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

“When I was running the race, I really didn’t have a time in mind. I knew when I crossed that line that it was going to be a decent time…When I looked at the time, that was not what I was expecting to see there. That was pretty surreal. I’m super, super grateful.”

Texas A&M junior Sam Whitmarsh popped onto our radar with a 1:44.46 at LSU’s Battle on the Bayou meet on March 30th, which moved him to No. 7 on the all-time collegiate list. 

When we put the call out on the CITIUS MAG team for bold predictions for the 2024 season, Kyle Merber predicted that Whitmarsh would make the U.S. Olympic 800m team. Only U.S. champion and World Indoor champion Bryce Hoppel and 2023 NCAA champion Will Sumner ran faster than 1:44.46.

The reason that people may not be as familiar with Whitmarsh is that his 2022 season was cut short as a freshman because he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome –  a heart condition that leads to periods of rapid heart rate. In 2023, he was the SEC Championship runner-up and then only reached the NCAA West Regional in the 800m. This past indoor season, he missed qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships by 0.01 sec.

It feels like at every U.S. Olympic Trials or U.S. Championships there’s a rising star out of the NCAA who can shake things up. Whitmarsh is looking like he could be that guy in 2024.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: Sam Whitmarsh | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@samwhitmarsh on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

👟 ON Experience the magic of Penn Relays with On. Races. Athletes. New kits. New faces. Try the latest On running shoe innovations, customize your gear and more. For the full events schedule, check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penn Relays website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you can't be there in person – follow @on for all the action. CITIUS MAG is a proud media partner to capture the atmosphere and excitement of the 2024 Penn Relays from April 25-27 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

🍊 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

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Mary Ngugi-Cooper has been a formidable force in the Kenyan marathon scene within the past decade.

Mary's journey is not just about her remarkable achievements on the roads; it's about her unwavering commitment to empowering women through the sport she loves. In the wake of a tragic loss that shook the running community to its core, Mary took action by responding to the heartbreaking murder of Agnes Tirop by founding Nala Track Club in October of 2022. Named after the Swahili word for a powerful, successful woman, Nala Track Club is a sanctuary for female athletes. 

But it's more than just a club; it's a beacon of hope. Mary's vision extends beyond the finish line, providing not only a safe haven for young women to train but also covering housing and education costs for those in need. Additionally, Nala Track Club has pioneered a groundbreaking coaches training program, empowering women to lead and mentor the next generation of Kenyan athletes. Nike has come on board with the to assist with funding the girls’ basic needs and in-residence scholarships to remove financial barriers

Her story is one of resilience, determination, and the transformative power of sport. It was super nice to chat with her just days before she went on to finish sixth in the Boston Marathon in 2:24:24.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: Mary Ngugi-Cooper | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maryngugi on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

👟 ON Experience the magic of Penn Relays with On. Races. Athletes. New kits. New faces. Try the latest On running shoe innovations, customize your gear and more. For the full events schedule, check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Penn Relays website⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you can't be there in person – follow @on for all the action. CITIUS MAG is a proud media partner to capture the atmosphere and excitement of the 2024 Penn Relays from April 25-27 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

🍊 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.

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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:

– Boston Marathon — Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner 🦄

– Parker Valby Takes Her First Crack At The 10K 🐊

– A World Record in the Field of Dreams 🛸

– Team USA Uniforms Make Major Splash 💦

– The Future of the Diamond League in the USA 💎

+ more news and headlines from the past week in track and field

You can read this week's newsletter here ➡️ https://www.thelapcount.com/p/comment-section

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⁠CITIUS MAG was nominated for a Webby Award for our Website and Mobile Sites.

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🩴 VELOUS  is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. Introducing their brand new White/Black collection in three styles: Oceanside Flip, Pacific Flip and the Hoya Adjustable Slide. This collection merges minimalist aesthetics with unparalleled support and comfort.

These active recovery sandals are super lightweight and equipped with VELOUS three part Tri-Motion technology. They cradle your heel with impact absorbing foam that cushions your feet with every step, amazing arch support, and a forefoot flex that allows your fatigued feet and toes to stretch and relax. VELOUS is focused on helping athletes recover faster, before and after you train, so you can get after your next run performing at your best. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS!

Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout when you visit https://www.velousfootwear.com/

🐺 BROOKS RUNNING: Six World Championship qualifiers. Four national titles. 1 world champion.

In 2024, the Brooks Beasts Track Club is after more. CITIUS MAG and Brooks Running are bringing you along for the journey. Get to know coaches Danny Mackey, and Asst. Coach Julian Florez. Watch the training and progression of the likes of Josh Kerr, Nia Akins, Isaiah Harris, Marta Pen Freitas and the rest of the team as we present “Beasts: Unleashed” – a 10-part web series. Watch Episode 1 here: https://youtu.be/d6lnX3A1eEg

We’re opening up The CITIUS MAG Podcast to have ANYONE join us to share their Boston Marathon stories. It’s going to be a rapid-fire, live podcast recording where we don’t know the guests and just want to connect and hear cool stories from the community. Thanks to HOKA for creating a safe and welcoming space for all these people to share their stories with us.

Hear from:

7:00 – JT from Los Angeles

13:49 – Francesco from New York City

22:14 – Kristen from Kennett Square

28:40 – Mike Wardian from Arlington

40:07 – Karen from Upstate New York

44:40 – Kyle from Seattle

53:24 – Brian from Long Island

58:39 – Emily from Madison

1:04:00 – Cal from San Francisco

1:13:24 – Mindy and Bo from Winnipeg

1:22:45 – Vinny from Pittsburgh

1:27:46 – Yu from China

1:35:23 – Sabrina from Montreal

1:42:18 – Geoffrey from Montreal

1:45:39 – Kiara from Pittsburgh

1:51:32 – Jose Antonio from Mexico

1:57:04 – Lynn from Maryland

2:04:51 – Caleb from Washington DC

2:12:55 – Yosef from New York

Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Eric Jenkins will preview all of the top athletes and storylines to watch for the men's and women's elite races at the 2024 Boston Marathon.

Evans Chebet, Hellen Obiri, Emma Bates, Sharon Lokedi, Zouhair Talbi, Gabriel Geay, Des Linden, CJ Albertson, Jenny Simpson, Sara Hall are among the notable stars competing at the historic race.

We will also share our picks at the end of the show.

HOW TO WATCH THE RACE ON TV: All the Marathon Monday action gets underway on April 15th with pro races beginning at 9 a.m. The professional men’s field starts at 9:37 am E.T. and the pro women at 9:47 am E.T. Locally, the race will be viewable live on TV or online at WCVB-5. If you’re not in Massachusetts, the race will be shown live on ESPN2 with coverage beginning at 8:30 am E.T.

READ OUR PREVIEW: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/p/2024-boston-marathon-preview-evans-chebet-hellen-obiri