composed through an aggressive early pace, answered every challenge and move along the way, and delivered a ferocious negative split. In the process, she claimed her place in history not just a

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia are back on the mic to break down one of the biggest weekends in recent marathon history.They dive into Sabastian Sawe’s breathtaking 2:02:27 victory at the 2025 London Marathon — including his devastating move at 30K, and what this win means for the marathon World #1 debate.On the women’s side, Tigst Assefa delivered a gutsy performance to break the women’s-only world record in 2:15:50, securing a massive payday and maybe reminding us all that she could be the very best women's marathoner in the world.The guys also discuss Jacob Kiplimo’s impressive marathon debut, Eliud Kipchoge’s graceful approach to this new chapter of his career and other key performances.We also unpack the Diamond League opener in Xiamen, China— including Karsten Warholm’s world best over 300m hurdles and Faith Kipyegon’s near-world record run.We'll record a preview of Grand Slam Track: Miami later this week on-site from Florida.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Big name sodas are rolling out bold new f

“When you’re in that momentum phase, every week is just exciting. You look forward to the next workout because you’re just curious – I did well last week, let’s see how well I can do this week. It’s just fun to see everything come together at the right time. That’s what Boston was. I was just excited because I knew how much fitness I had gained in the last month. It was really just going out there and seeing what I had.”Sometimes the best breakthroughs don’t come after a perfect buildup — they come from trusting your gut, leaning into the tough days and racing fearlessly when it matters most. That’s exactly what Annie Frisbie did at the 2025 Boston Marathon.Running through a rocky buildup that started with an upper hamstring tear, Annie put herself right in the mix early on, going out aggressively with the lead pack and refusing to back down when the race got tough. She crossed the line in 2:23:21, nearly a three-minute personal best and the eighth-fastest Boston finish ever by an American woman.It’s a huge s

“Whether it's true or not, that's what I’ve got to believe. That’s the faith I’ve got to have moving forward. Regardless of what other people say, or what other people think, there is power in truth and being honest with myself. There's got to be faith and there's got to be belief that I not only can close that gap, but that I am in that tier and I can compete with the best.”My guest for today's episode is Clayton Young. While Conner Mantz's 2:05 may have stolen the headlines, Clayton Young once again proved why he belongs in any conversation about the best marathoners in America. On a competitive day in Boston, he ran 2:0:7:04 – nearly a full minute personal best to finish seventh overall, tying his highest ever finish at a World Marathon Major. He did it despite a calf cramp at mile 20 and on an up and down lead up that included some frustrating half marathon results.But that's the kind of thing about Clayton's success, quiet consistency, big stage composure, and a resilience that keeps him right alongside

“It became, ‘No, I’m attacking this marathon.’ It was more of an assertive mentality. Hearing the crowds roar, I was fighting for the podium… It was like, ‘This is it.’ I’m doing what I set out to do and I feel great.’ It was a very special moment. I was pretty zoned in, but I enjoyed it and I’d love to live through it again.”On a brisk April morning in Boston, Conner Mantz delivered the marathon breakthrough that he's been waiting for. Running fearlessly from the front, Mantz surged through the Newton Hills, hung with a deep pack through about 40 kilometers, and stopped the clock in 2:05:08 seconds — a massive personal best and the second-fastest time ever run by an American. Boston is not a record eligible course, but this was a major performance. He finished fourth overall and just four seconds off the podium in one of the fastest editions in Boston Marathon history. It was a performance that firmly placed Mantz among the world's elite, showing he's not just America's top distance talent, b

In this week’s episode, we dive into the breaking news that Faith Kipyegon—the triple Olympic 1500m champion and world record holder—is set to chase history in June with an attempt to become the first woman ever to break four minutes for the mile. We break down Nike’s Breaking4 announcement, the science behind the attempt, the pacing strategy, and whether it could redefine what’s possible in women’s distance running.Plus, we shift gears to preview what might be the greatest men’s marathon field ever assembled: the 2025 London Marathon. From Kiplimo’s debut to Kipchoge’s return, Sawe’s rise, and Olympic triathlon champ Alex Yee taking on 26.2—this race is packed with storylines and implications for the season ahead. We also discuss why Sifan Hassan may be the heavy favorite on the women's side.We close with quick hits from the upcoming Xiamen Diamond League, where Faith Kipyegon opens her season and Olympic champions square off in the field events.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Big name sodas are rolling out

"What do we need to do to win Boston? We said, 'Be patient from the start and then at 20 miles, make a move.' We were good and we made it."After taking a fall right off the starting line, John Korir regrouped, surged at mile 20 with a jaw-dropping 4:41 split, and never looked back — crossing the line in 2:04:45, the second-fastest time in Boston Marathon history. With the win, he joins his brother Wesley on the list of Boston champions — and might’ve just stepped to the front of the global marathon stage.Korir has now won Chicago and Boston – both in dominant fashion and since Kelvin Kiptum’s tragic passing and Eliud Kipchoge’s regression, he’s making an strong case as the best marathoner on the planet right now.In today’s episode, we talk about that savage 21st mile, what it means to carry the Korir family legacy forward and whether a world record attempt might be the next big move.Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: John Korir | @korir564 on InstagramSUPPORT OUR SPONSO

We’re opening up The CITIUS MAG Podcast to have ANYONE join us to share their Boston Marathon stories. It’s going to be a rapid-fire, live podcast recording where we don’t know the guests and just want to connect and hear cool stories from the community. We will be streaming it live on our YouTube channel.If you’re in the Boston area, come on by to the Boston High Point, 745 Boylston Street Boston, MA.PRESENTED BY PUMA – Show presented by PUMA | The all-new Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 is here — and it's built to move you faster than ever before. Crafted with cutting-edge design + backed by science from UMass Amherst, this race-day shoe delivers a 3.15% boost in running economy (vs. the Fast-R 2) — which could mean shaving over 4.5 minutes off a 3-hour marathon time. Designed for serious speed. Proven to change the game. Get your edge. Lace up in the Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3. A limited global drop will go live on PUMA.com, in PUMA flagship stores and in select retailers across North America, Europe, Latin America,

The 2025 Boston Marathon promises an exciting blend of redemption stories, debut intrigue, and head-to-head rivalries across both elite fields. On the men’s side, defending champion Sisay Lemma returns after last year’s audacious front-running victory, facing off against 2024 Chicago champ John Korir, two-time Boston winner Evans Chebet, rising Kenyan Daniel Mateiko, and U.S. hopeful Conner Mantz. Other contenders include Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana and Americans Clayton Young and CJ Albertson, each hoping to outlast the pack or capitalize on race-day chaos.In the women’s race, Hellen Obiri is chasing a rare three-peat in Boston, entering as the clear favorite despite a strong field. She’ll be challenged by past podium finishers Amane Beriso and Sharon Lokedi, 2:16 marathoner Yalemzerf Yehualaw, and rising marathon star Irene Cheptai. The American field is led by Keira D’Amato in her Boston debut, Emma Bates returning to form, and Dakota Popehn riding Olympic momentum. Young talents like Gabi Rooker, Jessi

“I wouldn’t toe the line for any race if I didn’t think I could win. I’m a David amongst Goliaths out there, but I think I’ve always got a chance [to win].”In 2024, Dakotah Popehn wasn't on most people's U.S. Olympic team shortlist, but that didn't stop her from running herself onto the team with a fearless third place finish at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and a gutsy run in Paris that saw her leading the Olympic marathon around halfway. Popehn turned heads and rewrote the expectations around her name.Now she's back on the major stage – this time lining up in Boston with confidence, momentum, and a whole new set of eyes on her. She's won Grandma’s Marathon and has been to the Olympic Games, but in the five World Marathon Majors she’s raced, she's actually never cracked the top ten. Could that change in Boston?In this episode, we talk about how she's navigated a year of breakthroughs, how she's approaching Boston as both an underdog and a contender, and what she thinks of PUMA's Fast-R 3, which is already

“That’s one of the beauties of Boston: that anyone can win on the day... There’s just too many variables. So do I have a shot? Yes. While that shot might be slim, it might be small, it’s definitely there and I definitely think about it. That’s what motivates me and makes me want to toe the line on race day and see what happens.”My guest for today's episode is Clayton Young. It should come as no surprise that this episode pairs well with last week's interview with Conner Mantz because since fall 2023, he's lined up alongside Conner in nearly every major race from Chicago to the Olympic Trials, Paris to New York, and most recently, in Houston back in January.While the spotlight often lands on Conner Mantz, it's impossible to overlook what Clayton has done: second at the Trials, ninth at the Olympics, seventh in New York City, and a personal best of 60:52 in Houston earlier this year for the half marathon. He's always been in the mix – always one move, one moment away from turning the tables.In today's conversat

“The part I also really love is finding the edges: How do we pursue the elite edge of world-class performance? I think as I've gotten further, that part is exciting me more and more as we go on here. But it doesn't have to just be world- class – how do you get people to find out how good they can really be?”When Chris Miltenberg took the helm at North Carolina in 2019, the Tar Heels distance programs had not won an ACC cross country title since before most of his current athletes were born. Fast forward to today and under Miltenberg's leadership, UNC has not only climbed back to the top of the ACC podium in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, but they've reestablished themselves as a legitimate national contender too.Miltenberg has led UNC to top ten finishes at the NCAA cross country, indoor, and outdoor championships, he's coached Parker Wolfe to UNC's first-ever 5000m outdoor national title, signed the program's highest ranked recruiting class, and has built a culture of buy-in, belief, and bold ambi

“I think I'm a guy who can win these races on the right day. I just need to prove that. I think the way to prove that, at least to myself, is to finish in the top three… I'd rather focus on getting on the podium in some of these races."Welcome back Conner Mantz to the CITIUS MAG Podcast for his 9th career appearance on the show. He's back ahead of his return to the 2025 Boston Marathon and he's bringing some serious momentum with him. In the past year alone, Mantz has shattered the American half marathon record in Houston, backed it up with another 57:15 performance at the NYC Half, which is a non-record eligible course, yet quite the performance. He's continued his streak of finishing as the top American in every major marathon since the fall of 2023.We talk about what's different this time around in Boston after his 11th place finish there in 2023, what he's learned from racing shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's best, and what he takes from another upcoming race with