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

CITIUS MAG

Track and field's biggest names on the track, in the coaching ranks and within the industry sit down and open up in-depth to share brilliant insights and vivid snapshots from their professional/personal accomplishments and experiences in the sport.

Hosted by CITIUS MAG founder Chris Chavez.

The show was named one of "The Best Running Podcasts" by Runner's World.

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21 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes21

Newest first

Wednesday · 1 hr 20 min
This Week In Track & Field: Commonwealth Games’ Biggest Winners, Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s Return, Women’s 800m Heating Up Again & World U20s Starts
Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia are back to put a bow on the Commonwealth Games, preview what Josh Kerr does next, assess Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s return, dig into the road to World Ultimate Championships, preview U20 Worlds in Eugene, and cover several news stories that got buried. – The Commonwealth Games and its future: Glasgow stepped in as last-minute host after Victoria, Australia pulled out in 2023 citing runaway costs. The result: a smaller-scale games (ten sports instead of the usual 17-18, no road races or triathlon). The core value of the Games — small island nations competing on a multi-sport stage, home nations competing as Scotland/Wales/England/Northern Ireland rather than GB, a stepping stone between junior and Diamond League levels — remains intact. – Men’s mile: Josh Kerr gold, 3:54.12: Josh got boxed at 450 out and had to force his way clear, covering extra distance in the process. None of it mattered. His final lap: 53.61. Won by 1.14 seconds over Cam Myers (silver), Timothy Cheruiyot (bronze). Josh is definitively the best miler in the world. – What does Josh Kerr do next? Option A: Zurich Diamond League 1500m world record attempt; Option B: World Ultimate Championships 1500m, Budapest, September, Option C: Fifth Avenue Mile payday (Vote in the Spotify comments section) – Georgia Hunter-Bell wins women’s 800m, 1:59.51: Never really challenged. Georgia’s first Commonwealth medal. She now has the full set: Olympic medal, world championship medal, European medal, Commonwealth Games medal — all in the last three years. – European Championships women’s 800m, August 14th: Keely vs. Audrey Werro rematch: No data on Keely’s current fitness — she’s been quiet since London. Werro ran a 400m PB of 50.8 at the Swiss champs, jogged a 1:57 800 the same day, and is clearly sharp. – Australia’s generational Commonwealth Games: Torrie Lewis and Lachlan Kennedy in the sprints (Kennedy 9.85 national record silver in the rain). Abbey Caldwell, Jess Hull, Claudia Hollingsworth sweep the women’s mile 1-2-3. Cam Myers silver behind Josh in the men’s mile. Rose Davies 5K/10K double (first Australian woman ever). Ky Robinson medals in both distance events. – Kenya’s thinner-than-expected showing: The trend of Kenya’s elite distance runners prioritizing the roads is real. – Elise Thorner, women’s steeple bronze, 9:05: Personal best in difficult conditions — wind, rain, cold. Judged it perfectly. – Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s return — European Championships 5K, August 10th: First race since Tokyo World Championships. Post-surgery in February, no racing all summer. Entered in the 5K only as defending champion (no qualifying time required). – More news stories include: The Brazilian marathoner who went missing for 44 days; 59:11 half marathoner Dennis Kipkemoi Kipkogei to Texas; Oordegem nostalia after Abdihamid Nur and Alicia Monson run well there; – U20 World Championships, Eugene light preview ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. They keep your feet and legs properly aligned after you put in all of those weekly miles. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠ OLIPOP: OLIPOP's Citrus Rush packs apple, lemon, lime, and orange juices with 60mg of green tea caffeine for a bold, refreshing blast of flavor ready to fuel your next adventure. 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.⁠⁠
July 31 · 1 hr 19 min
Danny Mackey On Coaching Josh Kerr To The Mile World Record Of 3:42.66
“You can’t recreate the feeling that Josh created for me as a coach in any synthetic way. It had to have been done the way that he did it.” My guest for today’s episode is Danny Mackey, the head coach of the Brooks Beasts Track Club. Almost two weeks before we recorded this, Josh Kerr ran 3:42.66 at the London Diamond League and took 47 hundredths of a second off Hicham El Guerrouj’s mile world record — a mark that had been on the books for 27 years. Danny is the guy who wrote the training for it. He’s been coaching Josh for eight years now and this year he’s also got Brandon Miller running 1:42.19 to win in London seventy minutes before Josh’s race. It was an epic day for the Brooks Beasts. This one is a coach’s-eye reconstruction of how a world record actually gets built. We go back to the workouts in Albuquerque in 2024 when Danny first told Josh he thought the record was there. We get into the PowerPoint pitch to Brooks. Danny walks through how he writes training. We talk about the ninety-minute whiteboard meeting where a few grown men argued over tenths of a second for pacing and what Danny was thinking standing trackside with 350 meters to go. And finally, how this has transcended beyond the running community. The best part comes toward the end when he reveals who this was all for. We last had him on in 2023 after the World Championships after Josh won gold, so it was only fitting that we got him back on after another momentous occasion. ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. They keep your feet and legs properly aligned after you put in all of those weekly miles. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠ OLIPOP: Raspberry Sherbet is a limited-edition, nostalgic new flavor that blends tangy raspberry with creamy vanilla. Every can of Olipop 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.⁠⁠
July 31 · 1 hr 1 min
Vince Ciattei On Winning His First US Title In The 5000m After A Decade Of Near-Misses
“You just have to believe that at some point it’s going to translate into the actual result you want. These close calls aren’t only going to be my defining story.” My guest for today’s episode is Vince Ciattei — U.S. 5000m champion. At 31 years old, roughly 24 hours after losing the 1500m final by five hundredths of a second, Vince went back out at Icahn Stadium and won the 5K national title in 13:46.75 — an event he had raced once in the previous five years. It was the first national title of his career, and it came after a run of fourths, thirds, and seconds that have stretched across nearly a decade as a professional. Vince trains with Under Armour Dark Sky Distance in Flagstaff under Stephen Haas. He went to Virginia Tech, where he only became good enough to go pro in his fifth year. He came back from an injury straight away as a pro. He finished fourth at the 2024 Olympic Trials by a quarter of a second and has been on the edge of breaking through internationally for years, and this year it finally started to crack open — a 3:30 personal best in Rabat behind Yared Nuguse, Isaac Nader, and Azeddine Habz, a Diamond League schedule that treated him as a competitor rather than a time-trialer, a 13:13 at Payton Jordan in May, and then a weekend in New York where he went from reading a LetsRun writeup at 4 a.m. declaring he had missed his best shot to standing on top of the podium less than twelve hours later. In this conversation we get into all of it: The sports psychologist who helped him reframe a decade of near-misses as a trajectory rather than a verdict; The 24-hour turnaround between the two finals and what it took to flip the switch — including the middle-of-the-night LetsRun read, the drug testing chat with his mom afterward, and the moment when Kasey Knevelbaard came by with 250 to go and the race turned into a Dark Sky one-two. We also get into what Rabat and Ostrava showed him about where he actually stands internationally, the Diamond League final, the World Ultimate Championships, and the target that’s been quietly driving his entire season: the World Road Running Championships mile in September, where he’ll wear the Team USA uniform for the first time. ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. They keep your feet and legs properly aligned after you put in all of those weekly miles. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠ OLIPOP: Raspberry Sherbet is a limited-edition, nostalgic new flavor that blends tangy raspberry with creamy vanilla. Every can of Olipop 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.⁠⁠
July 27 · 50 min
USATF Outdoor Championships 2026: Day 4 | Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Goes 21.69, Cooper Lutkenhaus Dominates 800m + More
Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber recap the final day of the 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships at Icahn Stadium We discuss: FINALS: – Cooper Lutkenhaus, 17 years old, dominated the men's 800m in 1:43.48, winning his second US title of 2026 and negative-splitting a 52.26-51.23 for a 1.07-second margin over Wes Ferguson. Six 800m finals in 2026. Six wins. Now including a US title against a full professional field. – Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ran a stadium-record 21.69 to win the women's 200m — just 0.01 off her winning time at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. She got out of the blocks like a rocket and had the race decided before the straightaway. Cambrea Sturgis was second in 22.22. – The men's 200m turned into drama for the wrong reason. Garrett Kaalund, running for USC, won in 20.04 — becoming the first collegian to win the US 200m title in 18 years. But two-time defending champion Noah Lyles pulled up with an apparent injury coming off the turn and walked it in for last. – Cordell Tinch won a men's 110m hurdles final decided by 0.004 seconds. – Nia Akins won her fifth US 800m title in 1:59.25, timing her kick perfectly to overhaul early leader Roisin Willis and runner-up Addy Wiley. – Anna Cockrell led from the first hurdle to break her own stadium record in the 400m hurdles at 52.94. – Chris Robinson finally broke through with a 47.61 for his first US title in the men's 400m hurdles. – Emily Mackay made up for her dive-to-the-line third-place 1500m by winning the women's 5000m in 14:55.82. – Vince Ciattei took the men's 5000m in 13:46.75 with a 26.71 last 200m in a photo finish over Cooper Teare and Sam Prakel. – Valarie Allman won her eighth consecutive US discus title with a 69.54m throw — a streak that dates back to 2018. Plus a moment worth mentioning: longtime NYC middle-distance coach Frank Gagliano was honored at Icahn Stadium in front of literally hundreds of former athletes and coaches he mentored. Six decades of coaching, dozens of Olympians, and lineage that runs through Chris Miltenberg, Diljeet Dosanjh Taylor, Vin Lananna, and much of the current generation of American middle-distance coaching.
July 25 · 47 min
USATF Outdoor Championships 2026: Day 3 Reactions | Nikki Hiltz & Nathan Green KICK To U.S. Titles + More
Day 3 delivered upsets, dynasties extended, and a mayor in the stands — NYC's Zohran Mamdani made it out to Randall's Island for what has become the sports event of New York's summer, alongside the Knicks' NBA title and the World Cup. We discuss: FINALS: - Women's 400m — Aaliyah Butler, 49.93: In her first full season as a professional, the 22-year-old ran a perfectly executed race to win her first USATF outdoor title. Alexis Holmes was second in 50.47. - Men's 400m — Chris Bailey, 44.39: Bailey adds an outdoor title to his 2025 U.S. indoor crown — but not without drama. Justin Robinson crossed first in 44.31 before being disqualified for a lane violation, promoting Bailey to gold. - Women's steeplechase — Lexy Halladay-Lowry, 9:12.54: A stadium record and a successful title defense. Halladay-Lowry let Gabbi Jennings lead the first six laps before unleashing a devastating final 600m to pull away. Jennings held on for second in 9:17.42 — a career-best championship finish. - Men's steeplechase — Nate Mountain, 8:13.81: The upset of the meet. Mountain finished ninth at NCAAs just six weeks ago. On Saturday, he dove for the line to beat Carson Williams by 0.07 seconds (8:13.88 — a lifetime best for Williams). A national champion nobody saw coming. - Women's 1500m — Nikki Hiltz, 4:06.92: Eight consecutive U.S. 1500m titles, stretching back to 2023 indoors. Hiltz ran a 58.80 final 400m to hold off Addy Wiley by 0.04 seconds, who in turn beat Emily Mackay by 0.02. Three athletes separated by six hundredths of a second at the line. - Men's 1500m — Nathan Green, 3:50.27: A comically slow tactical race set up a predictable conclusion — Green showed his tactical savvy with a 51.65 final 400m to take the win. - Women's 100m hurdles — Alia Armstrong, 12.38: The unsponsored hurdler wins her first national title in a stacked final, running a season's best 12.38 to beat Alaysha Johnson by 0.04 seconds. A breakthrough moment for an athlete still without a shoe deal. - Women's pole vault — Sandi Morris, 4.90m: Ten U.S. titles. Morris cleared 4.90m on her first attempt to defend her 2025 outdoor title. - Men's javelin — Curtis Thompson, 87.59m: The greatest throw saved for last. Thompson trailed UGA's Davis after an 82.36m final-attempt effort, then launched 87.59m on his own last throw — improving his mark by over 10 meters — to win his sixth U.S. title and complete a four-peat. + More from the 200m and 400m hurdles prelims.
July 25 · 47 min
USATF Outdoor Championships 2026: Day 2 Reactions | Noah Lyles Runs 9.79, Sha'Carri Wins 3rd 100m Title + More
The sprint finals delivered on every promise. Noah Lyles ran a world-leading 9.79 and Sha'Carri Richardson put on a show in the women's 100m. The 800m prelims produced some genuine surprises. We discuss: FINALS: - Women's 100m — Sha'Carri Richardson, 10.77: Richardson was in a different gear, pulling away from the field by halfway to win in 10.77 — equaling her season's best and breaking the Icahn Stadium record. Star Athletics teammate Kayla White was second in 10.90, Tamari Davis third in 11.00. Richardson has now won three of the last four U.S. 100m titles. - Men's 100m — Noah Lyles, 9.79: Lyles delivered when it mattered most — his eighth USATF outdoor title and a wind-legal world lead of 9.79, equaling his lifetime best. Ronnie Baker ran a strong season's best of 9.88 for second, Kenny Bednarek third just 0.005 seconds behind Baker, also at 9.88. PRELIMS: - Women's 400m heats: Aaliyah Butler leads all qualifiers winning heat 2 in 50.53, Sanaria Butler won the final heat from lane 1 in 51.10. Alexis Holmes took heat 1 in 51.71. Britton Wilson grabbed the last final spot in 52.12. - Men's 400m heats: Christopher Bailey (45.14) looks like the favorite after a win from an inside lane. The big news — 2024 Olympic champion Quincy Hall fails to make the final, finishing sixth in 46.47. Hall has struggled all season. - Men's 800m heats: Cooper Lutkenhaus and Hobbs Kessler go 1-2 in heat 1 in 1:45.83 and 1:45.93; Wes Ferguson leads all qualifiers with a fierce homestretch move to win in 1:45.17; Atlanta Track Club goes 1-2 in another heat — Sean Dolan (1:46.11) and Camden Marshall (1:46.40); Defending champion Donavan Brazier fails to advance, finishing fourth outside the time qualifiers in 1:46.93. - Women's 800m heats: Roisin Willis takes heat 1 in 1:59.83, overhauling Meghan Hunter in the final 50 meters; A tactical heat 2 produces only two qualifiers — Nia Akins (2:01.78) and Juliette Whittaker (2:02.22) advance. Ajee' Wilson finishes third in 2:02.45 and does not make the final; High school standout Paige Sheppard of Union Catholic (NJ) runs 2:00.99 for fifth in heat 1 — fast enough for the last time qualifier spot, putting a high schooler in the final alongside the pros.
July 24 · 44 min
USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026: DAY 1 REACTIONS | WOODY KINCAID SHOCKS GRANT FISHER FOR 10K TITLE + MORE
Start spreading the news… because the U.S. national championship for track and field has officially landed on the East Coast, taking over Randall’s Island and Icahn Stadium for the next four days of action. As the sun set over the Harlem River, U.S. titles were handed out in the men’s and women’s 10,000m, men’s long jump and hammer throw, and women’s javelin. The finals were set in the 1500ms and the steeplechase, and we got our first look at Noah Lyles, Sha’Carri Richardson, and more of the country’s best sprinters in the first round of the 100m. The most memorable moment of Day 1 wasn’t exactly a feat of history-making speed — it was the 1:39.55 first 400 meters of a ridiculously tactical women’s 10,000m final, where the field crawled through halfway over 18 minutes before Sydney Vaught took control and never looked back, covering the second half in 15:21 to break the field and the tape with a 33:30.60 victory. In the men’s race, a similarly slow early pace (16:12 through halfway) seemed to be playing perfectly into Grant Fisher’s hands, but after he dropped a 60-second lap with 4k to go to winnow his rivals down to Drew Bosley and Woody Kincaid, the pace over the final laps slacked just enough that Kincaid was able to uncork his signature finishing speed to lethal effect, closing in 25.95 for the final 200m to beat Fisher to the line, 30:13.66 to 30:14.66. While Fisher has two Olympic medals, he only has one U.S. 10,000m title, and Kincaid picks up his third at the age of 33. Despite a relatively light program, there was plenty of drama in the middle-distance prelims, as pre-race contenders like Sam Prakel and Gracie Morris found themselves on the wrong side of the time cutoffs in the men’s and women’s 1500m, respectively. Nikki Hiltz had no problem advancing to the final in their heat in pursuit of a fourth straight U.S. outdoor title, and Andy Powell disciples had a romp of a time with the men’s heats, as four of the twelve finalists are current or former UW Huskies. The biggest shock of the day came in the men’s steeple prelims, because for the first time since 2022 there will be a new national champion. Kenneth Rooks failed to advance to the final after a spotty 2026 season to date, which opens the door for someone like Parker Stokes, who led all qualifiers, or last year’s third-placer Benard Keter to claim the title. Our YouTube channel is full of mixed-zone interviews with all the top athletes. Make sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky as we continue to bring you live action as the weekend of running, jumping, and throwing continues.
July 22 · 39 min
Josh Kerr On How He Broke The Mile World Record In 3:42.66 | Full Race Recap, Breakdown + Reflections
My guest for today’s episode is Josh Kerr – mile world record holder. On July 18th at the London Diamond League, in front of 60,000 people, Josh ran 3:42.66 to break Hicham El Guerrouj’s record that had stood for 27 years, which was the longest-standing mile world record in the history of the event, and one that many believed might never fall. He did it by calling his shot four months in advance, locking himself into a specific date and venue before he had even finished rehabbing the calf he tore at the World Championships in Tokyo last September. Josh is already one of the most decorated middle-distance runners of his generation — world champion, two-time Olympic medalist, two-time world indoor champion at 3000 meters. But the world record puts him in a different category entirely. He is now the seventh Brit to hold the mile world record, and the first since Steve Cram in 1985, joining a line that runs through Roger Bannister, Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, and Steve Cram. The race commentator on the world feed, Tim Hutchings, called it the ballsiest world record in the history of middle-distance racing. It was hard to disagree. This conversation was recorded two days after the race, with Kyle Merber joining as co-host. We get into the full arc of Project 222. We go deep on the spike Brooks built specifically for his foot strike and what it actually contributed to the margin. Josh walks us through the whiteboard session in Albuquerque where they debated every split for an hour, the 1200m time trial two weeks out that converted the last remaining skeptics, the mental performance framework that kept him in flow state when 60,000 people were watching, and what was happening internally when he cracked that smile before the gun and went completely deaf with 150 meters to go. We also get into what Tokyo taught him, the cage door philosophy Danny Mackey lives by, and who the performance was really for…which is not the answer you might expect. ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 21 · 1 hr 34 min
2026 USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW
Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber drop the full preview of the 2026 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Icahn Stadium in New York City, held Thursday through Sunday. CITIUS MAG will have daily end-of-day recap podcasts, a daily newsletter, and interviews on YouTube throughout the weekend. Watch on USATF.tv, Peacock, and NBC (Saturday and Sunday TV windows). Free tickets are available courtesy of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s 500-ticket giveaway for Thursday and Friday. If you live within a couple hours of Icahn Stadium, no excuses. Some of the events discussed in this episode: – Women’s 10K (Thursday): Thin field after Karissa Schweizer scratched. Top eight from last year’s USAs are not competing. Kyle’s read: the scratch actually makes for a better race — more wide open. – Men’s 10K (Thursday): 13 men entered. Grant Fisher versus Woody Kincaid as the headline matchup — Grant riding the momentum of his first Diamond League victory and doubling in the 5K. – Women’s 100m (Friday): No MJW vs. Sha’Carri head-to-head. – Men’s 100m (Friday): Noah Lyles vs. Kenny Bednarek. Noah has been everywhere at Fanatics Fest and FIFA World Cup events so the question is how much that toll has taken. Kenny knows this is a great opportunity to get one up on him. – Women’s 3000m steeplechase (Saturday): One of the deepest American steeple fields of the season — seven athletes entered at 9:20 or faster. The fastest American time of the year comes out of this race. – Men’s 3000m steeplechase (Saturday): Matt Wilkinson at 8:09 is the ninth-fastest man in the world and a clear favorite — remarkable given he was on crutches after last year’s USAs and came back with a straight-up PR. – Men’s 1500m (Saturday): Top five from last year not competing so the race opens up. – Women’s 1500m (Saturday): The rest of the field will be watching Nikki rather than racing their own race, so it’s becoming a Faith Kipyegon dynamic where others defer rather than attack. – Women’s 800m (Sunday): Roisin Willis is the top seed and story of the year in the women’s 800 — US indoor record holder, strong outdoor season, coming off a brilliant performance in Stockholm. Addy Wiley has a Diamond League victory. – Men’s 800m (Sunday): Brandon Miller scratched after London. Cooper Lukhenhaus vs. Donavan Brazier as the top billing — two of three members of last year’s World Championship team. – Women’s 5K (Sunday): Parker Valby vs. Shelby Houlihan. These two have never raced. Parker has run 14:39 this season (going by herself, no one could hang). Shelby was fourth at Worlds, has been running 800s, 1500s, 2 miles, 10Ks — she’s fit and she’s an 8:15 person with the ultimate kick. – Men’s 5K (Sunday): Grant Fisher the heavy favorite. ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠timrossi@banditrunning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 20 · 1 hr 15 min
This Week In Track & Field: Recapping The Rest Of The London Diamond League + Preet’s Perspective Watching Josh Kerr’s World Record In-Stadium
Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia reconvene to debrief the rest of the London Diamond League. Chris and Kyle Merber’s emergency pod captured the immediate reaction; this episode is the follow-up, covering everything that got overshadowed by the world record. We discuss: – Preet in the building: Eight flights of stairs between the mixed zone and the seating area to watch Josh Kerr’s world record run. – Post-race mixed zone: Josh got emotional exactly once — when Hannah England asked him about the mental toll of the entire process. His first beer since his December wedding was that Saturday night. For a Scotsman, six months without a beer is its own kind of suffering. – Was the world record overshadowed by the World Cup? The day before the World Cup final, England played France in a 6-4 third-place match the same evening. The next morning, BBC Sport’s homepage had zero stories about Josh Kerr. – Does this get Josh knighted? Chris’s very American question. – Does the mile world record mean as much globally as the 1500? Preet raises the question: the mile matters enormously in the US and UK, but does it land elsewhere? – Sawe vs. Kerr: which was bigger? – Women’s 800m — Keely wins in 1:56.21: The pacemaker went through 400 in 56.8, suggesting they were targeting sub-1:55 but backed off — if she’d gone through in 55 flat as planned, it might have been a 1:55 race. Preet’s context: this was Keely’s 50th sub-2:00 performance and her nineteenth sub-1:57. – Would you rather have Josh’s career or Keely’s right now? The rest of London — the performances that got overshadowed: – Brandon Miller, 1:42.19 in the men’s 800m: Nearly a full second PB, fifth all-time for Americans. Timed his kick off the final bend perfectly. – Julien Alfred, 21.66 in the women’s 200: Third win in nine days. – Karsten Warholm, 46.61 in the 400 hurdles: World lead, first hurdles race win of the season, meeting record. – Ja’Kobe Tharp, 12.89 in the 110m hurdles: Fifth time under 13 seconds this season — the first athlete in history to go sub-13 in five consecutive 110m hurdles races. – Kayinsola Ajayi, 9.84 in the men’s 100m: Beats world champion Oblique Seville for the second time this season — turns and looks at him as they cross the line. – Rai Benjamin, 44.05 PB in the men’s 400m: Beats Matthew Hudson-Smith (44.18). First Diamond League 400m win. – Marileidy Paulino, 48.97 in the women’s 400m: Fourth sub-49 this season. – Jess Hull wins the women’s 3000m, 8:24.69: Fierce surge with 200 to go – Looking ahead: Josh Kerr to appear on the CITIUS MAG podcast Wednesday. Full US Championships preview episode dropping with Chris and Kyle later this week. Daily shows from USAs throughout the weekend. Subscribe on your platform of choice. ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: ⁠⁠⁠⁠timrossi@banditrunning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 18 · 58 min
🚨 EMERGENCY PODCAST 🚨 JOSH KERR BREAKS THE MILE WORLD RECORD IN 3:42.66
Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber jump on the mics immediately following the London Diamond League as Josh Kerr ran 3:42.66 at the Novuna London Athletics Meet on Saturday, becoming the first person in history to break 3:43 in the mile and surpassing Hicham El Guerrouj’s 3:43.13 set in Rome in 1999. The 2023 world 1500m champion delivered on every promise of Project 222 in front of 60,000 people at London Stadium. How it went down: Pacer Brannon Kidder hit 400m in 54.75 on world record tempo, led through 800m in 1:50.63, then stepped aside with Žan Rudolf at Kerr’s instruction. Kerr hit 1200m in 2:46.39 and reached 1500m in 3:27.62 — faster than his own British record for the distance — before closing to the line alone. Yared Nuguse tracked him through the middle stages but couldn’t match the closing pace, finishing second in 3:45.69. Jake Heyward was third in a PB of 3:46.73 and Robert Farken fourth in a German record of 3:46.82. The splits: - 400m: 54.75 - 800m: 1:50.63 - 1200m: 2:46.39 - 1500m: 3:27.62 - Mile: 3:42.66 WR
July 18 · 35 min
The Benefits Of Heat Training And Adaptation In Running With Clayton Young | Sponsored By CORE
A special sponsored bonus episode for you diving into a topic that’s become one of the biggest trends in endurance sports over the last few years: heat training. Olympian and CORE-supported athlete Clayton Young joins to share what it is, why it works, and how to do it safely at every level. Discussed in this episode: – Why heat training has gone mainstream in running: Running follows cycling, and the data has finally caught up to what some athletes like Clayton were already doing as far back as 2019. – Heat training isn’t just for hot races: The cardiovascular adaptations — increased plasma, blood volume, red blood cell production, VO2 max, recovery — translate to cool races just as effectively. – Clayton’s heat training origin story: NCAA 10K in Austin, 2019 — hot, humid, and Clayton was the only guy in the field who didn’t grab a water cup at a single aid station. He’d been implementing sauna sessions based on his own reading of the literature. – The near-blackout story: Ten days before that same national championship, Clayton pushed too far in the sauna, blacked out twice in the hallway and it only got scarier from there. – The Core body temperature sensor: Provides real-time zone tracking (Zone 1-2 = safe, Zone 3 = target for heat adaptation, above Zone 3 = stop). Takes the guesswork out of a discipline that was previously measured with nothing more than a watch and willpower. – Heat adaptation score: Ranges from 0-100%. You gain benefits quickly and lose them slower than you think. Even one to two sessions per week during peak training blocks can maintain most of the adaptation. – How Clayton structures heat training into his week: Key workouts are done as cool as possible — that’s the time to get fit, not to heat adapt, per USOC researcher Randy Wilbur’s framework. – For everyday runners: Start with 15 minutes every other day and build from there just like mileage. Adjust your paces for heat and humidity the same way you would for altitude. – Safety guidelines – Special offer: If you’re interested in trying the CORE 2 Body Temperature Sensor yourself, CITIUS MAG podcast listeners can get 10% off with the code CITIUS10 at corebodytemp.com.
July 13 · 2 hr 8 min
This Week In Track & Field: Emmanuel Wanyonyi Breaks The 1000m WR; Julien Alfred Goes 21.51 In Monaco + London Diamond League Preview (Josh Kerr & Keely Hodgkinson WR Odds)
Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia are back for a packed episode. With Preet heading to the stadium on Saturday for the London Diamond League and the aftermath of the Monaco Diamond League, there’s a lot to discuss: – World Cup check-in: England squeaked through in a stressful Saturday night match that Preet describes as not fun to watch. – CITIUS MAG x New Balance at the 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships – Running’s baby boom – Emmanuel Wanyonyi, 1000m world record, 1:11.83: Monaco Diamond League. Broke Noah Ngeny’s 27-year-old record of 1:11.96 set in Rieti in 1999. Can he inch closer to David Rudisha’s 800m WR in London? – Julien Alfred, 21.51 in the women’s 200m: Third-fastest women’s 200 in history behind Flo-Jo (21.34) and Shericka Jackson (21.41). Why this one is not a shocker and we’re living in the best year of the women’s 200m with her, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Gabby, MJW, Shericka, plus Adaejah Hodge. – Collen Kebinatshipi goes 43.44 and is now on the conversation for the men’s 400m world record, if he can maybe run the first 200m a bit more aggressively. The dream matchup is still Kebinatshipi vs. Samuel Ogazi. – Masai Russell’s dominance: The five fastest women’s 100 hurdles times of 2026 all belong to Masai Russell. Off the final hurdle, she sometimes begins to celebrate slightly before the line — that tiny relaxation may be the difference between her and the world record. – Agnes Ngetich runs 8:08.95 for No. 3 all-time in the 3000m, but what’s up with Faith Kipyegon? – Graham Blanks showcased his best kick against pros in the 5000m in Monaco, which he nearly won. – More from the Monaco Diamond League – Russia was reinstated by the International Olympic Committee but there is still more to be sorted by Seb Coe and World Athletics’ stance to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes out until the war in Ukraine ends – Celebrating records by decades rather than all-time to sidestep the doping era problems – Unpacking Josh Kerr’s London mile world record attempt now that the full start list has been revealed. Preet argues that most of the field will just get on the fast train with Yared Nuguse as the potential spoiler if Kerr falters. Chris wants Hobbs Kessler to play spoiler from the gun by fighting for the front early. – The women’s 800m has been billed as Keely Hodgkinson’s world record attempt for months but it should be framed as a comeback race for the Olympic champion. The field is legitimately dangerous with Georgia Hunter-Bell and Femke Bol. + More ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: ⁠⁠⁠timrossi@banditrunning.com⁠⁠⁠ CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 9 · 1 hr
Marco Langon On Turning Pro, Signing With Diadora + Reflections On His NCAA Career At Villanova
“You just have to have that confidence in anything you do. That was the biggest thing that had driven me… Having that extreme level of confidence and delusion. You want it to seem hard, but you don't want it to seem impossible.” My guest for today's episode is Marco Langon, the 21-year-old distance runner out of the state of New Jersey who just finished his career at Villanova and signed a professional contract with Diodora. He made his pro debut at the Pre Classic and is currently in Germany as he gets started on his European circuit tour. His resume is strong from his four years at Villanova. He ran a personal best of 3:32 in the 1500m, 7:34 in the 3K, and 13:05 in the 5K, all which put him in the top four in NCAA history. He was at the center of some of the most dramatic finishes of the past season: He dove at the finish line in his duel against Habtom Samuel at BU, and he anchored Villanova to the 4xmile title at Penn Relays after some hotly contested back to back days against Oregon and their anchor, Simeon Birnbaum. His story is pretty impactful. He grew up watching his mom, a lunch lady, navigate a divorce and make ends meet for him and his sister on a single income, and he was stocking shelves in a convenience store freezer while in high school, crying because he knew that that couldn't be his life. He’s someone who has been committed to exploring how good he can be at this sport because it could lead to him providing for his family. He signed with Diadora specifically because they took a chance on him before anyone else did when he signed his NIL deal. His personality is not one that necessarily fits into some of the bigger brands marketing strategy and he's quick to admit that himself. So, in this chat, we get into all of that from the moments in that QuickCheck freezer that made the dream feel urgent, his full ride to Villanova, what he's taking from coach Marcus O'Sullivan and what they also butted heads on, the Penn Relays anchor that he describes as the most relieved he's ever felt rather than the happiest, the 1500m versus 5K debate that he's still processing, and what he's looking forward to in his first season as a pro. ____________ Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez Guest: Marco Langon | @marcolangon Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: ⁠⁠timrossi@banditrunning.com⁠⁠ CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 7 · 2 hr 2 min
This Week In Track & Field: Prefontaine Classic Recap – Tate Taylor Goes 19.75; Nikki Hiltz Beats Faith Kipyegon; Cam Myers Wins The Bowerman Mile + More
Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Preet Majithia recap all of the major action at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic. Streaks ended, young stars arrived, and the whole distance-and-sprint order got shaken up in a single afternoon in Eugene. Discussed in this episode: – Tate Taylor wins the men’s 200m in 19.75 into a -0.9 headwind: The biggest surprise of the meet. Tebogo was the overwhelming favorite. We discuss why it’s different from the Gout Gout 19.67. Taylor confirmed he will not be running USAs, and the World U20 Championships in Eugene in August is now the most anticipated junior sprint matchup of the year. – Nikki Hiltz wins the mile in 4:17.49: Ends Faith Kipyegon’s five-year, 24-race unbeaten streak in 1500m/mile events on the track, dating to a loss to Sifan Hassan in Florence on June 10, 2021. – This was not peak Faith Kipyegon; Faith posted on Instagram after: “Since Shanghai, I’ve been dealing with a hamstring injury, but the last two weeks have been a step in the right direction.” – Cam Myers wins the Bowerman Mile in 3:46.06: First Australian to win the Bowerman Mile. Six days after running 3:28.00 in Paris, he sat in, took control at 600m, and closed the final 100 in 13.1 — the fastest of the race. Yared Nuguse second. Ethan Strand third in 3:46.97 after being well back at the bell. – Kyle’s argument: please stop making athletes announce signings right before major races. – Josh Kerr, London Diamond League, July 18th: Ten days out from his world record attempt. He’s been living in his altitude tent for twelve hours a day, writing for The Telegraph, and posting workouts that Kyle described as “giving serious hope” – Lilian Odira beats Keely Hodgkinson in the women’s 800m, 1:56.19 to 1:56.73. – World record watch for London: Keely’s situation two weeks out makes any WR talk look ambitious. She’s still on the start list. – Melissa Jefferson-Wooden beats Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100m, 10.78 to 10.79: MJW extends her unbeaten 100m streak to ten races since the Paris Olympic final. – Sha’Carri’s start looked better than it has at points this season. She’s firmly back. – Kayinsola Ajayi wins the men’s 100m in 9.84: Beats world champion Oblique Seville (9.89). Ties his PB and national record. A college kid finishing an NCAA season and immediately beating the world champion validates the performance. – Jamal Britt wins the men’s 110m hurdles over Ja'kobe Tharp: Kyle’s call from the preview episode vindicated. ____________ Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | @kylemerber Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: ⁠timrossi@banditrunning.com⁠ CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 4 · 1 hr 1 min
CITIUS MAG | LIVE FROM EUGENE — DAY 2 AT PRE CLASSIC + SPECIAL GUESTS: DAWN STALEY, BRANDON MILLER, COOPER LUTKENHAUS, VAL ALLMAN, & SANDI MORRIS
CITIUS MAG crew is LIVE from Hayward Field in Eugene, previewing everything you need to know before the meet with special guests, athlete interviews, and predictions across the whole card. This show is a partnership between CITIUS MAG and TrackTown USA, streamed from the VIP Village and Fan Festival stage. Fans looking to watch every minute of the action will have to toggle between a few different networks, but the easiest and most consistent way to watch is on Peacock (subscription required), which will stream the final hour of Friday, July 3, from 11:30pm-12:30am EDT and the hot window on Saturday, July 4, from 4:00pm-6:00pm EDT. ⁠You can read our meet preview here⁠ and listen to ⁠our full meet preview episode here⁠. ____________ In today's show, Paul Hof-Mahoney and Karen Lesiewicz recap yesterday's action, preview the events ahead this afternoon, and welcome on a few guests, including Dawn Staley, Brandon Miller, Cooper Lutkenhaus, & Val Allman. ____________ Hosts: Paul Hof-Mahoney | ⁠@phofmahoney⁠ + Karen Lesiewicz | ⁠@karen_les
July 4 · 29 min
CITIUS MAG | LIVE FROM EUGENE — DAY 1 AT PRE CLASSIC
CITIUS MAG crew is LIVE from Hayward Field in Eugene, previewing everything you need to know before the meet with special guests, athlete interviews, and predictions across the whole card. This show is a partnership between CITIUS MAG and TrackTown USA, streamed from the VIP Village and Fan Festival stage. Fans looking to watch every minute of the action will have to toggle between a few different networks, but the easiest and most consistent way to watch is on Peacock (subscription required), which will stream the final hour of Friday, July 3, from 11:30pm-12:30am EDT and the hot window on Saturday, July 4, from 4:00pm-6:00pm EDT. You can read our meet preview here and listen to our full meet preview episode here. ____________ Hosts: Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney + Karen Lesiewicz | @karen_les
July 2 · 36 min
Gary Martin On Turning Pro And Joining The Brooks Beasts
“A big part of it was finding the right environment, the right people, and the right team that I was excited to be a part of.” My guest for today's episode is someone we've had a great joy of watching develop from high school through the collegiate ranks. Gary Martin is now a professional runner. He's signing with Brooks and joining the Brooks Beasts, and it feels like it was just yesterday that we were sitting down with him at the Armory after his New Balance Nationals mile victory. For those who've been following along with CITIUS over the last couple of years, you know that Gary is an athlete that we've propped up and he's even written for CITIUS MAG. So now, four years later after competing for the University of Virginia, his resume speaks for itself. He has a 3:48 mile PB from the Millrose Games (second fastest in collegiate history), he has an ACC cross country title, and a DMR national championship. In this conversation, we get into why he chose the Beasts, what he asked Danny Mackey about in his first meeting with him, the move to Seattle, the training progression in college, and the self-belief that will suit him as a professional runner. Plus, we also get into what his hopes and expectations are for his pro debut this weekend in the Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic. ____________ Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Gary Martin | @gary.martin20 Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: ⁠⁠timrossi@banditrunning.com⁠⁠ CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 2 · 1 hr 41 min
2026 Prefontaine Classic Preview
The Prefontaine Classic is this weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, and CITIUS MAG will have a live pre-show on both days streaming on our YouTube channel. This episode is the full breakdown of every event on the card: – Men’s 800m (Friday): Cooper Lutkenhaus makes his Pre Classic debut as a professional alongside last year’s World Championship team — Donavan Brazier and Bryce Hoppel. – Men’s 2 Mile (Friday): Grant Fisher is coming off his 5000m victory at the Paris Diamond League to go up against Andreas Almgren and Parker Wolfe. – Women’s 100m (Saturday heats + final): The best women’s 100m field assembled all year featuring The Clayton twins, Adaejah Hodge, Shericka Jackson, Sha’Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. – Men’s 400m (Saturday): USA vs. Collen Kebinatshipi. – Men’s 200m (Saturday): Letsile Tebgogo should have this one. – Men’s 110m Hurdles (Saturday): Ja’Kobe Tharp returns to the exact track where he ran 12.75 for his first Diamond League race as the world record holder. – Women’s 2 Mile (Saturday): Likely a world record attempt and 8 of the 14 entrants are Ethiopian. – Men’s 100m (Saturday): Oblique Seville, reigning world champion, is the clear favorite — one of only two men in the field who have broken 9.90 this season. – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase (Saturday): The three fastest women in the world this season — Chemutai (8:51.06), Cherotich (8:51.48), Yavi (8:51.54) — are all here. Just 0.48 seconds separates the top three. Eight Americans in the field. Doris Lemngole is the wild card. – Women’s 100m Hurdles (Saturday, straight final): All five of the world’s top five this season on one start line. – Women’s 800m (Saturday): Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the British Championships 400m after one or two strides when something felt off — a smart call. She’s in Eugene and we’ll see where she’s at. – Women’s Mile (Saturday): Faith Kipyegon is back! Georgia Hunter Bell (3:55.63, second in the world) is her primary rival. The subplot will be if the American record falls to Nikki Hiltz or Emily Mackay. – Men’s Bowerman Mile (Saturday): The grand finale! Cam Myers (3:28 world leader, Australian record), Yared Nuguse (two Diamond League wins, American record), Azeddine Habz (3:29), Timothy Cheruiyot (looking like himself again), Niels Laros (1:43 800 speed, devastating kick), Cole Hocker (Olympic champion, fitness question mark after a niggle and a lost 3K). Who ya got? – Where to watch: Saturday on NBC and Peacock, 12:30 PM Pacific / 3:30 PM Eastern. ____________ Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | @kylemerber Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: ⁠timrossi@banditrunning.com⁠ CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
June 30 · 2 hr 6 min
This Week In Track & Field: Three Diamond League Records In Paris; Audrey Werro Inches Closer To 800m WR; Femke Bol Goes 1:55; Cam Myers Solos A 3:28; Grant Fisher Gets His First Diamond League Win
In near-perfect conditions following a week of brutal French heat, Sunday’s Paris Diamond League produced three Diamond League records. In this episode: – Audrey Werro came to Paris explicitly targeting the women’s 800m world record and ran a personal best of 1:53.80 — a Diamond League record, meet record, world lead, and Swiss national record. She’s now the only woman ever with multiple sub-1:54 performances (three of them, all this season). The world record is 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983. Werro is 0.52 back. – Femke Broeders-Bol’s 800m transition is real. The reigning 400m hurdles world champion ran 1:55.60 in the 800m — a massive personal best — finishing second behind Werro’s Diamond League record. Her move to the 800m is no longer an experiment. – Cam Myers ran 3:28.00 in the Paris Diamond League 1500m — a personal best by over a second, the 27th fastest time in history, and faster than Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the same age (Jakob ran 3:28.68 at 20). Myers beat a field that included 3:27 man Azeddine Habz and 2025 World Championship medalists Jake Wightman and Reynold Cheruiyot – What it all means for the Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic – Grant Fisher won the Paris Diamond League 5000m in 12:54.80, edging Jacob Krop (12:55.22) and Andreas Almgren (12:55.38) in a stacked field where ten athletes broke 13:00. The win also marked the fifth Diamond League victory by an American men’s mid-distance runner in 2026 — the most ever in a single year, with seven meets still remaining. – Marco Arop dominates the men’s 800m. He confirmed after the race that he intends to go for the record this year: “Clearly I’m in shape for it” – Trayvon Bromell beats Noah Lyles and there’s Twitter comments afterward by the Olympic champion – Jamal Britt runs 12.89 PB in Paris — his 10th win of 2026, his 12th meet since April – Collen Kebinatshipi runs 43.54 Diamond League record in Paris. + More highlights and shout-outs from around the running world including Western States. ____________ Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠ + Mac Fleet | @macfleet Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: timrossi@banditrunning.com CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠ VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠