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

Welcome to the CITIUS MAG Podcast. I'm Chris Chavez. On today's show, we recap the 2022 U.S. Cross Country Championships and share who is headed to represent Team USA at the World Cross Country Championships next month in Australia. Mac tells us a bit about his trip to Boulder, where the On Athletics Club’s videos have blown up the track internet. Plus, it’s going to be a remarkable weekend of indoor track so we pick some of the key races to watch at the Lilac Grand Prix, Dr. Sander Invitational, BU Terrier Classic and the Razorback Invitational.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

"I think we just changed it into a sprint. Before you had to pace yourself through the 400m hurdles and there was this slow build...Just to put that much speed in the beginning over the first three hurdles vs. what it used to be, we're going all out."

2016 Olympic champion, 2019 world champion, former world record holder and one of the most accomplished female 400m hurdles athletes of all time, Dalilah Muhammad joins The CITIUS MAG Podcast. 

Born in Jamaica, Queens and discovered by NY Novas Track Club at the age of 4. She went on to become a World Youth Champion, NCAA All-American at USC and then pro before being the most decorated 400m hurdler in American history. She's got a world championship medal of every color after taking bronze last year in the 400m hurdles while pretty injured. We'll be discussing how she's managed her longevity to become one of the most accomplished athletes of her generation, her struggles and triumphs and her thoughts on the future of the 400m hurdles led by Sydney McLaughlin, herself and Femke Bol. Oh...also a little 800m talk? 

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

On today's show, we had some records fall and really close finishes at the Houston Half. The NCAA collegiate season heated up with some fantastic sprint performances that are putting all-time lists and records on watch. Marc Scott is on the move to Kenya. A little more Millrose hype because why not and a USATF Cross Country preview.

HOUSTON HALF MARATHON – Unpacking all of the top performances from the Houston including Emily Sisson setting a new American record by finishing in 1:06:52, becoming the first American woman to break the 1:07 barrier.

NCAA TRACK RECAP – Britton Wilson broke the NCAA record in 1:25.16, which is faster than Athing Mu's collegiate record of 1:25.80. This makes makes her the seventh-fastest American woman and tenth-fastest woman in history. More highlights from the weekend including Talitha Diggs, Matthew Boling, Jasmine Moore, Masai Russell + more. 

MARC SCOTT JOINS THE NN RUNNING TEAM – After leaving the Bowerman Track Club, Marc Scott  is planning to split his time between UK and Kenya and join Eliud Kipchoge's group under coach Patrick Sang in Kaptagat.

MORE MILLROSE HYPE – Athing Mu headlines the women's 600m and will race against Natoya Goule, Shamier Little, Olivia Baker and Sophia Gorriaran. The world record is 1:23.44.

PREVIEWING USATF CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – The 2023 USATF Cross Country Championships will be held on January 21, 2023, at Pole Green Park in Richmond, VA. Spots are on the line for the World Cross Country Championships. 

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

“It’s hard to not compare yourself but so much has changed. It’s not to say that you can’t get back there – trying to take a different route may get you somewhere better. I’m focusing a lot more on the marathon going forward too. Before, I had bounced back and forth from the track to the road. I think that will maybe help us maybe maximize myself there. That’s probably the one event I probably have a PR left in. Reinventing myself a little bit by focusing on that.”

This is Molly Huddle's is her first time back on the CITIUS MAG Podcast since being guest No. 6 way back in March 2017. She recently made her postpartum return to high-level competitive racing and just finished an impressive fifth place at the Houston Half Marathon in 1:10:01 – almost nine months after welcoming her daughter. She secured her mark for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Join us as we talk about her journey back to the starting line and what it takes to balance motherhood and elite running.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

"We don't talk about winning national championships...What may sound close to it is – we want to execute a great team race in moments that matter. So language we're really careful about. Winning, second, third, fourth, sixth – those are outcomes. I gotta teach this stuff the years that we get 19th. The teaching is the same."

We made it happen. Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Coach Mike Smith of Northern Arizona University. With more than 20 years of coaching experience under his belt, Coach Smith has turned the Northern Arizona cross country program into a dynasty. Since joining the team in 2016, the Lumberjacks have won multiple Big Sky Conference Championships for both men and women. The men’s team has won six national titles in the past seven years. Coach Smith has been at the helm for five of those. He’s produced multiple All-Americans and Olympians. He is a five-time USTFCCCA National Men's Coach of the Year. In this chat, we'll be discussing his coaching philosophy and what he's learned on the job to create a winning culture. Enjoy!

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

On this week's show, it's silly season in the track and field world with athletes switching teams and signing new contracts. The Boston Marathon unveiled its deepest fields maybe ever. The Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile and men's 800 fields were released. World Athletics has posted the schedule for all athletics action at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

3:25 – Recent athlete signings & moves: Natosha Rogers to PUMA Elite | Josette Norris to On Athletics Club | David Ribich to Union Athletics Club | Charlie Grice, Eric Avila to Very Nice Track Club | Paige Stoner, Cruz Culpepper to HOKA NAZ Elite | Stephanie Bruce unretires, re-signs with HOKA NAZ Elite 

11:15 – Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile: Olli Hoare is back to defend his Wanamaker mile title after setting the indoor Australian mile record with last year's 3:50.83 victory. His biggest challengers this year include Cole Hocker, Mario Garcia Romo, Yared Nuguse, Johnny Gregorek, Sam Tanner, Sam Prakel, Neil Gourley + more.

15:57 – Millrose Games Men's 800m: Bryce Hoppel returns after last year's victory but will be up against Clayton Murphy, Noah Kibet and Cade Flatt.

18:09 – The Boston Marathon fields include Eliud Kipchoge, Evan Chebet, Benson Kipruto, Albert Korir, Daniel Do Nascimento, Conner Mantz and Scott Fauble on the men's side. There are five women with sub-2:18 marathon PRs and the big stars are Amane Beriso, Sharon Lokedi, Lonah Salpeter, Sara Hall, Gotytom Gebreslase, Emma Bates and Edna Kiplagat.

26:57 – World Athletics' 2024 Olympic schedule has all evening finals. Track and field at the Games will be held from Aug. 1 to 11.

32:58 – Buy or Sell: World Bests, World Record Pending Ratification*, Off Distances, Jake Wightman Losing, Bobby Kersee, Track Meets In Los Angeles.

42:17 – What else is happening inside CITIUS MAG

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

“I think I was ready for a change and I wanted to really see where I could keep growing as an athlete...I wanted that team environment. I took a visit to the On Athletics Club in October and my gut just said, ‘This is where you need to be to be successful.’"

Josette Norris was previously a guest on this show back in October 2021 but she’s back now after signing a new contract with On and has joined the On Athletics Club. We talk about how the move came together, why she’s excited to workout with Alicia Monson and Sage Hurta and how she overcame some mental battles during last year’s outdoor season. She is making her OAC debut at the Dr. Sander Invitational on Jan. 28 and then racing the women’s Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games on Feb. 11.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

"I want to consistently compete for podium finishes in the U.S. road racing scene. I'll probably still dabble with the track a little bit as well. I have unfinished business there. My big goals for this year are to be more consistently competitive for titles and also gain confidence going into 2024." 2022 USATF marathon champion Paige Stoner has signed a pro contract and joined HOKA NAZ Elite and is training under coach Alan Culpepper in Flagstaff, Arizona. She is coming off a victory at the California International Marathon where she took 51 seconds off the course record with a personal best of 2:26:02. The time puts her at No. 21 on the U.S. all-time list and she is just 26 years old. In this episode, we discuss why she is joining the team, what she’s most excited about and how she took a bet on herself by self-coaching herself for much of last year. 

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

“You’re just thinking of everything to get yourself through it. I was chatting with a lot of people down there. In hearing people’s stories, you realize everyone has their own story and they have something in their past that they’re there for now. That’s when I realized when I was on the course that it was all coming to me. I never had that experience before where you’re asking for help and anything to get you going.”

My guest for this episode is former Ole Miss standout Sean Tobin who just broke the record for the fastest Antartic marathon in history. Last minth, the Irish star went down to the Earth’s southernmost continent and ran 2:53:33 to win the Antarctic Ice Marathon and broke the previous record of 2:54:54 held by USA’s Mike Wardian. It was 6.8 degrees Fahrenheit but with super tough footing. He described it as one of the toughest things he’s ever done. He’s someone whose run super well on the track including personal bests of 3:57 for the mile and 13:33 for 5K. Hear more about how he pulled this off and what it took to dig deep mentally and physically to walk away with the record.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

In 2023, the CITIUS MAG Podcast will try to bring you a weekly podcast that unpacks some of the biggest news stories and headlines in track and field with our team's own commentary, analysis and occasionally jokes.

In this episode Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Jasmine Todd cover:

– What are we most excited and optimistic about in 2023?

– Houston Half Marathon fields were announced ahead of its running on Jan. 15. U.S. recorder holder Emily Sisson headlines the women's field but will be up against Hiwot Gebrekidan and Tirunesh Dibaba. Fan favorites Conner Mantz and Edward Cheserek are in the men's field but face three East African men who have broken 60 minutes. Vanessa Fraser and Jenny Simpson will be making their debuts at 13.1 miles.

– What events are you looking forward to at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Feb. 3 and Millrose Games on Feb. 11th.

– 'Buy or Sell' features a discussion on World Athletics' Olympic qualifying standards, Handicap Races, World Cross Country Mixed Gender Relay, the Devon Allen rule change and the closing of The Wild Duck. 

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel