"You never know what you can do until you're going out and doing it. You have no shot at running fast unless you give yourself an opportunity to run fast. If you go out in a race slow, how are you going to run fast if you’re already not going out hard enough? I think that’s just kind of given me the confidence that, ‘You can do it.’"

The University of Virginia star stole the show on the final day of the NCAA Championships with a crazy kick in the 800 meters. Cohen went from last to first in the final 100 meters, clocking a personal best of 1:44.97.

Cohen’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. Just a year ago, he was virtually unknown, running for Division II University of Tampa and struggling to regain his form after a stress fracture in his femur. Despite a personal best of 1:48, he never broke 1:53 in six 800-meter races last spring. With results like these, Division I interest for his fifth year wasn’t extreme. But University of Virginia coaches Vin Lananna and Trevor Dunbar saw something special in Cohen’s kick and decided to take a chance on him.

Throughout the 2024 season, Cohen showed remarkable improvement, running 1:47 in April and third at the ACCs with a 1:46 in May. He ran 1:45 at regionals. Even after these impressive times, he was still largely overlooked heading into the NCAA Championships. That all changed during the prelims, where Cohen showcased an insane burst of speed, going from last to first in the final straight. That video caught my attention and some of the track internet community.

In the final, Cohen replicated his prelims strategy and ran close to even splits and finishing in 1:44.97. His racing style drew comparisons to Robby Andrews, who won the 2011 NCAA 800 title in similar fashion for the same school. Although Cohen was only ten years old during Andrews’ iconic race, he now finds himself following in those legendary footsteps.

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We just wrapped up a jam-packed weekend with track and field taking place in Eugene with the NCAA Championships, Portland for the Portland Track Festival, Rome for the European Championships and New York City for the NYC Grand Prix.

NYC GRAND PRIX

Lots of action to recap including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone giving the 400m American record a scare; Noah Lyles clocked a 19.77 into the wind, Eric Holt goes viral after taking 2022 world champion Jake Wightman to the line in the 1500m, Elaine Thompson Herah may be seriously injured after pulling up after the 100m. But the biggest story was 2022 World champion Fred Kerley and his sponsor Asics decided to part ways. Kerley came out onto the track wearing a competitor's product. Kerley did not end up racing after slipping in the blocks twice. He was not disqualified but elected not to race.

NCAA Championships

From McKenzie Long and Parker Valby to Shane Cohen and Parker Wolfe, we look at some of the collegiate stars who could be poised for a breakthrough to make the U.S. Olympic team in just a few weeks.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: Anderson Emerole | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@atkoeme on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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"I think anyone who has run, who has made running a part of their life, knows that it really does transform us as people. No matter what it is that we want to accomplish in life, we think that it makes everybody better by creating that habit of being physically active, moving your body, whether it's physical health or mental health. So we're hoping that this new way of talking about our mission and what we do will draw more people into the sport, into our community, and get people moving."

My guest for this episode is NYRR Rob Simmelkjaer, who also has a podcast of his own – Set The Pace. We’re at a point where we’ve got his boom happening. More than ever before, people are getting into running, joining clubs/crews/teams/training groups. NYRR puts on countless events in the city. I’m biased and think it’s got the best running community in the world.

So let’s take a look at the state of running and how someone like Rob and NYRR are striking that balance to accommodate so many people. Plus, we touch on his experience as an executive at ESPN and on-air talent at NBC has helped with the storytelling side to bridge the gap between the everyday runner and the elites.

Time Stamps:

3:51 - Sharing about his recent half marathon performance.

4:53 - His first two years leading NYRR as the CEO.

6:54 - What Global Running Day means to NYRR + upcoming NYRR events.

9:38 - How NYRR decided on their mission statement.

12:20 - What he hopes to accomplish as CEO of NYRR + core pillars of NYRR’s mission.

16:17 - The direction he hopes to steer NYRR towards.

18:47 - How working at ESPN and NBC Sports helped prepare him for his role at NYRR.

22:27 - His thoughts on how to bridge the gap between elite runners and everyday runners in the running community.

25:46 - How he got into the sport of running.

28:34 - How working for NYRR rekindled his love for running.

31:05 - Thoughts on how to continue growing the running community.

33:22 - The role of running groups in helping grow the sport.

38:56 - More thoughts on the role of running groups in growing the running community.

41:27 - Rapid fire NYC-related questions

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👟 NEW BALANCE: Discover the ultimate running shoe: Fresh Foam X 1080. With unbeatable comfort and top-tier performance, it's perfect for any occasion, from daily runs to races. Its innovative design includes Fresh Foam X midsole for seamless transitions and a breathable, supportive mesh upper. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit NewBalance.com/Running⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🍊 OLIPOP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Order online today and use code CITIUS25 for 25% off your order at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

💻 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit CITIUSMAG.com⁠

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