August 12, 2025

Airey Bros Radio Ep. 384 – From NAIA Champion to Adams State: Luca Madeo’s Rise, European Championships, and Next Chapter in Distance Runnin

46 minutes

6x NAIA All-American and 2025 NAIA 10K National Champion Luca Madeo returns to Airey Bros Radio for his second appearance, and a lot has changed since April. In this packed episode, Luca takes us inside his whirlwind summer—winning the German Half Marathon Championship (U23 & Men), running a 28:59 10K PB, placing 17th at the U23 European Championships, and announcing his transfer from the University of the Cumberlands to Adams State University—one of the most dominant distance programs in NCAA history.We dive deep into:

Training & racing across continents
Winning national titles in challenging conditions
Transitioning from NAIA to NCAA DII
The benefits of training at 7,500 feet in Alamosa, Colorado
Representing Germany on the European stage
Long-term goals from NCAA competition to a professional career

Whether you’re a distance running fan, a student-athlete considering a transfer, or just love stories of grit and ambition, this is an inside look at one of Europe’s fastest rising talents.🎧 Listen & Follow Airey Bros Radio:
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Instagram: @luca.madeoo☕ Fueled by:
Black Sheep Endurance Coaching → blacksheependurance.com

Show Notes / Timestamps0:00 – Intro & welcome back to Airey Bros Radio
1:09 – Luca’s whirlwind summer since April
3:02 – Preparing to move to Adams State & training at altitude
4:11 – Winning the German Half Marathon Championship (U23 & Men)
5:54 – Running a 28:59 10K PB & qualifying for Europeans
7:32 – Winning the NAIA Outdoor 10K National Championship
10:57 – First half marathon experience & thoughts on future marathons
12:27 – Deciding between NCAA D1 & D2 programs
14:49 – Why altitude training at Adams State was the deciding factor
18:59 – Training alongside elite & pro-level teammates
19:23 – What Luca will miss about the University of the Cumberlands
21:03 – Under-23 European Championships experience in Norway
23:36 – Getting the German national team kit & competing internationally
27:03 – Heat struggles & learning from racing conditions
30:49 – Recovery period & adapting to altitude mileage
36:04 – First impressions of Norway & Scandinavia
39:19 – Family, soccer, and convincing his sister to run
41:47 – Goals for Adams State & helping the team win nationals
44:16 – Final thoughts & future ambitions