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

The first day of USAs delivered a little bit of everything regardless of your taste, showcasing track’s shortest and longest events a few hours apart as reigning World champions Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson cruised through the 100m prelims and two first-time champions were crowned in the 10,000m.

The stakes weren’t exactly high in in the opening rounds of the 800m, where six of the eight entrants in each heat were guaranteed a spot in the semifinal, but nevertheless all eyes were on 2021 Olympic champ Athing Mu-Nikolayev as she races her way back into national contention following a devastating fall in the final of last year’s Trials.

So far, so good as Mu-Nikolayev picked up a heat win in a season’s best 2:00.06… but the job gets harder from here, with competitors like Sage Hurta-Klecker, Addy Wiley, Ajee’ Wilson, and defending champ Nia Akins looking strong.

The 10,000m finals weren’t blazing fast at first — they rarely are — but their conclusions were as dramatic as racing gets. Two first-time national champions were crowned, but their stories couldn’t be more different: For Nico Young, it was the ascendance of a 23-year-old wunderkind who’s done little but thrive since turning pro last summer.

He took down reigning champ and Olympic bronze medalist Grant Fisher thanks to a 3:57.03 final 1600m and a 27-second final 200m. For Emily Infeld, however, her victory served as long-awaited just desserts for the 35-year-old workhorse who medaled in the event a decade ago, when Young was in middle school.

While there were few surprises in the prelims, the outcomes in the finals were certainly unexpected. Let that be a reminder as you tune in and follow along over the next few days that anything can — and will — happen.

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Hosts: Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Paul Hof-Mahoney & Anderson Emerole

Produced by: Mac Fleet & Jasmine Fehr

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Find everything you need to know about the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships here:

Subscribe: ⁠CITIUS MAG Newsletter⁠

Read: ⁠Distance preview⁠

Read: ⁠Sprints + hurdles preview⁠

Read: ⁠Throws + heptathlon preview⁠

Read: ⁠Jumps + decathlon preview⁠

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OLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

NEW BALANCE: The FuelCell Rebel v5 was built to feel fast—and look the part. With a sleek, race-inspired mesh upper and lightweight PEBA/EVA foam blend, it offers a responsive, energetic ride that’s ideal for everything from steady miles to speedwork. A redesigned heel and added forefoot rubber provide comfort and traction, making this your go-to for runs when you want to pick up the pace. The Rebel V5 shows up every time. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 at newbalance.com or your local running shop today.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet are back on the podcast to give an event-by-event preview of the top athletes, matchups, and storylines to watch at the USATF Outdoor Championships this week. Stay tuned for tons more preview content across our platforms and follow along our socials for comprehensive coverage starting Thursday.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠ + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram⁠

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠

Mentioned in this episode…

Save: USATF Outdoor Championships schedule

Save: Info on our New Balance group runs

Subscribe: CITIUS MAG Newsletter

Read: 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships: Event-By-Event Sprints & Hurdles Preview

Listen: The Final Leg Podcast

Listen: The Paulie Throws Podcast

Listen: Off The Rails With Eric And Aisha

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

OLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

NEW BALANCE: The FuelCell Rebel v5 was built to feel fast—and look the part. With a sleek, race-inspired mesh upper and lightweight PEBA/EVA foam blend, it offers a responsive, energetic ride that’s ideal for everything from steady miles to speedwork. A redesigned heel and added forefoot rubber provide comfort and traction, making this your go-to for runs when you want to pick up the pace. The Rebel V5 shows up every time. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Find the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 at newbalance.com or your local running shop today.⁠⁠⁠⁠

PILLAR PERFORMANCE: We all know that sleep is where the magic happens. That's when your body is rebuilding – but getting into those deeper stages of sleep is what makes the difference between just going to bed and actually recovering. Just mix in a scoop of water about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It's simple, it's clean, it's vegan, and NSF certified. If you're someone who takes their training and recovery seriously, this is something worth trying. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pillarperformance.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you're in North America, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefeed.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS for 15% off your first purchase.

Entries for the 2025 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships closed at midnight on Tuesday. The national championship—which will determine Team USA for the World Championships in Tokyo—will start on July 31st.

Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet hop on the podcast to break down the top contenders, most surprising entries, and key matchups to watch for in Eugene next week. We'll have preview newsletters and podcast episodes coming your way over the next week—stay tuned!

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode…

Read: 2025 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships Entries: Who Is Doubling? Who Scratched? Who Entered What Event?

Read: List of entries for USAs

Listen: Off The Rails With Eric and Aisha

Listen: The Paulie Throws Podcast

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

OLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

NEW BALANCE: The FuelCell Rebel v5 was built to feel fast—and look the part. With a sleek, race-inspired mesh upper and lightweight PEBA/EVA foam blend, it offers a responsive, energetic ride that’s ideal for everything from steady miles to speedwork. A redesigned heel and added forefoot rubber provide comfort and traction, making this your go-to for runs when you want to pick up the pace. The Rebel V5 shows up every time. ⁠⁠⁠Find the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 at newbalance.com or your local running shop today.⁠⁠⁠

PILLAR PERFORMANCE: We all know that sleep is where the magic happens. That's when your body is rebuilding – but getting into those deeper stages of sleep is what makes the difference between just going to bed and actually recovering. Just mix in a scoop of water about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It's simple, it's clean, it's vegan, and NSF certified. If you're someone who takes their training and recovery seriously, this is something worth trying. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pillarperformance.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you're in North America, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefeed.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS for 15% off your first purchase.

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack the biggest highlights from the London Diamond League last weekend. Some of the top performances include:

- Phanuel Koech continued his meteoric rise with a victory over defending World champ Josh Kerr, winning the 1500m in 3:28.82. Kerr was 2nd in a SB of 3:29.37.

- Gudaf Tsegay made history in the most daring way possible, taking the women’s mile out in 59 seconds to solo a 4:11.88, an Ethiopian record and the second fastest time in history behind Faith Kipyegon’s world record.

- Jessica Hull became only the eighth woman in history under 4:15 in the mile with a 4:13.68 runner-up finish, landing at #6 on the all-time list.

- Sinclaire Johnson lowered her mile PB from 4:23.58 to a national record of 4:16.32.

- Running into a tough headwind for the 3rd race in a row, Julien Alfred came away with a PB and WL over 200m in 21.71.

- Oblique Seville dominated a stacked 100m field, running 9.86 into a headwind as the only man to break 10 on the day. Olympic champion Noah Lyles ran 10.00 for 2nd in his first 100m of the season.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Preet Majithia | @preetmajithia on Instagram

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode…

Read: U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships: Entry Observations

Watch: London Diamond League post-race interviews

Listen: Off The Rails: Big Week For Cheaters! First Astronomer CEO and then Ruth Chepngetich – We Have Thoughts!

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

OLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

NEW BALANCE: The FuelCell Rebel v5 was built to feel fast—and look the part. With a sleek, race-inspired mesh upper and lightweight PEBA/EVA foam blend, it offers a responsive, energetic ride that’s ideal for everything from steady miles to speedwork. A redesigned heel and added forefoot rubber provide comfort and traction, making this your go-to for runs when you want to pick up the pace. The Rebel V5 shows up every time. ⁠⁠Find the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 at newbalance.com or your local running shop today.⁠⁠

PILLAR PERFORMANCE: We all know that sleep is where the magic happens. That's when your body is rebuilding – but getting into those deeper stages of sleep is what makes the difference between just going to bed and actually recovering. Just mix in a scoop of water about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It's simple, it's clean, it's vegan, and NSF certified. If you're someone who takes their training and recovery seriously, this is something worth trying. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pillarperformance.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you're in North America, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefeed.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS for 15% off your first purchase.

“My view on running is that it’s the simplest sport — but the fact of that simplicity opens up the possibility that if you think about it deeply and use it deeply in your life, it can be a tool to help you understand the really important and complicated stuff.”

By day, Nick Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic shaping the future of journalism. By early morning and often late evening, he's pounding the pavement between his Brooklyn home and Manhattan office, logging miles that many of us would consider as workouts. But somehow at age 49, he's still getting faster.

In 2021, Nick ran a 2:29 marathon. At 45, he broke the American age group record in the 50K. Now he's the author of “The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports.” It's a book that's part memoir, part meditation on how running shapes us, challenges us, and sometimes reveals more than we're ready to face. It's out this fall.

In this conversation, Nick opens up about growing up in the shadow of a gifted but troubled father, about breaking free from a years-long plateau in his running, and how sport has helped him find meaning both on and off the track. For Nick, running has never just been about the finish line or breaking records. It's about understanding who we are and who we want to be, which sometimes we learn in the process.

We recorded this in April, so there may be a few references to the Boston Marathon which Nick was slated to run as part of Puma's Project 3 but had to withdraw from the race due to a family matter.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guest: Nick Thompson | ⁠@nxthompson on Instagram⁠

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠

Mentioned in this episode…

Pre-order: The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports

Watch: The Running Ground: Nick Thompson On Life, Legacy and the Simplest of Sports

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

OLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

NEW BALANCE: The FuelCell Rebel v5 was built to feel fast—and look the part. With a sleek, race-inspired mesh upper and lightweight PEBA/EVA foam blend, it offers a responsive, energetic ride that’s ideal for everything from steady miles to speedwork. A redesigned heel and added forefoot rubber provide comfort and traction, making this your go-to for runs when you want to pick up the pace. The Rebel V5 shows up every time. ⁠Find the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 at newbalance.com or your local running shop today.⁠

PILLAR PERFORMANCE: We all know that sleep is where the magic happens. That's when your body is rebuilding – but getting into those deeper stages of sleep is what makes the difference between just going to bed and actually recovering. Just mix in a scoop of water about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It's simple, it's clean, it's vegan, and NSF certified. If you're someone who takes their training and recovery seriously, this is something worth trying. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pillarperformance.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you're in North America, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefeed.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS for 15% off your first purchase.