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

Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Preet Majithia analyze yet another packed weekend of results including:

– Cole Hocker ran 3:45.94 for the mile, an American Record and the No. 2 indoor mile ever, trailing only Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s 3:45.14.

– The 16-year-old phenom Sam Ruthe ran 3:52.46 in the same race.

– 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus ran 1:44.03 indoors, setting a World U20 Indoor Record and moving to No. 6 all-time indoors.

– Keely Hodgkinson opened her season with a1:56.3, the No. 3 indoor performance of all time. The world record is enjoying its final days.

– Elle St. Pierre ran 4:17.83 for the mile at Boston University, the fastest women’s mile in the world this year. Her 3:59.3 split at 1500m broke the American indoor record.

– Love him or hate him but Marco Langon is becoming must-watch.

– Weini Kelati ran 66:04 at the Barcelona Half Marathon, lowering her own American Record yet again.

– Jordan Anthony clocked 6.43 in the 60m, tying him for 9th all-time indoors.

– Khaleb McRae clocked 44.52 for 400m indoors, a time that: Equals Michael Norman’s American record performance. Ranks 2nd-fastest ever run indoors. Could become the official world record...if ratified.

– World 110m hurdles champion Cordell Tinch posted an 8.29m long jump PB at the Tyson Invitational.

– Noah Lyles clocked 20.56 for 200m indoors at the Tyson Invitational, a personal best and his first indoor 200m race in five years. Says Fayetteville is one of his top 5 favorite crowds he ever raced in front of.

– Elaine Thompson-Herah returned with 7.24s 60m.

– USATF confirmed the 2026 Outdoor & Para National Championships will be held at Icahn Stadium in New York City.

– Bonus: Random Winter Olympics talk.

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Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | ⁠@kylemerber⁠

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

USATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠⁠⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠⁠⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.

OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

This week in track and field, Chris Chavez, Preet Majithia, and Kyle Merber unpack:

– Femke Bol’s highly anticipated 800m debut, which delivered a 1:59.07, which is the fastest debut in history and sparked debate about upside, expectations, and what her future beyond the 400 hurdles might look like.

– The ripple effects of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke’s move.

– Georgia Hunter Bell’s world-leading 1500m, one of the standout performances from a busy stretch of indoor meets and a sign of unfinished business ahead.

– Cole Hocker’s eye-opening 1000m, and what it suggests about his range.

– A debate over announcing world-record attempts.

– Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s injury update, and what it could mean for his season trajectory and long-term planning.

– Major changes to the world ranking system, including why fast times matter now more than ever — and how that shift could favor American athletes while discouraging head-to-head racing at major meets.

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Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | @kylemerber

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

____________

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

USATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.

OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

“That year at Providence was really special with what we all went through together. It was such a fun year! We were all very solid and united together. It ended up in a perfect way being able to continue that training together.” - Alex Millard 

Kimberley May, Shannon Flockhart, and Alex Millard join us us fresh into the next chapter of their careers as members of Team New Balance Boston.

All three join the team with deep NCAA pedigrees, international experience and very different paths that somehow converged at exactly the right moment. Kimberley May leaves college as one of the most accomplished 1500-meter runners in New Zealand history. Shannon Flockhart brings European championship medals and championship toughness. Alex Millard arrives fresh off world cross country relay experience and fresh off a year that included personal bests in the 1500m, mile and 5000m.

In this conversation, they talk about what it actually feels like when the dream becomes real to signing pro contracts, navigating the transition from NIL relationships. We touch on their shared history as teammates at Providence and how that’s made the leap into the professional ranks easier, what altitude training was like, and why being around a group that includes a world champion has raised everyone’s standard.

There’s also plenty of joy in the year ahead with new routines. With 2026 ahead, all three are excited for what’s next.

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Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guests: Kimberley May | @kiimberleymay on Instagram + Alex Millard | @alexmillard on Instagram + Shannon Flockhart | @shannon_flockhart_ on Instagram 

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

____________

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

USATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.

OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

This week in track and field, Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack:

– Jacob Kiplimo and the pace car controversy from his half marathon world record: Most people agree this wasn’t a surprise, wasn’t his fault, and still somehow exposed how odd World Athletics’ rulebook really is.

– Catching up on the 2026 Boston Marathon and London Marathon field announcements.

– Sam Ruthe’s 3:48 mile and why it’s forcing fans to recalibrate what’s possible at 16 + how that performance stacks up against Cooper Lutkenhaus’ historic 800m run last year.

– Femke Bol’s upcoming 800-meter debut and why expectations range from sub-2 immediately to a low stakes launch.

– Alysha Newman and Benard Kibet Koech were suspended by the AIU for anti-doping violations.

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Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

____________

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

USATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. ⁠Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets ⁠and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.

OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors ⁠at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

"It's nice to have a reset. I'm looking at these people and I have something to work up to now, versus being at the top of the NCAA and hoping you get it right on the day. Now, I have, 'I need to improve by ten seconds if I want to be up there at USAs.' That kind of excites me. It's a little scary, but it's mostly exciting."

Margot Appleton is a Massachusetts native now running for the home team. She has joined Team New Balance Boston and is being coached by Mark Coogan.

At Virginia, she was an NCAA finalist in the 1500, stepped up to finish fourth in the 5000 meters at nationals, and then this spring put together a breakout campaign that included a 4:05.68 1500 at Raleigh Relays—fourth-fastest in NCAA history at the time—an ACC title, and a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships.

Margot is comfortable moving between distances and continuing to sharpen herself against the very best in the country. And at just 23 years old, it still feels like she’s learning how good she can be. She is coming off personal bests in the 3000m and the mile at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix and the Millrose Games. She was the second American and 6th overall in the Wanamaker mile.

In this conversation, we talk about her decision to join the refreshed Team New Balance Boston squad, what clicked this past season, how she thinks about racing at championship meets, and what her goals are for 2026.

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Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guests: Margot Appleton | @margotappleton on Instagram

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

____________

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

USATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.

OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop’s Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop’s flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.