This Week In Track & Field: What To Make Of Femke Bol’s 800m Debut; Jakob Ingebrigtsen Gets Surgery; Athlete Speeches At Meets + A Subtle Yet Impactful Change To World Rankings

“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.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guests: 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 SPONSORSUSATF: 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.

6 Helmi 38min

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.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠ Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: 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.

6 Helmi 1h 22min

"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.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guests: Margot Appleton | @margotappleton on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: 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.

6 Helmi 36min

“My times were dropping and it was so exciting. Every week, they were dropping, dropping, dropping. It was pretty early in the season, too. At that point, I hadn't even made NCAAs. At the time when I ran 2:00, I had the number one time in the country. There was a lot that happened super fast… I think that was my favorite race of my life. I never even thought in my mind that I could run 2:00 even earlier on in the season. It broadened the horizons of what I think I'm capable of in the future and to never limit myself.”My guest for today's episode is Victoria Bossong. This week on the podcast, CITIUS MAG is bringing you interviews with some of Team New Balance's latest signees as we celebrate five years of partnering with them on all things from the high school to the professional front. Yesterday, we brought you an interview with Roisin Willis and now we've got another strong rising 800m runner.Victoria was a star high school sprinter in Maine who almost on a whim tried the 800m late into her prep career and found success. Fast forward a few years and she's fully committed to the event. In 2025 while at Harvard, she was the NCAA Indoor Championships runner-up and ran an outdoor personal best of 1:59.48. She just opened up her indoor season as a pro with an indoor 800m PB of 2:00.36. Off the track, she's just as impressive. She has her degree in neuroscience and has worked in a Harvard Medical School lab. In our chat, she discusses how she managed to balance all of that as a student-athlete, how she comes at the 800m from more of a sprinter background, and her goals for her first professional season.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guest: Victoria Bossong | @victoriabossong on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: 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.

3 Helmi 45min

“I saw the door open and I really desperately wanted to take it and walk through it, but I wasn't sure if it was right – but sometimes you know deep down in your gut that it’s something you should do and you take the risk. Since making that decision, it’s felt right and true to what I want to do and where my goals are."My guest for today's episode is Roisin Willis. Right now, she's in one of those rare moments where fitness, confidence, and clarity all seem to be lining up at once. We recorded this two days before the start of a spectacular weekend for her. It's Team New Balance week on the CITIUS MAG Podcast and we'll be bringing you interviews with many of their latest signees all throughout the week. In 2026, we're celebrating six years of New Balance partnering with CITIUS and we're grateful for their support on all levels from the high school to the pros.In the span of just nine days, Roisin put together a short yet impactful indoor season. She opened up her professional career by running 1:59.59 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, looking smooth and convincing. Six days later, after deciding almost on a whim to race again, she went to Boston University and ran 1:57.97, becoming the first American woman to break 1:58 indoors and setting a new American record in the 800m. That's also a personal best for her indoors and outdoors, and she wasn't done yet. Just two days after that record, Roisin lined up at the Millrose Games and won the 600m in 1:24.87, the seventh fastest performance by an American woman in history. Three races in nine days, two victories, one American record, and proof that she's in absolutely phenomenal shape.Roisin has made the decision to shut down her indoor season. The reason for it is she has a long-term vision and a real life, which you get the sense from my conversation with her. She wants to be at a world-class level come outdoors and that means getting back to training. As she puts it plainly, she also needs to finish school at Stanford this spring.You'll hear more about the importance of finishing her degree in our chat because at just 21 years old, Roisin has already lived multiple chapters in the sport. She was a high school prodigy out of Wisconsin, became an NCAA champion as a freshman, went through a difficult period marked by anxiety and burnout, and has now come out on the other side with a healthier perspective. This recent run isn't just about how fast she's gotten, but also shows how much she's grown as a person. In this interview, we talk about the decision to chase times this year, how she made it through that rough patch, and why she decided to turn professional early.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guest: Roisin Willis | @roisin.willis on Instagram Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: 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.

3 Helmi 47min

The 118th Millrose Games lived up to the hype! Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, Anderson Emerole, Eric Jenkins, and Aisha Praught-Leer break down the biggest performances, top highlights, and most surprising results that went down at The Armory in NYC this afternoon.Some of the top highlights include:- Men’s Wanamaker Mile: Cam Myers won in 3:47.57, becoming the youngest ever winner of the Wanamaker Mile. Yared Nuguse finished second in 3:48.31, with Hobbs Kessler third in 3:48.68 and Nico Young fourth in 3:48.72. - Women’s Wanamaker Mile: Nikki Hiltz took the title in 4:19.64, followed by Jess Hull in 4:20.11 and Klaudia Kazimierska in 4:21.36.- Men’s Two-Mile: Cole Hocker won in 8:07.31, edging Josh Kerr (8:07.68), with Parker Wolfe third (8:07.93) and Ky Robinson fourth in 8:08.40.- Women’s 600m: Roisin Willis topped the field in 1:24.87 after setting the indoor 800m American record just a few days ago.- Three indoor collegiate records were shattered: NAU's Colin Sahlman in the 800m, Alabama's Doris Lemngole in the 3000m (with BYU's Jane Hedengren also dipping below the previous record), and New Mexico's Habtom Samuel in the two-mile. + Lots More_____________________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you’re team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

2 Helmi 1h 18min

The indoor season is already on fire and now it’s time for the 118th Millrose Games at the historic Armory.We’re LIVE from New York with a CITIUS MAG Millrose Games Preview Show, breaking down everything you need to know before the fastest, deepest, and most tradition-rich meet of the 2026 indoor season.Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, Eric Jenkins, Aisha Praught-Leer, and Anderson Emerole dive into the biggest storylines, must-watch races and athletes.What we preview:• An all-time men’s two-mile field that could threaten history• NCAA phenoms Doris Lemngole and Jane Hedengren colliding with pros in the women’s 3000m• U.S. vs. Europe in a loaded men’s 800m• The first-ever CITIUS MAG–sponsored women’s 1000m• Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson and Dorcus Ewoi are chasing the win in the women’s Wanamaker Mile• Yared Nuguse going for four straight titles in the men’s Wanamaker Mile+ More_____________________How to Watch Millrose Games: The professional events begin Sunday, February 1 at 4:00 p.m. ET, airing live on NBC & Peacock.Our full written preview on CITIUSMAG.com can be found here.We’ll be on-site all weekend with live coverage, post-race interviews, and a full post-meet show dropping Sunday night._____________________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you’re team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

31 Tammi 1h 38min