With the 2025 World Athletics Championships starting on September 13th, we're unpacking the biggest storylines, some of our top picks, and athletes to watch for in each track event. We’ll be dropping the second part of our preview podcast with the rest of the events later this week.

Be sure to subscribe to the CITIUS MAG Newsletter to get each of our written previews sent to your inbox and follow along our socials for lots more content to get you excited about Tokyo!

Time stamps:

21:46 - Women’s 10,000m

33:37 - Women’s marathon

48:58 - Men’s 10,000m

1:03:55 - Women’s 100m

1:07:17 - Men’s 100m

1:14:14 - Men’s marathon

1:18:09 - Men’s 3000m steeplechase

1:22:08 - Women’s 100m hurdles

1:25:50 - Women’s 1500m

1:34:04 - Men’s 110m hurdles

1:38:10 - Women’s 3000m steeplechase

1:44:00 - Men’s 1500m

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Mentioned in this episode:

Subscribe: CITIUS MAG Newsletter

Save: Our full schedule in Eastern time

Listen: TOKYO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS THROWS PREVIEW + PICKS (With Beau Throws)

Watch: Sprint events preview via The Final Leg

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Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram

“It goes without saying that we want to go for at least a medal and maybe even the gold medal [at the World Championships]. We don't really speak about that; it's just about being at my best level in the final. I would call that our goal. Whatever result is connected to that depends on so many factors and that's why we don't really speak about, ‘We want to be first there,’ but more about the whole process.”

Every so often, a young runner bursts onto the scene not just with talent, but with a presence that makes you believe you're watching the next big star take shape in real time. Niels Laros is that runner right now. At just 20 years old, the Dutch phenom has gone from a precocious prospect to Diamond League champion and now even being the name on everyone's lips as the favorite for the World Championships in the 1500m in Tokyo.

He's rattling off consistent victories this summer, he put together a historic 800m and 5000m double at the European U23 Championships, he had an epic Bowerman mile victory over Yared Nuguse that we haven't forgotten, and most recently, a Diamond League title in Zurich where he unleashed yet another sizzling final 100m in 12.5 seconds to clock a 3:29.20 – a Dutch national record and personal best.

Again and again, Laros has shown the defining quality of today's 1500m champions: the ability to close off a fast pace. His final 100m stacks up against anything that we've seen from Josh Kerr or Cole Hocker that they've produced in their gold medal runs.

But Laros's story isn't just about times and trophies; it's about timing and arriving in peak form as the global landscape in the 1500m shifts. With Jakob Ingebrigtsen sidelined by injury and his rivals Cole Hocker and Josh Kerr searching for their best in 2025, Laros has positioned himself right now as the man to beat. We talk about his rise, the confidence that comes with winning big races, and what it means to carry the weight of expectations heading into Tokyo.

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Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guest: Niels Laros | @niels.laros on Instagram

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Mentioned in this episode…

- Paris Olympics men’s 1500m final

- Zurich Diamond League men’s 1500m

- Brussels Diamond League men’s 1500m

- Prefontaine Classic Bowerman Mile

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Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet break down the biggest winners and losers from the Diamond League final in Zurich. Some of the top highlights from the meet include…

- Brittany Brown makes the most of her second shot at the World team by winning the 200m final in a season’s best 22.13.

- Niels Laros solidifies his spot as the top dog in the 1500m with an undeniable victory over world leader Azeddine Habz, world junior record holder Phanuel Koech, and 2019 World champion Timothy Cheriyot, running 3:29.20 to also claim the Dutch national record by 0.03 seconds.

- Audrey Werro thrills the home crowd in Switzerland with a huge win and national record in the 800m, as she and Georgia Hunter Bell both dip under 1:56 for the first time in their careers, with Werro holding onto the edge with 1:55.91 to 1:55.96.

- Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi had to go to the well to stay ahead of Max Burgin on the homestretch of the 800m, but in the end he had just enough in the tank to take the win in 1:42.37 to Burgin’s 1:42.42.

- World champ Noah Lyles and Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo battle for every step of the 200m, with Lyles just beating his rival by inches in the end, 19.74 to 19.76.

- Olympic 100m champ Julien Alfred doesn’t look like she’s missed a step after withdrawing from two Diamond Leagues earlier this month with a hamstring issue, holding off a strong challenge from Tia Clayton to take the title in 10.76.

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Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠ + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mentioned in this episode…

Watch: ⁠Zurich Diamond League Final Interviews⁠

Listen: ⁠Nikki Hiltz On Their Career-Defining Season To Repeat As National Champion, Winning A Diamond League, And Heading To The World Championships As A Medal Threat⁠

Listen: ⁠Record-Breaking 16-Year-Old Cooper Lutkenhaus On His Decision To Turn Professional & Sign With Nike⁠

Listen: ⁠Kenneth Rooks On His “Rollercoaster” 2025 Season And His Hopes For The World Championships In Tokyo⁠

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