Welcome back to another episode of Beyond the Finish Line, where we go deeper than the stopwatch and explore the stories that truly define our athletes. I’m your host, Brayden Domont, and today’s guest is someone whose heart and hustle have already left a mark far beyond the track.

Joining us is Desmond Marino — a rising star in the world of track and field and the reigning Middle School Nike Outdoor Nationals Mile Champion. But Desmond’s story is about so much more than just medals and mile times. He runs with a purpose — dedicating every stride to his late grandfather, and drawing strength from his family and friends along the way.

Desmond has faced real adversity, and yet, through grit, resilience, and an unwavering sense of purpose, he’s turned pain into power and dreams into reality. Today, we’ll hear how he’s grown through the struggle, what fuels his fire, and what’s next on the horizon for this young champion.

Stick with us — this is one story you don’t want to miss.

What’s up everyone, and welcome back to The Beyond The Finish Line Show — the show where we dive into the world of high school track and cross country, one stride at a time.

*I’m your host Brayden Domont, and today’s episode is one I’ve been really looking forward to — especially if you're a runner, coach, or just a fan of the Illinois high school running scene.

Joining me today is someone who’s made a serious impact in the community with his rankings, insights, and passion for the sport — Brennan McNamara, the mind behind BmansRankings on Instagram.

If you follow high school XC and track in Illinois, chances are you’ve seen his posts — the team and individual rankings, breakout athlete shoutouts, power moves throughout the season. Brennan’s built something that’s become a go-to source for athletes, fans, and even coaches across the state.

Today, we’re going to pull back the curtain on how he puts it all together — the process, the challenges, the surprises — plus we’ll get his take on the upcoming season, teams to watch, and some bold predictions.

So whether you're grinding out tempo runs or just cooling down, you're gonna want to stick around for this one.

Let’s get into it.

Today’s guest is someone you’re going to want to keep your eyes on — Dominic Matthias. He’s a rising star out of Moore High School in Oklahoma, and even though he’s still early in his high school career, his times already speak for themselves. We’re talking 3:56 in the 1500m, a 1:53 in the 800, and some seriously strong performances across multiple distances — both on the track and in cross country.

But beyond the stopwatch, Dominic brings a work ethic, focus, and level-headedness that’s rare to see at his age. He’s not just running fast — he’s building something.

So today, we’re going to talk about the grind, the growth, and the goals that are shaping his journey. We’ll get into race strategy, pre-race routines, and even some off-the-track stuff to get a fuller picture of the person behind the performances.

Whether you’re a fellow runner, a coach, or just someone who loves seeing young athletes chase greatness — this is a conversation for you.

So let’s get into it.

In this episode, we sit down with Carson Vittorio—former MileSplit IL contributor, founder of Illinois Running News, and one of the most well-connected voices in the state’s distance running scene.

Carson brings a unique perspective from both sides of the sport: as a former athlete and now as a coach, media creator, and program director. We dive into the rapid rise of Illinois high school distance running, how athlete exposure and development are changing, and what’s fueling this new wave of elite performances.

He also shares insight into recent NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) developments affecting high school and collegiate runners, and talks about his decision to leave a national media outlet to build his own independent platform—now nearing 7,000 followers.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or just passionate about the future of the sport, this conversation offers a rare look behind the scenes of Illinois running.

Today I sit down with a 3x National Champion from North Carolina, Colby McCollum!

She is the most authentic and honest guests that I’ve ever had on as she discusses her training, mindset before big races, and the pressure of trying to live up to the hype of her team. Wherever you are listening to this please give us a follow and now enjoy my uninterrupted conversation with Colby McCullom!

Today I sit down with Freshman Mile National Champion, Sawyer Hutton. This guy is very knowledgeable about training and how to race correctly when it matters most. We dive into his injury during cross country season and how he bounced back from it, his 8:29 3k at Nike Outdoor Nationals, and how he plans to run and race at Woodbridge later this season. I truly think you will learn a lot from his wisdom and knowledge on the sport. Without Further ado, please enjoy my uninterrupted conversation with Sawyer Hutton!

In Today's episode of Road To XC, I sit down with an incoming sophomore from Charlotte, NC. His name is Joshua Palmer and he's the fastest Freshman Miler from the state of North Carolina ever! He is super knowledgeable on this sport and how to deal with pressure and we dive into his love for winning and the sport of running. He is somebody you need to keep an eye on the next couple of years and have him on the map as a serious threat for a national title soon. Without further ado, please enjoy my conversation with Joshua Palmer!

Today I sit down with the 3rd fastest 7th grade miler in the 2025 track season. He has run 4:35 in the mile and he recently went 10:45 in the 2 mile for cross country. We discuss his goals for this upcoming cross-country season, the impact his team has made on him as a runner and as a person, his race strategy, and he breaks down his Hoka Festival of Miles race where he ran 4:35 in the full mile! I think you will genuinely enjoy and learn a lot from this episode, without further ado, please enjoy my uninterrupted conversation with Lucas Pfoutz

In this Episode, I sit down with Lucas Houlihan, an incoming sophomore from Joliet High School who already has heads turning when he runs. This guy is so wise and talks a lot about patience and trusting the process. He's got big plans for this upcoming cross country season and you need to keep your eye on him as one to watch this season. Without further ado, please enjoy my uninterrupted converation with Lucas Houlihan!

This week's guest is Emiliano Vieyra. He is a ranked runner from Illinois who is in 8th grade and is a 2x All State runner. He has been considered an underdog coming into this track season and he was able to give us some good insights on his mentality coming into this season, his training, and how he plans on making a name for himself nationally. Everyone at the Beyond the Finish Line team hopes you enjoy this episode!!