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

“When I saw the time, I was like, ‘I did that. We are back. I’m me again…’ It felt so good to be like, ‘I’m back and doing things as good as I know how to do them, which I haven’t done in a while. It felt really good!”

My guest for today's episode is one of the most electrifying athletes in track and field right now: Anna Hall. The two-time decathlon Olympic champion Ashton Eaton went as far as to say that she might be one of the best athletes on earth right now.

Just days after winning the Hypomeeting in Götzis with 7,032 points, Hall now sits second on the all-time heptathlon list, tied with Carolina Kluft and trailing only her mentor, the great Jackie Joyner-Kersee. That mark was achieved with four personal bests, including a gutsy 2:01 in the 800m – a reminder that the final event of the heptathlon was more than a win. It was a comeback statement after last summer's heartbreaking fifth place finish at the Paris Olympics.

In this conversation, Anna opens up about the emotional weight of that Olympic result, the rehab process after knee surgery, and how this performance in Austria healed her. We also talk about what it means to chase a legend and have such a close connection with someone like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the mental and physical toll of the heptathlon, and what's next as she eyes a potential world title this fall.

She's looking to become just the second American to win gold in the heptathlon after Jackie Joyner-Kersee won in 1987 and 1993. Anna is the kind of athlete who competes with heart, guts, and joy.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Anna Hall | @annaa.hall on Instagram 

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GRAND SLAM TRACK: This summer, Los Angeles isn't just the city of stars; It's the city of speed. Grand Slam Track, the new global home for professional track and field, is coming to Drake Stadium at UCLA June 28th-29th. The tickets are officially on sale now. The Los Angeles Slam is the fourth and final stop in the league's inaugural season and it's bringing the heat. Grab your tickets now at GrandSlamTrack.com and witness the future of the sport live and in person. Grand Slam Track: new league, new rules, same fast. The stars will see you in LA!

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This week, Chris Chavez and Megan Connelly unpack the new U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifying Standards. Preet Majithia hops on for the second half to recap Grand Slam Track: Philadelpia, Anna Hall's breakthrough heptathlon, preview the Rome Diamond League, and more takeaways from the past week.

Takeaways from the new U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifying Standards:

– USATF will return to “A” and “B” standards for 2028. The “A” standard will be determined at a later date in coordination with the LOC. Athletes with the “A” standard will get travel funding to the Olympic Trials. Athletes with the “B” standard will be guaranteed entry to the Olympic Trials.

– For the “B” standard: Women who want to race will have to run 2:37:00 or faster. This is the same as the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying standard. Women will also be able to qualify if they run 1:12:00 for the half marathon or faster, which is the same as the 2024 qualifier.

– For the “B” standard: Men who want to race will have to run 2:16:00 or faster. This is two minutes faster than the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying standard. Men can also enter if they run 1:03:00 or faster for the half marathon, which is the same as the 2024 qualifier. Going off USATF’s 2024 qualifiers list, 139 of the 220 qualified men ran faster than 2:16:00.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Megan Connelly | ⁠⁠@meganmorantwwe on Instagram⁠⁠ Preet Majithia |⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@preetmajithia on Instagram⁠⁠

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

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We're unpacking all the biggest moments from Day 2 of Grand Slam Track: Philadelphia at Franklin Field. Tune in as Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole, and Aisha Praught-Leer dive into the standout performances, surprises, and highlights from the day.

Some of the weekend's highlights:

— Melissa Jefferson threw down a dominant sprint double, clocking 21.99 in the 200m and a world-leading 10.73 in the 100m to capture another short sprints title in commanding fashion.

— Marco Arop ran a lifetime best of 3:35.38 in the 1500m to finish fourth, which was just enough to edge out Josh Kerr in the overall standings and claim the Slam title.

— Trevor Bassitt surged to a big win in the 400m hurdles, running 45.47 to defeat Alison dos Santos and earn his first Slam victory of the season—after finishing fifth in Miami.

— Jasmine Jones became the first athlete to win a Grand Slam Track title without winning an individual race, taking second in both the 400m hurdles (54.65) and 400m flat (52.73) in her first meet as a Racer this year.

— Diribe Welteji returned to Slam competition after skipping Miami and showed no signs of rust, sweeping the 800m (1:58.94) and 1500m (3:58.04) to earn her second title of the season.

Catch the full breakdown in this episode — all the results, reactions, and what it means heading into Grand Slam Track: L.A.

The Grand Slam Track series rolls into iconic Franklin Field and we’ve got all the biggest moments covered in this jam-packed episode. Join Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole, Paul Hof-Mahoney, and Aisha Praught-Leer as they break down all the drama, surprises, and standout performances from Day 1 of Grand Slam Track: Philadelphia.

Some of today's highlights include:

— Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stuns the field in the 200m, clocking her first sub-22 with a blazing 21.99 to edge Olympic champ Gabby Thomas (22.10).

— Marco Arop dominates a stacked 800m, pulling away with authority to win in 1:43.38, a full second clear of World Indoor champ Josh Hoey.

— Jessica Hull makes it honest in the 1500m, but Diribe Welteji’s closing speed seals the win in 3:58.04, just ahead of Hull’s 3:58.36.

— Kenny Bednarek stays hot, earning his third straight 200m win with a smooth 19.95.

— Ackera Nugent sets a Franklin Field record in the 100m hurdles, winning in 12.44 over Tia Jones (12.60), while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone places fifth in her short hurdles debut at 12.70.

We’ll be back tomorrow to break down Day 2 from Philly!

The Grand Slam Track series heads to historic Franklin Field 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 Aisha Praught-Leer as the crew previews the Philly Slam from every angle—diving into the matchups, storylines, and athletes you won’t want to miss.

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.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez, Eric Jenkins | @_ericjenkins, Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme, Aisha Praught-Leer | @aishapraughtleer