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

Biya Simbassa took many American track and field fans by surprise on Sunday morning when they awoke to results from the Valencia Marathon and saw that the 31-year-old notched a personal best by nearly four minutes to run 2:06:53. The performance was good for 17th place in the race but moved him to No. 4 on the U.S. all-time list. Only Khalid Khannouchi (2:05:38), Galen Rupp (2:06:07) and Ryan Hall (2:06:17) have run faster. Back in 2022, we paid a visit to Flagstaff, Ariz. for a video featuring Simbassa and also recorded a podcast episode detailing his career path from being born in Ethiopia, moving to the United States in 2007 and then going through the school system. He started running in high school in Minnesota and then continued his development at Iowa Central Community College before transferring to Oklahoma.  After graduating, he was coached by Scott Simmons in Colorado Springs before signing a pro contract with Under Armour to be part of the Dark Sky Distance Project with coach Stephen Haas. In 2023, Simbassa started working with Hall as his coach. The partnership lasted until this summer before Hall decided to step back from coaching. Simbassa worked with Ian Carter (a McKirdy Trained coach, who also was coached by Hall) for the Valencia Marathon build-up. CITIUS MAG spoke with Simbassa on Thursday afternoon to get details on how the performance came about. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Biya Simbassa | @simba_runner Time stamps: 3:19 - Reflections coming off the Valencia Marathon  5:12 - Processing the Olympic Marathon Trials  6:59 - Thoughts on whether he could’ve made the Olympic team 8:17 - When he knew the marathon was his event 11:15 - Feelings after not making Olympic team 13:00 - Why he races so often 17:14 - Thoughts on Ryan Hall stepping away as his coach 18:27 - Ian Carter becoming his new coach 19:42 - Why he landed on racing Valencia 20:39 - Goals and expectations heading into Valencia 23:55 - How he stayed composed after the halfway split  27:12 - Valencia course + atmosphere 30:13 - Shoe choice for the race 32:00 - Fueling throughout the race  33:44 - Plans for what’s next  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“A lot of the time it comes down to whether I’d rather set a world record in February or win the World Championships and defend my title in September. There's a lot that goes into it, but I think I'm fast enough to go after a world record in a few events.” My guest for today's episode is none other than Cole Hocker, the 23-year-old American middle distance star who shocked the world at the Paris Olympics by winning gold in the men's 1500m. While the pre-race buzz centered on Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr, it was Cole who flew under the radar and stormed to victory in an Olympic record of 3:27.65. If you go back into our podcast archives, you can find an episode that we did with Cole in Paris just 48 hours after his victory. It was really cool to have that moment etched in time and to hear how fresh his thoughts and feelings were. We touch on life since Paris in this conversation. From his breakout performance in Tokyo to the Olympic triumph in Paris, Cole has established himself as one of the best middle distance runners in the world. We reflect on his incredible 2024 season and learn how he's gearing up for another big year with the World Championships in Tokyo on the horizon. Plus his participation in Grand Slam track's inaugural season. Cole is also here to announce that one of his first races in 2025 will be the 3000m at the iconic Millrose Games this February in New York City. You can get your tickets at the Armory's website. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Cole Hocker | @colehocker on Instagram Time stamps: 4:02 - Highlights since becoming the 1500m Olympic champion 6:25 - Plans looking ahead to 2025 8:05 - What recovery looked like for him post-Olympics 9:00 - Racing the 3000m at Millrose Games announcement 10:33- How he’s getting ready to move up to the 3K 11:50 - Why he’s racing the 3K instead of the mile at Millrose  17:13 - Going after the 3K world record  18:31 - Looking ahead to race plans for the 2025 season  22:42 - Ways he’s hoping to continue improving  25:44 - Deciding to sign with Grand Slam Track 28:35 - When he’ll start race-specific training  29:24 - His upcoming 600m race with Fred Kerley SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“I know that I have to come in even stronger, even faster, even better. I'm looking to break the world record indoors this season and win the world indoor title. That’s not going to come with me still living in being an Olympic champion from August. We've got to do it again.” My guest for today's episode is Masai Russell, the Olympic champion in the 100m hurdles and one of track's brightest new stars. Masai's gold medal performance in Paris wasn't just a victory; it was a statement after a season filled with ups and downs and doubts. She channeled sheer will and resilience to seize the biggest title of her career crossing the finish line in a jaw-dropping photo finish that left fans around the world celebrating her triumph. In this episode, Masai reflects on her remarkable 2024 season, the challenges she overcame to reach the top, and how she's already back to work with even bigger plans for 2025. There's also some great mindset talk in this conversation.  Plus, she's here to announce one of her first races of 2025 will be the 60m hurdles at the Millrose Games. This upcoming February, you can get your tickets on the Armory's website. She'll bring the same fearless energy that made her an Olympic champion. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Masai Russell | @masai_russell on Instagram Time stamps: 3:20 - How life has been since becoming the 100m hurdles Olympic champion 4:17 - Opportunities since winning the Olympics 6:28 - Plans for racing indoor season  8:06 - Millrose annoucement: 60m hurdles 12:03 - How she progresses training to peak at the right meets 16:07 - What makes her stand out against her competitors  21:03 - The night and day leading into the Olympic final  26:47 - When the reality of becoming the Olympic champion sunk in  29:23 - How her experience at Bullis High School shaped her mindset  35:53 - Looking ahead to future races  41:18 - More reflections on winning the Olympics 44:05 - What it’s going to take to top 2024 in 2025 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“The pieces were there – but getting them to mesh and come together, we had to embrace the imperfect. We had to have these women realize that if you're scared of something, the only way to get over that fear is to conquer it. That was what this championship was for a lot of the women.  My guest for today's episode is Diljeet Taylor, Head Coach of BYU’s women's cross country and track team. She's one of the most inspiring leaders in the sport. Coach Taylor just wrapped up a storybook season by guiding BYU to the 2024 NCAA Cross Country women's team title. It's their second national championship under her leadership and the program's sixth overall. This victory wasn't just about redemption. It was about resilience one year after a devastating 14th place finish at NCAAs – the lowest moment of her coaching career. Coach Taylor and her team embraced the imperfect, leaned into their depth, and executed when it mattered most. From butterfly mantras to pajama parties to brilliant race strategies, Coach Taylor proved that with belief and preparation, anything is possible. In today's conversation, we talked about BYU’s incredible turnaround, her approach to coaching All-Americans and building a winning culture, and why this year was a testament to her mantra, ‘Embrace the imperfect.’ Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Diljeet Taylor | @diljeetdosanjhtaylor on Instagram Time stamps: 3:33 - Reflections coming off BYU’s team title at NCAAs  5:03 - Finishing 14th at the 2023 Championship to winning in 2024 8:47 - What she said to her athletes after NCAAs last year  10:16 - How her coaching style has changed 12:27 - Lexy Halladay-Lowry’s progression + working through an injury to finish 14th 14:22 - What the evening was like with the team the night before NCAAs 21:03 - Why the team got off social media the month leading up to NCAAs 23:06 - “The Night Before Nationals” book 25:46 - Frank Gagliano’s impact on her as a mentor  26:55 - Overcoming last year’s disappointment at NCAAs 29:12 - Goals and expectations heading into this year’s race  34:05 - How the race played out  37:27 - How the team celebrated winning  42:38 - Looking ahead to next year’s team  45:01 - What she hopes her legacy will be 48:49 - Connecting with other female coaches  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“The only magic thing about running is consistency. Consistent competence equals eventual excellence. That's kind of my mantra. So we try to stay healthy so that we can be consistent. We just keep on getting the miles in, getting the workouts in, and over time, good things happen. What was special about 2024? Who knows other than having the right athletes in the right position, the right belief and faith in their parts and goals, and going, ‘Hey, maybe we can do this.’” My guest for today’s episode is BYU director of track and field and cross country Ed Eyestone, the architect of one of the greatest years ever for American distance running. From Olympic medals and top-10 marathon finishes to NCAA titles, 2024 was nothing short of historic for Coach Eyestone and his athletes. Just this weekend, Ed capped it all off by leading the BYU men to their second NCAA cross country title in six years, holding off a stacked field at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course. It’s been a dream season for Eyestone, whose year began with Conner Mantz and Clayton Young finishing 1-2 at the Olympic Marathon Trials and ended with BYU completing a historic NCAA sweep—both the men’s and women’s teams claiming national titles for the first time since 2004. We dive into Ed’s coaching strategies, his reflections on this monumental season and how he’s built a culture of resilience and excellence at BYU. From the roads to the track to the grass, no one’s had a better 2024 than Ed Eyestone, and we can’t wait to hear his take on how it all came together. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Ed Eyestone | @edeyestone on Instagram Time stamps:  3:30 - Returning to campus after BYU won the NCAA XC Championship team title 5:13 - Feelings and emotions after winning the NCAA team title 7:16 - Strategy + plan for the men heading into the race  10:54 - Using a whiteboard during the race to communicate with the team 12:29 - Using olive oil to stay warm during the race 14:18 - Backstory on the affirmations notecard on his arm during the race  19:25 - Similarities between the men’s and women’s programs at BYU 23:23 - Why everything clicked for the team in 2024 27:53 - How the 2024 season was a dream come true  30:44 - His process-oriented coaching philosophy  33:19 - What the team got up to in the final days before the race  36:48 - Casey Clinger’s impact on the team + how going on missions affects training 42:42 - How his coaching style has changed + how he structures workouts 45:56 - Thoughts on upcoming changes to the NCAA SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Harvard senior Graham Blanks successfully defended his NCAA Division I cross country championship on Saturday, winning the 10,000-meter race in 28:37.2, narrowly edging New Mexico's Habtom Samuel. BYU became the first school since 2002 to win both men's and women's team titles at the same championship. Men's Championship Blanks' Victory: Blanks is the 13th runner in history to defend his title, cementing his legacy on the Thomas Zimmer course. BYU's Team Triumph: The Cougars scored 124 points for their second men's title, led by Casey Clinger's 6th-place finish and Creed Thompson's 12th. All BYU scorers placed in the top 50. Team Standings: Iowa State (137 points) finished second, followed by Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Northern Arizona. Defending champion Oklahoma State placed eighth. Women's Championship Doris Lemngole: The Alabama runner won the 6,000-meter race in 19:21, improving on her runner-up finish from last year. Pamela Kosgei of New Mexico was second in 19:27.8. BYU Women Dominate: The Cougars scored 147 points to win their sixth title, with Lexy Halladay-Lowry finishing as the top scorer in 14th place overall. Team Standings: BYU edged out West Virginia, with Providence, Northern Arizona, and Oregon rounding out the top five. Defending champion NC State finished eighth. Historical Context BYU’s sweep marks the first dual-team victory since Colorado’s achievement in 2002, highlighting their depth and dominance. Blanks joins an elite group of repeat champions in the 86-year history of the NCAA men's cross country race. The Big Picture BYU's historic team wins and standout performances from Blanks and Lemngole underscore the competitiveness and unpredictability of collegiate cross country’s biggest stage.

For the third time in three months, the cross country world will descend upon Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, and the stakes couldn’t be any higher. 31 men’s teams and 31 women’s teams punched tickets last weekend and a handful of star individuals round out each field. Both team races feature heavy preseason favorites looking to reclaim their top spots after late season losses, while both individual races are deep at the top with a handful of runners eyeing national titles. Fans are planning to pack the course in Madison, and they could be treated to a picture perfect setting with snowfall potentially in the forecast. More information on how to watch the meet, with ESPNU coverage kicking off at 9:30am E.T. Below we break down all four races, with a few sleeper picks to keep an eye on amidst the chaos that is NCAA cross country. You can read our official preview here: https://citiusmag.com/articles/ncaa-division-1-cross-country-championships-2024-preview

“Especially after 36K, I was telling myself, ‘Even if they speed up, I have to go deep today…’ I was telling myself, ‘This is my moment.’” My guest for today's episode is Abdi Nageeye, whose journey in 2024 could only be described as redemption at its finest. The Dutch marathoner and 2021 Olympic silver medalist who just three months ago grappled with his appointment after withdrawing late in the Olympic marathon in Paris, roared back to claim the biggest victory of his career at the TCS New York City Marathon. In a thrilling showdown against one of the strongest fields in race history, Nageeye deployed patience, strategy, and a powerful finishing kick to secure his first World Marathon Major title in 2:07:39 seconds, making history as the first Dutchman and the first European since 1996. To win the New York City Marathon from his self coach training in Eldoret to a race plan honed by years of experience on the course, Abdi turned heartbreak into triumph. We dive into his reflections on Paris, his mental and physical preparation for New York City, and what this victory means for him moving forward. But first, you'll also hear a never before released interview with Abdi from my trip to Kenya in June 2023, where we discussed a bit more of his backstory and upbringing from being born in Somalia to settling in the Netherlands as a refugee and spending time in Syria before finally being adopted by a Dutch family. I initially planned for this to be released last fall, but didn't have a chance to, but I'm now glad it's finally out. It's fun because towards the end of that first interview, I asked him what he wants to accomplish and he finally gets it done. Part one is my interview with him in Kenya and then part two is my interview with him reflecting on New York. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Abdi Nageeye | @abdinageeye on Instagram Time stamps: 2023 Interview live from Eldoret, Kenya: 3:37 - Reflecting on training  5:02 - Why he likes to train in new places, what he enjoys about training in Kenya  9:05 - His backstory + stories from growing up  18:10 - Why he considers Africa to be his home  20:33 - Being embraced by the Netherlands  22:06 - Why shifting to the roads panned out so well for him  25:49 - What he learned from training with athletes like Eliud Kipchoge  28:20 - Future goals for his running career  2024 Interview after winning the NYC Marathon: 34:51 - How training has been going since the NYC Marathon 38:17 - What life has been like since our first interview in 2023 41:00 - Current training setup  43:28 - Paris Olympics marathon experience  47:55 - Thoughts after dropping out of the Olympic marathon  54:44 - NYC Marathon race breakdown  59:03 - The final miles of the race  1:01:03 - Thoughts when Tamirat Tola was closing on him and Evans Chebet 1:02:36 - The point when he knew he was going to win  1:06:13 - Emotions after crossing the finish line  1:08:12 - Looking ahead to future races  1:11:18 - Reflecting on his marathon career so far  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Chris Chavez and cross country expert Isaac Wood are back to recap conference weekend and preview each regional meet going down across the country this Friday. Join us for our thoughts and predictions on who will qualify for the big dance in Madison, Wisconsin on November 23rd.  You can listen to our last NCAA cross country season check-in episode here. Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Isaac Wood | @isaacew on Instagram  Time stamps: 1:51 - Conference weekend recap  4:34 - Isaac’s biggest takeaways from conference weekend 5:31 - Wake Forest’s men’s team looking strong heading into Regionals 6:59 - Big 12s men’s recap: thoughts on BYU, OSU 11:39 - Big 12s women’s recap: thoughts on BYU, West Virginia 16:05 - Oregon women looking to become a title contender  17:45 - Projected top teams at NCAAs 20:52 - Explanation on how to qualify for NCAAs 22:36 - Auto-qualifiers + at-large predictions: men 30:05 - Auto-qualifiers + at-large predictions: women 35:10 - Regions to pay most attention to on Friday SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia review the second season of the Netflix documentary series, SPRINT. We share our thoughts and analysis on all four episodes and break down the top storylines throughout the season. You can listen to our review of the first season of SPRINT here. Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Preet Majithia | @prm_32 on X Time stamps: 1:22 - Season 2 overview: cast, notable athletes missing  3:42 - Season 1 highlights  Episode 1: ALL AMERICAN 5:32 - Noah Lyles 10:21 - Fred Kerley 13:10 - Christian Coleman  15:40 - Gabby Thomas, Dennis Mitchell’s pro group  17:57 - Little focus on athletes’ personalities outside of track  19:48 - Highlights of episode 1 Episode 2: CHANGING OF THE GUARD 20:35 - Jamaican storylines 22:23 - Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville  25:53 - Shericka Jackson  31:27 - Julien Alfred Episode 3: GOING FOR GOLD: PART 1 33:45 - Series shifts to the Olympics 37:00 - Marcell Jacobs  39:01 - Sha’Carri Richardson, Melissa Jefferson, TeeTee Terry   44:10 - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 48:17 - Shericka Jackson  50:24 - Julien Alfred Episode 4: GOING FOR GOLD: PART 2 56:32 - Men’s 100m final  1:02:19 - Kenny Bednarek 1:03:50 - Letsile Tebogo 1:05:10 - Men’s 200m: Noah Lyles getting COVID 1:08:36 - Women’s 200m: Gabby Thomas, Julien Alfred 1:11:32 - How the series ends + U.S. men’s 4x100m relay Final takeaways: 1:14:39 - Parting thoughts and final rating  1:17:53 - What comes next + will there be a Season 3?  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.