

The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show
CITIUS MAG
Track and field's biggest names on the track, in the coaching ranks and within the industry sit down and open up in-depth to share brilliant insights and vivid snapshots from their professional/personal accomplishments and experiences in the sport.
Hosted by CITIUS MAG founder Chris Chavez.
The show was named one of "The Best Running Podcasts" by Runner's World.
▶ Visit https://CITIUSMAG.com
▶ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CitiusMag
▶ Instagram: https://instagram.com/citiusmag
▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CitiusMag
▶ Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag
Hosted by CITIUS MAG founder Chris Chavez.
The show was named one of "The Best Running Podcasts" by Runner's World.
▶ Visit https://CITIUSMAG.com
▶ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CitiusMag
▶ Instagram: https://instagram.com/citiusmag
▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CitiusMag
▶ Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 14, 2024 • 24min
Jenny Simpson On Lessons From Her Debut At The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Plans To Run Boston Marathon
“This is a different moment in my career compared to any other one in the past because I’ve suffered a major disappointment. It’s up for debate if I should’ve taken a break after the Trials and reset but, man, I didn’t feel like I could stop. All of this training is in me and this motivation to show the world the hard work I’ve put in. I didn’t take this journey lightly. I really care about making this transformation from middle distances to the longer stuff. I just really wanted to keep going.”
20 minutes of catching up with Olympic medalist and world champion Jenny Simpson before she takes on the NYC Half on Sunday. It is her first race since unfortunately dropping out of her marathon debut at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Orlando last month.
We chat a bit about her lessons from that race, whether she would’ve done anything differently and how she’s taking that into her next few races. Moments before we did this interview, the BAA announced Jenny has been added to the Boston Marathon field for April 15 – along with Sara Hall, Caroline Rotich, Elkanah Kibet and Sam Chelanga. So we discuss her plans for that race and a wider shot of how she views this chapter of her legendary career.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Jenny Simpson | @trackjenny on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟 NEW BALANCE has officially launched the long-anticipated FuelCell SC Elite v4, including upgrades that focus on the details that are vital for athletes to perform to their best this year. The shoe was designed to excel in both innovative technology and all-around comfort that lasts through 26.2 miles. Check it out here: https://www.newbalance.com/pd/fuelcell-supercomp-elite-v4/
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
🩴 VELOUS RECOVERY FOOTWEAR is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. They are launching two new styles to their recovery mix for Spring ‘24. The Active Slide and Active Flip collection. Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout at VelousFootwear.com
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ 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

Mar 13, 2024 • 26min
Quincy Wilson Is The Next Big Thing, NCAA Indoors' Biggest Winners, What If Track Had Jersey Numbers + More | The Lap Count
This is The Lap Count newsletter by Kyle Merber, as read by Chris Chavez.
Join more than 16,000 people who stay up-to-date with all the thrilling action and biggest stories in the world of track & field – delivered right to your inbox every Wednesday morning. Subscribe at http://thelapcount.com/
In this week's newsletter:
– The Best of Boston: Presented by Kyle 🏆
– Pick a number, any number: Which would pros take? #️⃣
– What are these kids up to? 👶
– College vs. High School Nationals 👨🎓
+ more rapid-fire highlights from the past week
You can read this week's newsletter here ➡️ https://www.thelapcount.com/p/lemme-get-yo-number
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🥤 OLIPOP – When OLIPOP found out Citius Mag was going to be at nationals this weekend, they sent us boxes on top of boxes of cans to hand out. And the runners came to grab them like moths to a flame. That’s because if anyone can enjoy the gut-healing properties of a prebiotic soda, then it’s a health-focused crowd of runners. Aren’t we all desperately looking for an excuse to still be able to enjoy the sweet taste of ginger ale, vintage cola, cream soda, and other soft drink classics without the guilt of over-indulging on sugar? That’s why it’s the runners’ soda!
Use code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off non-subscription orders: https://drinkolipop.com/

Mar 13, 2024 • 7min
Catching Up With Stanford's Roisin Willis Before Preparing For A Second U.S. Olympic Trials Run This Summer
"Cherish the people around you. Coming to Stanford and having such an amazing team has made such a difference for me in the sport and just how I view it...This sport is tough. Some days it's so rewarding and you feel like you're on top of the world but then other days, it crushes you. Having that great support system and realizing that's the best thing you can gain from the sport. I've won a lot of races but at the end of the day, the people I've met and the friends I've made is most important."
Stanford sophomore Roisin Willis, the 2023 NCAA indoor 800m champion and a New Balance NIL athlete, caught up with Kyle Merber to chat about how her first two years of college have gone and her hopes for preparing for a second U.S. Olympic Trials run. She was previously a guest on the show as a high school senior when she won the 2022 New Balance Nationals indoor 800m title.
Host: Kyle Merber | @kylemerber on Instagram
Guest: Roisin Willis | @roisin.willis on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟 NEW BALANCE has officially launched the long-anticipated FuelCell SC Elite v4, including upgrades that focus on the details that are vital for athletes to perform to their best this year. The shoe was designed to excel in both innovative technology and all-around comfort that lasts through 26.2 miles. Check it out here: https://www.newbalance.com/pd/fuelcell-supercomp-elite-v4/
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
🩴 VELOUS RECOVERY FOOTWEAR is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. They are launching two new styles to their recovery mix for Spring ‘24. The Active Slide and Active Flip collection. Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout at VelousFootwear.com
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ 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

Mar 13, 2024 • 10min
Catching Up With NCAA 1000m Record Holder, Georgetown Freshman Tinoda Matsatsa
"I am so hungry. As soon as I finished the race, I said, 'I know I can do better. I know I raced wrong.' I need to go back to how I raced in high school. Even in high school, if I didn't get out front in an 800m, I didn't win. For outdoor, I need to race the way I race best."
Georgetown freshman Tinoda Matsatsa, the NCAA 1000m record holder and a New Balance NIL athlete, chatted with Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber while at New Balance Nationals Indoor in Boston. Matsatsa was just coming off an appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships, where he didn't make it out of the semifinals but shares what he took away from his freshman indoor campaign. He ran a personal best of 1:46.87 for 800m, which was the eighth-fastest in the country. He also shares a little bit of news on which country he has decided to represent interationally.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Host: Kyle Merber | @kylemerber on Instagram
Guest: Tinoda Matsatsa | @tinoda_m on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟 NEW BALANCE has officially launched the long-anticipated FuelCell SC Elite v4, including upgrades that focus on the details that are vital for athletes to perform to their best this year. The shoe was designed to excel in both innovative technology and all-around comfort that lasts through 26.2 miles. Check it out here: https://www.newbalance.com/pd/fuelcell-supercomp-elite-v4/
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
🩴 VELOUS RECOVERY FOOTWEAR is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. They are launching two new styles to their recovery mix for Spring ‘24. The Active Slide and Active Flip collection. Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout at VelousFootwear.com
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ 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

Mar 13, 2024 • 9min
Catching Up With 2023 NCAA Cross Country Champion Graham Blanks Before Outdoor Season
"With the NCAA, you just never know. You always have someone coming around...It's cool to see. People get to have their moments every season. There are highs and lows. It's sweet to see so much change between the athletes."
While at New Balance Nationals Indoor in Boston, Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber caught up with 2023 NCAA Cross Country Champion Graham Blanks. Unfortunately, he had to miss the indoor championship season due to injury but has returned to running ahead of the 2024 outdoor campaign.
He shares his thoughts on Nico Young's breakout to break Graham's indoor 5000m record and what it's like racing while hot. Plus, why this is one of the most competitive eras in collegiate track and field.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Host: Kyle Merber | @kylemerber on Instagram
Guest: Graham Blanks | @graham_voted_for_pedro on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟 NEW BALANCE has officially launched the long-anticipated FuelCell SC Elite v4, including upgrades that focus on the details that are vital for athletes to perform to their best this year. The shoe was designed to excel in both innovative technology and all-around comfort that lasts through 26.2 miles. Check it out here: https://www.newbalance.com/pd/fuelcell-supercomp-elite-v4/
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
🩴 VELOUS RECOVERY FOOTWEAR is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. They are launching two new styles to their recovery mix for Spring ‘24. The Active Slide and Active Flip collection. Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout at VelousFootwear.com
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ 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

Mar 11, 2024 • 19min
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Recap: Nico Young, Parker Vably & Terrence Jones Shine in Boston
CITIUS MAG's Anderson Emerole reports from the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at The TRACK at New Balance in Boston as NAU's Nico Young and Florida's Parker Valby win both the 3000m and 5000m titles, Valby sets the new 5000m collegiate record in 14:52.79, Texas Tech's Terrence Jones wins both the 60m and 200m, Arkansas wins the women's team title, Texas Tech wins the men's team title, and more.
For more interviews from the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, head over to the CITIUS MAG Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLixhfI1IO8angV1gwf4gvFHkQJw-t53_N&si=oBbuzO4qLx4_0jDK
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
👟 NEW BALANCE has officially launched the long-anticipated FuelCell SC Elite v4, including upgrades that focus on the details that are vital for athletes to perform to their best this year. The shoe was designed to excel in both innovative technology and all-around comfort that lasts through 26.2 miles. Check it out here: https://www.newbalance.com/pd/fuelcell-supercomp-elite-v4/
🩴 VELOUS RECOVERY FOOTWEAR is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. They are launching two new styles to their recovery mix for Spring ‘24. The Active Slide and Active Flip collection. Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout at VelousFootwear.com
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ 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

Mar 8, 2024 • 45min
Betsy Saina After Running 2:19:17 At The Tokyo Marathon, Now Third-Fastest American Woman Ever | Race Recap and Reflection
A month after dropping out of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials after about 21 miles, Betsy Saina made the decision to enter the 2024 Tokyo Marathon and it paid off massively.
Saina put together a very short two-week build-up and ended up finishing fifth in 2:19:17. It was a PR by more than two minutes and moved her to No. 3 on the U.S. all-time women's marathoning list behind Emily Sisson and Keira D'Amato.
In this episode, we talk about how she made the decision to race Tokyo, how she structured the training for it and why she believes her coach saying that she's got the fitness to run 2:17 someday soon. Plus, why she's got her sights set on representing the United States at the 2026 World Championships in Tokyo.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Betsy Saina | @sainabetsy on Instagram
Time Stamps:
04:03 How she’s feeling coming off her 2:19 performance at the Tokyo Marathon.06:13 Her training heading into Tokyo + more on her race at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.09:12 When things went wrong for her in the U.S. Trials.11:13 Why she decided to race another marathon so quickly after the Trials.16:56 Her training between the Trials and Tokyo.22:18 Breaking down the last half of her race in Tokyo.27:48 Chasing after the American marathon record in Tokyo.29:54 Celebrating after the race + her post-race reflections.34:38 How her training has changed since becoming a mother.42:26 Her plans for future racing.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
👟 NEW BALANCE has officially launched the long-anticipated FuelCell SC Elite v4, including upgrades that focus on the details that are vital for athletes to perform to their best this year. The shoe was designed to excel in both innovative technology and all-around comfort that lasts through 26.2 miles. Check it out here: https://www.newbalance.com/pd/fuelcell-supercomp-elite-v4/
🩴 VELOUS RECOVERY FOOTWEAR is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. They are launching two new styles to their recovery mix for Spring ‘24. The Active Slide and Active Flip collection. Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout at VelousFootwear.com
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ 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

Mar 6, 2024 • 39min
Nikki Hiltz After Earning A Silver Medal At The 2024 World Indoor Championships | Race Recap & Reflections
"We're here to medal. We worked so hard and no one worked harder than any of us. You just have to do it on the day. I think we all did it and it's so cool – obviously, it's indoors and sure there's an asterisk because it's not the Olympics or World Outdoor Champs, but it's a race when it matters. It's a championship. There are medals on the line and we are so competitive. We're going to run fearless. We're going to be like Hobbs Kessler, who is 20 years old and led that whole thing or Emily (Mackay) in her first world champs and she's like, 'F**k it. I'm just going to take the lead.' We're going to make bold moves. We're gonna be really hard to beat. And I think that's the momentum we're taking into outdoors. That's a statement we're making."
This is Nikki Hiltz's fifth time on the show. Our last interviews came after last summer’s World Championships in Budapest and also after they broke the U.S. outdoor mile record at the Monaco Diamond League. The hot streak has continued into 2024.
Last month, Hiltz won the U.S. Indoor Championships for the second consecutive season. And just this past weekend, they ran two personal bests at the World Indoor Championships to earn a silver medal in the 1500m final. Ethiopia’s Freweyi Hailu earned gold in 4:01.46. Hiltz came in less than a second behind her for the third-fastest indoor 1500m performance in U.S. history. Team New Balance Boston’s Emily Mackay finished third for bronze.
The U.S. had a super strong showing at the World Indoor Championships. We topped the medal table with 20 total medals. Seven of those medals came in middle distance events – including four in the 1500m between Hiltz, Mackay, Cole Hocker and Hobbs Kessler.
In this episode, Nikki recaps their whole trip to Glasgow, the learnings from another World Championship experience, the statement made by American middle distance runners and how their outlook shifts to the outdoor season now.
Read our recap of World Indoors here: https://citiusmag.com/articles/2024-world-indoor-championships-winners-losers
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Nikki Hiltz | @nikkihiltz on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
👟 NEW BALANCE has officially launched the long-anticipated FuelCell SC Elite v4, including upgrades that focus on the details that are vital for athletes to perform to their best this year. The shoe was designed to excel in both innovative technology and all-around comfort that lasts through 26.2 miles. Check it out here: https://www.newbalance.com/pd/fuelcell-supercomp-elite-v4/
🩴 VELOUS RECOVERY FOOTWEAR is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. They are launching two new styles to their recovery mix for Spring ‘24. The Active Slide and Active Flip collection. Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout at VelousFootwear.com
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ 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

Mar 4, 2024 • 15min
World Indoor Championships Day 3 Recap: United States Wins 11 Medals on Final Day (Bryce Hoppel! Tara Davis-Woodhall! Nikki Hiltz! Cole Hocker! Emily Mackay! Hobbs Kessler! + More)
CITIUS MAG's Anderson Emerole reports from Glasgow, Scotland with a recap of Day 3 of the World Indoor Championships.
– Team USA earned FOUR medals in the 1500m as New Zealand's George Beamish and Ethiopia's Freweyni Hailu came away with victories but Nikki Hiltz, Emily Mackay, Cole Hocker and Hobbs Kessler all came away with medals.
– Bryce Hoppel clocked a world-leading 1:44.92 to improve upon his bronze medal from 2022 to win gold in the 800m final. Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma claimed gold in the 800 – just ahead of Team GB's Jemma Reekie.
– Tara Davis-Woodhall and Monae Nichols went 1-2 in the women's long jump.
– Bahamian Devynne Charlton broke her own 60m hurdles world record to claim her country's first-ever gold medal in the 800m
– There was controversy over Noah Lyles being named to the 4x400m relay team and then they came away with a silver medal as Belgium's Alexander Doom kicked down Team USA in the closing meters. Lyles split 45.68, which was the third-fastest of the American team.
– Mondo Duplantis claimed yet another gold in the men's pole vault.
+ more
🔜 We'll be sharing Anderson's daily recaps and dispatches from Scotland on the CITIUS MAG Podcast feed and YouTube channel.
Keep tabs on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel as we have tons of interviews from the mixed zone there. We'll be sharing live updates on Twitter/X; Instagram and Threads all throughout the weekend.

Mar 3, 2024 • 20min
World Indoor Championships Day 2 Recap: Elle St. Pierre Is A World Champion, Josh Kerr Gets His Crown On Home Soil, Grant Holloway Defends His Crown, Femke Bol WR!
CITIUS MAG's Anderson Emerole reports from Glasgow, Scotland with a recap of Day 2 of the World Indoor Championships.
– Elle St. Pierre became the first U.S. woman to win the World Indoor 3000m title as she kicked down 10,000m world champion Gudaf Tsegay to claim gold. The win comes just 364 days after giving birth last March.
– 1500m world champion Josh Kerr got the 3000m world title on home soil – just .61 ahead of Yared Nuguse, who earned his first global championship medal.
– Femke Bol lowered her own indoor 400m world record to 49.17!
– Grant Holloway extended his nine-year winning streak in the 60m hurdles to claim his second World Indoor Title
+ more
📰 You can read our full preview of all the sprints, distance and field event action here: https://citiusmag.com/articles/world-athletics-indoor-championships-preview-athletes-storylines-matchups-to-watch
📆 All the action concludes Sunday, March 3. Most finals will be between 2 pm and 5 pm E.T. A full timetable of events can be found here.
💻 The whole championships is streaming live on Peacock (subscription required). The only live TV window will be Sunday, 2-5 pm E.T., on CNBC. You can find a full streaming/TV schedule here.
🔜 We'll be sharing Anderson's daily recaps and dispatches from Scotland on the CITIUS MAG Podcast feed and YouTube channel.
Keep tabs on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel as he'll be uploading tons of interviews from the mixed zone there. We'll be sharing live updates on Twitter/X; Instagram and Threads all throughout the weekend.