Beyond The Finish Line

In this episode of Beyond The Finish Line, host Brayden Domont sits down with legendary coach, educator, and author Desmond Dunham — one of the nation’s most respected youth and high school track coaches. From humble beginnings to national championships, Coach Dunham shares his journey of perseverance, mentorship, and purpose.

Together, they explore what it truly means to develop young athletes beyond their physical abilities — teaching resilience, discipline, and character both on and off the track. Coach Dunham opens up about his coaching philosophy, the lessons behind his success, and how he empowers students to “run their own race” in life.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, educator, or someone striving to reach your own finish line, this conversation will leave you inspired to push past limits and pursue excellence with purpose.

Welcome back to Beyond The Finish Line, Powered By the Illinois Running News Podcast Network! the show where we dive into the stories, grit, and mindset behind young athletes chasing greatness—on and off the track.

I’m your host, Brayden Domont, and today we’re celebrating a big win. Just last Saturday, this guy took home the title at the IESA Middle School 2-Mile State Championship—finishing his season on the highest possible note.

He’s not slowing down anytime soon, though. This postseason, he’s joining the infamous Dixon Distance Team for the USATF cross country circuit—taking his talents to an even bigger stage.

Please welcome the new state champion himself, Jacob Calvario!

We’ll talk about his journey to the top, what it took to win that state title, and how he’s preparing for the next challenge ahead. So lace up, settle in, and let’s go Beyond The Finish Line.

Welcome back to The Beyond The Finish Line Show — the place where the course meets the conversation. I’m your host, Brayden Domont, and today… we’re doing something special.

The stakes? Huge.

The tension? Real.

The race? Just days away.

This Saturday, two of the top cross country runners in the state — Bentlee Lawrenz and Lucas Pfoutz — will line up at the starting line with one goal: a state championship.

But before the gun goes off, they’re both here — together — for an exclusive, unfiltered conversation. No coaches. No teammates. Just two rivals, face-to-face… with everything on the line.

We’re talking training. Race strategy. Mental toughness. And yes — how they see each other heading into what could be the most important 2 Mile of their middle school careers.

Whether you're a runner, a coach, or just here for the drama — buckle up.

This is Lawrenz vs. Pfoutz: The Showdown at State.

Let’s get into it.

Today, join us as we break down the IESA Middle School Girls season so far — highlighting standout performances, surprises from the sectional meets this past weekend, and what to watch for at next week’s State Championship. We’ll also take our picks for who we think will win the individual races and team titles. It’s been a big year for Illinois Girls Distance Running, with some athletes even eyeing the sub‑11‑minute barrier… Stay tuned for all the action at this weekend’s state championship!

Today, join along as we break down the IESA Middle School season so far and what we can learn from the sectional meets this weekend and what to expect for the State Championship next week. A big year for Illinois Distance Running with even some running claiming they can break the 10-minute barrier... Stay Tuned for this weekends state championship.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Beyond The Finish Line. I'm your host, Brayden Domont, and today’s episode is one you’re definitely going to want to lean in for—especially if you’re an athlete, a coach, or just someone who’s obsessed with unlocking human performance.

Joining me today is someone who’s been flipping the script on traditional training philosophies—Coach Tony Holler. He’s the creator of the “Feed the Cats” sprint-based training system, a speaker, a thought leader, and a coach who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo when it comes to how we develop speed, performance, and recovery.

We dig into everything from why less can actually be more when it comes to training, to how mindset, measurement, and recovery are changing the game—not just in track and field, but across all sports.

So whether you're on the track, in the weight room, or simply trying to push past your limits in any arena—this conversation is for you.

Let’s get into it.

Welcome back to Beyond the Finish Line, powered by the Illinois Running News Podcast Network. I’m your host, Brayden Domont, and today we’ve got a fascinating conversation for all you track & field die‑hards, media nerds, and anyone curious about what it takes to cover the sport from the inside.

My guest today is Andrew Brown — the guy behind social media for MileSplit, FloTrack, MileSplit Carolinas, and some of the nation’s top track & field meets. He’s been in the trenches, running media operations, building digital platforms, and telling stories about the people who put it all on the line.

We dig deep into how he got his start doing media coverage while at Furman, and what it was like being thrust into the moment when he got to be on the track just as Grant Fisher shattered the indoor 5,000m world record. We talk about the pressure, the logistics, the split‑second decisions, and so much more behind the scenes of covering a world‑record performance.

So whether you’re an athlete, coach, meet promoter, or just someone curious about how digital media and live meets intertwine — this one’s for you.

Let’s get into it.

Today on the show, I’m joined by one of the most electrifying young distance runners in the country — Ruel Newberry. As just a freshman at Denton Guyer High School in Texas, Ruel dropped jaw-dropping times with an 8:57 in the 3200 and a 14:24 5K in cross country — performances that would be elite at any level, let alone for a first-year high school athlete. In this episode, we dive into Ruel’s mindset, his training approach, how he handles pressure, and what’s driving him as he continues to break barriers. Whether you're deep in the running world or just love stories of young talent doing big things, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we sit down with Coach Chris Quick, the legendary cross country and track & field coach from Palatine High School, to dive into the mindset, philosophy, and stories behind one of Illinois’ most respected coaching careers.

From leading his teams to multiple state podium finishes—including a Class 3A state championship in 2011—to developing over 50 collegiate athletes, Coach Quick shares what it takes to build not just fast runners, but strong, resilient individuals. We talk about:

His coaching journey and the evolution of Palatine's running culture

The power of consistency, community, and high standards

Lessons learned from both victory and defeat

The creation of the Distance Night in Palatine and the Palatine Pack TFCC Club

What young coaches and athletes need to hear today

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or just someone who loves a good story about leadership and impact—you’ll find inspiration in Coach Quick’s words.

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.