This week in track and field: Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack some results and news from around the track and field world including Athing Mu’s first 1500m since 2023 (which came at a Division II meet in Los Angeles); Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s Achilles injury and some of the key races to watch at the Doha Diamond League this weekend.

Plus: Anderson Emerole’s biggest winners and losers from the 2025 World Relays via The Final Leg. Be sure to subscribe to his podcast here.

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

Watch: ⁠Anderson Emerole's World Relays Recap⁠

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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.

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“It’s almost been ten years and for me it was just kind of time. Contract changes, life changes now with having a two-year-old and wanting to grow the family side of things... A lot of factors all came together at the right time for me to make the decision.”

My guest for today’s episode is Clayton Murphy, who’s been part of American middle-distance running history for the better part of a decade and is now officially hanging up his spikes.

From the small town of New Madison, Ohio, to the Olympic podium in Rio — Clayton’s career is the stuff of dreams. He was the kid from the Mid-American Conference who took down giants. The collegiate star who doubled up at NCAAs. The 21-year-old who kicked his way to Olympic bronze in the 800 meters — running 1:42.93, still the fifth-fastest time by an American in history.

Over the years, Clayton’s worn the red, white, and blue across the globe — from the Pan Am Games, where he struck gold, to two Olympic Games, multiple U.S. titles, and countless memorable finishes.

But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. He’s battled injuries, coaching changes, and the highs and lows that come with being one of the best in a brutal event. And now, after a career that spanned over a decade at the professional level — Clayton is here to reflect on what it meant, how he made peace with the decision, and what’s next.

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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.

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. Grand Slam Track: bigger stakes, bigger stars, and a fan experience that hits different.

SWIFTWICK: Socks: sometimes you don't think about them until you do – like mile eight of a long run when your heels are on fire or when your sock has mysteriously vanished into your shoe. That's why we're teaming up with SWIFTWICK: the go-to sock brand for endurance athletes who care about performance and longevity. For a limited time, CITIUS MAG listeners get 15% off your first order with the code CITIUSMAG at checkout.

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. The super-soft, adjustable uppers allow for a customized fit across your forefoot, while the moisture-wicking lining keeps your feet dry and comfortable. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!

The final day of Grand Slam Track Miami did not disappoint. With storm clouds overhead and a packed crowd at the Ansin Sports Complex, seven athletes claimed Slam Champion titles — each earning $100,000 and etching their names in the history books of this inaugural season.

Kenny Bednarek continued his undefeated run, taking the 200m in a world-leading 19.84 and securing the Men’s Short Sprints crown. Alison dos Santos switched up his tactics and delivered a personal best 44.53 in the 400m flat — adding another Slam title to his growing resume. Reigning Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino crushed her own Dominican Republic national record with a 22.30 win in the 200m, completing a sweep of the Women’s Long Sprints group.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once again made the 400m look easy, cruising to a 49.69 and wrapping up her second Slam title of the season. Up next? A surprising switch to the 100m hurdles in Philly.

Trey Cunningham was unstoppable, winning the 100m in a huge PB of 10.17 after a 110mH win the night before — sweeping the Men’s Short Hurdles group. Grant Fisher redeemed a tough loss Friday with a bold move in the 5000m, running away from the field in 13:40.32 to win the Men’s Long Distance title.

In the women’s 3000m, Hirut Meshesha had the best kick, but it was Agnes Ngetich who held on for third — enough to lock in the Slam Championship for Women’s Long Distance. And in the Women’s Short Distance group, Freweyni Hailu’s third-place finish in the 800m sealed the deal for her title, holding off a hard-charging Nikki Hiltz.

With big performances, breakout moments, and high-stakes drama, Miami’s finale was one for the books. Tune in as we break it all down.

Big names. Big performances. Big moves in the standings. Day 2 in Miami brought the heat and the athletes answered.

Josh Kerr is officially back. After illness and injury slowed the start to his 2025 season, Kerr showed he's back to full strength with a statement in Miami—winning the 1500m, then dropping a 1:45.01 lifetime best in the 800m to edge Marco Arop by just two points in the overall Slam standings.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden locked up her second Slam title by winning the 100m then coming back for third in the 200m in a lifetime best of 22.15. That was just enough to hold off Gabby Thomas, 18 points to 17.

Ackera Nugent looked sharp with a 12.34 season’s best in the 100m hurdles, but it only got her third. She made up for it in a big way, bouncing back the next day to run 11.09 in the 100m, sealing the overall short hurdles title in dramatic fashion.

Jereem Richards took the long sprints crown with a 19.86 win in the 200m and a 44.32 season’s best in the 400m, finishing with 20 points and $100,000 to show for it.

From comebacks and personal bests to tight title races, Day 2 in Miami delivered—and the momentum is only building.

Catch all the highlights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments from Grand Slam Track: Miami as the action continues tomorrow for Day 3. Subscribe, follow, and don’t miss a second.

The second Grand Slam Track meet of 2025 kicked off in spectacular fashion under the lights in Miramar, Florida—and right out of the gate, history was made.

Masai Russell stole the show, blazing to a 12.17 in the 100m hurdles to break the American record and move to #2 on the all-time list. She edged fellow American Tia Jones by just two-hundredths, with Jones jumping to #3 all-time in the process. That head-to-head thriller was just one of many standout performances on a night packed with fireworks: two national records, two world leads, and a wave of personal bests.

In the men’s 200m, Jereem Richards dipped back under 20 seconds for the first time in two years, clocking 19.86 to edge Alexander Ogando in a photo finish. Ogando’s runner-up finish came with a silver lining—a new Dominican national record. Marileidy Paulino kept the momentum going with a hard-fought win over Salwa Eid Naser in the women’s 400m, stopping the clock at a season-best 49.21.

Alison dos Santos continued his unbeaten streak in the men’s 400m hurdles with a dominant 47.97, while American sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden scorched the track with a wind-aided 10.75 in the women’s 100m.

Distance fans weren’t left out either. World champion Josh Kerr made a statement in the 1500m, outkicking Olympic medalists Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker in a confident, emotional win in 3:34.51. Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran shocked the field in the men’s 3000m, upsetting defending champ Grant Fisher. And Agnes Ngetich, fresh off her 10K world record, was untouchable in the 5000m, running a world-leading 14:25.80.

From wire-to-wire battles to all-time performances, Night 1 in Miramar delivered—and set the stage for a weekend of unforgettable action.

Catch all the highlights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes coverage from Grand Slam Track all weekend long. Make sure to subscribe and follow along.

The Grand Slam Track series heads stateside for the first time, 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 a special return of Kyle Merber as the crew previews the Miami Slam from every angle—diving into the matchups, storylines, and athletes you won’t want to miss.

Chris kicks things off by sharing some personal news: he’s stepping into the broadcast booth as a distance analyst for the Grand Slam Track studio show this weekend! From there, the team dives into a comprehensive preview of what’s set to be a thrilling three-day meet at the Ansin Sports Complex.

You’ll get a full breakdown of the unique Grand Slam Track format, where athletes compete across six event groups and accumulate points in pursuit of a $100K prize. With top talent from across the globe descending on Miami, there’s no shortage of drama on tap.

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: https://citiusmag.com/articles/grand-slam-track-miami-preview-storylines-athletes

“If I just focus on competing, it’s turned out to be really fun and turned out to work in my favor each time. That’s been the mindset: Let's just race, focus on competing, and not really worry about the clock. That’s a lot of how I approached Boston.”

After finishing one spot off of the Team USA squads in the marathon and the 10,000m for the Olympics and the half marathon for the World Road Running Championships, Jess McLain has made it a habit of being so close, yet just off of these national teams.

But on Patriots Day in Boston, she kicked it open, running a smart, gutsy race that saw her surge through the Newton Hills strategically with Emma Bates and Sara Hall chasing a lead pack and then closing in 5:15 seconds for the final mile. Jess cemented her place as one of the top contenders in American distance running.

In today's conversation, we get into what changed with this particular marathon build, from training under coach David Roche to how she's getting used to these major marathon scenes. We talk a lot about the importance of carbs and how that's also been a game changer for her as well as why her drive to compete instead of focusing on times works so well.

With big goals on the horizon and the 2028 Olympic cycle now underway, Jess McClain might just be getting started and really coming into her own as a marathoner.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Jess McClain | @jesstonn on Instagram

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SWIFTWICK: Socks: sometimes you don't think about them until you do – like mile eight of a long run when your heels are on fire or when your sock has mysteriously vanished into your shoe. That's why we're teaming up with SWIFTWICK: the go-to sock brand for endurance athletes who care about performance and longevity. For a limited time, CITIUS MAG listeners get 15% off your first order with the code CITIUSMAG at checkout.

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. The super-soft, adjustable uppers allow for a customized fit across your forefoot, while the moisture-wicking lining keeps your feet dry and comfortable. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!

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