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

The Grand Slam Track series rolls into iconic Franklin Field and we’ve got all the biggest moments covered in this jam-packed episode. Join Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole, Paul Hof-Mahoney, and Aisha Praught-Leer as they break down all the drama, surprises, and standout performances from Day 1 of Grand Slam Track: Philadelphia.

Some of today's highlights include:

— Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stuns the field in the 200m, clocking her first sub-22 with a blazing 21.99 to edge Olympic champ Gabby Thomas (22.10).

— Marco Arop dominates a stacked 800m, pulling away with authority to win in 1:43.38, a full second clear of World Indoor champ Josh Hoey.

— Jessica Hull makes it honest in the 1500m, but Diribe Welteji’s closing speed seals the win in 3:58.04, just ahead of Hull’s 3:58.36.

— Kenny Bednarek stays hot, earning his third straight 200m win with a smooth 19.95.

— Ackera Nugent sets a Franklin Field record in the 100m hurdles, winning in 12.44 over Tia Jones (12.60), while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone places fifth in her short hurdles debut at 12.70.

We’ll be back tomorrow to break down Day 2 from Philly!

The Grand Slam Track series heads to historic Franklin Field and we’re breaking it all down in this jam-packed episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole and Aisha Praught-Leer as the crew previews the Philly Slam from every angle—diving into the matchups, storylines, and athletes you won’t want to miss.

We highlight the key events and rivalries to watch, including:

– Kenny Bednarek vs. Fred Kerley and the rest of a stacked men’s short sprints field

– Gabby Thomas dropping back down to the 100m to battle Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Brittany Brown

– The return of Olympic 400m champ Steven Gardiner and his showdown with Matthew Hudson-Smith

– Marileidy Paulino’s redemption arc in the women’s 400m

– Dylan Beard’s Cinderella story in the short hurdles

– Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s last hurrah in the 400m hurdles before switching events

– Deep fields in both men’s and women’s distance events, with stars like Grant Fisher, Cole Hocker, Nikki Hiltz, and Diribe Welteji going head-to-head with world-class Challengers

Plus, we preview which athletes are poised to cash in—or crash out—under the Grand Slam Track’s high-stakes scoring system.

Whether you’re watching live on Peacock or tuning in on The CW, this episode will get you prepped and pumped for the action ahead. Be sure to subscribe to the CITIUS MAG Podcast on Apple or Spotify and follow along all weekend on YouTube.

Read the full CITIUS MAG Preview here.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez, Eric Jenkins | @_ericjenkins, Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme, Aisha Praught-Leer | @aishapraughtleer

“I’m patient. I call it aggressively patient. I’m going hard for it all — but if it doesn’t happen, there’s still a process and I chip away for next time. That’s how you become a champion. You don’t just go out there and run and win. You have to have a journey and work hard. I’m always going hard.”

Welcome back to Office Hours on the CITIUS MAG Podcast, where we explore the philosophy of the coaches who push the edges of human potential with some of the best athletes in track and field.

Today's guest is someone who has climbed to some of the highest highs in the sport. Joanna Hayes is an Olympic gold medalist, a Hall of Famer, and currently the director of track and field and cross country at her alma mater UCLA. In 2024, she was named USATF's Coach of the Year — a recognition not just for her competitive pedigree, but her ability to cultivate greatness in others.

She's coached legends like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Rai Benjamin, ushered in record-breaking seasons at both USC and UCLA, and she's done it all while remaining grounded in values of respect, discipline, family, and joy. In this conversation, we explore what success does and doesn't change about how she leads, what it feels like to return to the place where it all started, the realities of coaching both elite professionals and college athletes and how the two are more connected than you think.

We talk about legacy, resilience, motherhood, and what it means to show up not just as a coach, but as a human being who makes space for culture, connection, and yes, sometimes TikToks and fresh fits. Coach Hayes's story is one of full circle moments and forward motion. She's creating a new chapter at UCLA and you'll hear in this conversation why it's one worth watching and rooting for.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guest: Joanna Hayes | @joannadhayes on Instagram

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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.

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.

GRAND SLAM TRACK: This isn't your average track meet. This is Grand Slam Track, where legends are made, records fall, and the stakes are high. After a sellout crowd in Miami and $100,000 awarded to each Slam champion, the league now heads to one of the most iconic stages in American track: Franklin Field in Philadelphia, May 30th-June 1st. Grab your tickets now at ⁠GrandSlamTrack.com⁠ and witness it all packed into one unforgettable weekend. 

VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS’ new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. ⁠Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!

This week, Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack: 

Rabat Diamond League Highlights:

— Beatrice Chebet drops 8:11.56 in the women’s 3000m, the second-fastest time in history and maybe the clean world record. She won by 15+ seconds.

— In an absolutely stunning upset, Jonah Koech wins the men’s 1500m in 3:31.43, running a 7-second PB in his Diamond League debut. Went from 13th to 1st on the last lap.

— Germany’s Frederik Ruppert nearly breaks the European steeplechase record with a shocking 8:01.49 behind Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali, who ran a world-leading 8:00.70, who is rounding into form.

— Tshepiso Masalela continues his rise, beating Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi with a world-leading 1:42.70 in the 800m. He is the real deal.

— Femke Bol extends her Diamond League win streak with a 52.46 in the 400m hurdles — her fastest-ever season opener.

 Sound Running Track Fest Highlights (Los Angeles):

— Olympic champ Athing Mu returns to racing, placing 2nd in a tactical 1500m (4:10.70), showing signs of progression.

— Mexico’s Eduardo Herrera steals the show with a 12:58.57 5000m to break Arturo Barrios’ outdoor national record, closing in a blistering 57.38.

— Jake Wightman, in his first race without his father coaching him, takes the men’s 1500m in 3:35.26 — a controlled, confident return to form.

— NCAA standout Klaudia Kazimierska clocks 4:03.26 to become the third-fastest collegian ever in the women’s 1500m.

— Sage Hurta Klecker wins the women’s 800m in 1:59.02 and is in a good spot for this point in the season. Mark English wins the men’s race in 1:44.75.

+ More takeaways and thoughts in the show.

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

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.

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.

GRAND SLAM TRACK: This isn't your average track meet. This is Grand Slam Track, where legends are made, records fall, and the stakes are high. After a sellout crowd in Miami and $100,000 awarded to each Slam champion, the league now heads to one of the most iconic stages in American track: Franklin Field in Philadelphia, May 30th-June 1st. Grab your tickets now at ⁠⁠GrandSlamTrack.com⁠⁠ and witness it all packed into one unforgettable weekend. 

VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS’ new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. ⁠⁠Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!

Imagine this: you're standing inside a trendy L.A. grocery store—maybe it's Erewhon. You've got a cooler full of canned soda that claims to be good for your gut. You're not a celebrity and you're not even the founder of the company. You're just a guy with a vision, a few samples, and the audacity to talk your way into a product launch.

That was Steven Vigilante back in 2018. Today, Olipop—the better-for-you soda brand that he helped bring to life—is in more than 30,000 stores across the country. They've partnered with Barbie, NASCAR, the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and somehow even made it into a Luke Combs music video.

But it didn't start there. Steven cut his teeth in venture capital, betting early on health forward brands. When he saw the potential in a fiber-packed functional soda, he jumped in—first as an advisor, and then as the architect behind some of the boldest growth and partnership strategies in beverage today.

So how do you build a soda brand that dares to take on the likes of Coke and Pepsi? One that trades sugar for science and still wins hearts and taste buds across America? In addition to all of that, they're also major partners for CITIUS MAG.

This is the latest episode of The Build with Steven Vigilante, Director of Media and Partnerships at Olipop, on staying scrappy, scaling smart, and crafting a new kind of soda, one can at a time.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Steven Vigilante | @stevenvigilante on X

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

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.

GRAND SLAM TRACK: This isn't your average track meet. This is Grand Slam Track, where legends are made, records fall, and the stakes are high. After a sellout crowd in Miami and $100,000 awarded to each Slam champion, the league now heads to one of the most iconic stages in American track: Franklin Field in Philadelphia, May 30th-June 1st. Grab your tickets now at ⁠⁠GrandSlamTrack.com⁠⁠ and witness it all packed into one unforgettable weekend. 

VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS’ new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. ⁠⁠Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!