Valery Tobias — All-American and collegiate record holder from the University of Texas — is back on Team USA after a runner-up finish at the USATF Indoor Championships for the Brooks Beasts.

Tobias has run 53.4 for 400 meters and 1:59 for 800 meters multiple times and now becomes just the third woman in U.S. history to make back-to-back Indoor World Championship teams, joining Ajee Wilson and Joetta Clark Diggs.

In this episode of House of Track, the conversation moves beyond the results. Valery talks about pre-race nerves, record-setting runs, and the community built around the Brooks Beasts. From teammates to training environment, the discussion explores how finding your people can lead to confidence and podium success. She also shares the confidence that comes from embracing her identity as a proud Mexican-American athlete who brings personality and energy to race day.

It's Track AND FIELD

This week we sit down with one of the greatest horizontal jumpers in U.S. history — Marquis Dendy

• 10-time Team USA representative.
• 2016 World Indoor Champion.
• Tokyo Olympian.
• Bowerman Award winner.

The discussion is around Dendy's impressive career, including his journey from high school to the Olympics, his experiences with injuries, and the mental resilience required in track and field. Dendy shares insights on the importance of youth championships, the dynamics of team sports, and his vision for giving back to the community.

The conversation highlights the emotional aspects of competition and the significance of identity in sports, all while emphasizing the need for mental strength in overcoming challenges.

Episode Notes:

This episode explores what it means to trust your partner as your coach and to believe that the coach to athlete relationship is a true partnership.

Sinclaire Johnson’s career has included its share of setbacks, but it has also been defined by powerful comebacks. This past year was the latter. Two American records, a Merrie Mile win in Hawaii, and a return to the World 1500m final marked a turning point as she enters the prime of her career.

That trust and clarity come through in this conversation on House of Track, recorded as her first interview following a runner-up finish at the New Balance Grand Prix and her debut representing HOKA.

Joining her is her coach and fiancé, Craig Nowak, as the two open up about their dynamic. Coaching, training, racing, mentality, and what it looks like when belief and communication guide the process are all part of the discussion.

Sinclaire Johnson is a 2022 U.S. champion in the 1500m, an NCAA champion, and the American record holder in the mile. A multi-time Team USA representative, she has competed in multiple World Championships and returned to the World 1500m final this past season. In 2024, she set two American records and captured the Merrie Mile title in Honolulu, continuing a career defined by resilience and elite performance. She currently competes professionally representing HOKA.

Craig Nowak is a multiple-time NCAA All-American with experience as both a U.S. Championship finalist and Olympic Trials finalist. Widely regarded as one of the world’s premier pacers, Craig has helped shape some of the fastest races in modern middle-distance running. As both coach and partner, he brings an athlete-first approach grounded in trust, communication, and long-term development, helping guide Sinclaire’s career at the highest level of the sport.

Welcome to House of Track.

Each episode, we have conversations around the sport of track and field and the people who make it so compelling to follow.

Wherever you’re listening from, we’re glad you’re here. If you enjoy the episode, consider leaving a review and following us on social at @houseoftrack.hot.

Today’s  guest is Ahmed Muhumed, one of the most versatile distance runners in the U.S., competing at a high level across cross country, track, and the roads.

From a collegiate career at Boise State and Florida State to becoming one of the country’s top professionals, Ahmed’s path has been defined by steady progression and belief in long-term development. Since turning pro, he’s earned multiple national titles on the roads, represented Team USA on the world stage, and continued to lower his personal bests from the 1500 meters through the 10,000.

In recent seasons, Ahmed has placed among the best at USATF Championships, become the seventh-fastest American ever in the 10,000 meters, and secured qualification for the 2026 World Cross Country Championships. But beyond the results, his career reflects patience, adaptability, and an ability to show up year after year across disciplines.
The hour conversation explores the mentors and communities that shaped Ahmed, and what it’s meant to navigate the sport as a Somali American athlete.
From being “thrown to the wolves” early in his career to representing something bigger than himself on the world stage, this episode centers on growth, perspective, and running as more than results.
“I run for more than myself. The purpose is far greater than just running.”

Listen, leave a review and welcome to House of Track.