WORLD ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW | LIVE FROM BUDAPEST

0:00This episode of The City of Smack Podcast is brought to you by Altra and the new Vanished Carbon 3. And we've got the official spokesman of the shoe here, 209 Marathoner, Frank Lara. I haven't had the experience of the first time you'd like try on a super shoe, like in your life is like, wow, this is like a game changer. Like you don't like relive that and then like put the shoe on and I was like, oh, okay, this is what's possible. I was really excited about it. Here's a little more what the shoe features. A patent pending split toe carbon plate, a super critical two piece full peba midsole, the lightest most responsive foam Altra's ever made, and Altra's racing foot shape so your toes can still display and actually generate power. If you look at the shoe, I think a lot of people will think, oh, that's going to be like restricting, but like it feels really natural in a way that I wasn't expecting. I feel like it's not like I'm like trapped into this like specific shape, like with the like flexibility of having the like split toe.

1:01I still feel like every step I can like really like grip the ground and push off. Indipendently tested at a 2.6% running economy improvement over the Vanished Carbon 2. It's right there with the best super shoes on the market. Normally when you like test something out, you know, you don't like go all in from the beginning, but I like put it on. I was like, I'm never wearing any other shoe again. Not for training up. I mean, not for like any of my workouts. I want to wear this. I want to wear this shoe. So it was pretty immediate for me that I was like, okay, this is this is different. I'm really excited about this. Head to Altra running dot com slash Sidious. That's ultra a L T R A running dot com slash Sidious C I T I U S. And use code Sidious 10 for 10% off your first purchase that C I T U S for 10% off your first purchase. Race day is coming. Don't just run Vanished thanks to Altra for supporting the show. All right. It is September 10th and we are back in Budapest for the 2026 world ultimate championships.

2:23Chris job is joined by Kyle Merber, pre magetia and Mac fleet. Guys, we are less than 24 hours away from day one of ultimates, but Kyle, you're straight off the plane straight off the plane. Feels good to be back in Budapest. I mean, we met you in Budapest. Yes, I read past the spot this morning, but where we hosted a little statue of you two shaking hands. Yeah, back in 2023. It was before I had made poor life decisions. We had a great championship. Oh, yeah, it's everything is the last world champion you were at with. So I mean, we had a great time in 2023. So I think we all have good memories in the city. And now we're even closer to the ruins bar than we were last time. It's true. It's true. Mac and I went for a jog this morning. And I mean, the running here is great. I guess like we can't speak as a local, but as a tourist, like running along the waterfront.

3:24And then you get out to Margaret Island, which is the island with a 5K track. And Mac and I were just cruising, feeling amazing in our marathon training. And yeah, surprisingly for a morning round on a Friday, very few people out. I wonder if that's just people going to work. It's Thursday. Yeah, that's true. But then also, yeah, it is Thursday. I've lost track of time. But the other part that we commented to one another was like, didn't feel like we saw too many tourists or fans out here. I mean, I'm still chalking that up to being Thursday or Friday. Maybe we get more of that going that same run on Saturday morning. There's more people along the path. But for now, it's a little quiet. But the locals will turn out for this meet for sure. Because I mean, you were here as a fan in 2023, and like the fans were the Hungarian fans turned out big time. Yeah, absolutely. Obviously with Benzhalashin and the Hamayat, that's the man's hammer throw is here.

4:25Absolutely. But yeah, I mean, that is the loudest I've ever had at a athletic stadium. He should get 15% of every other hammer thrower's track. He deserves it. He successfully broke the event here. That statement you just made loudest you've ever heard in athletics stadium. You've been to Paris. You've been to London for a Josh. As in the thing was that the whole stadium shook. Literally, there was an earthquake. I was watching something else. And the whole, it was like an earthquake could happen. And I was like, when he threw eight meters, it was crazy. And I think there was also just a bit more because it's a slightly smaller stadium. But there were enough people there that I think just with the vibes, it just felt a lot more. You felt a lot closer to the action as well. So I think it was just everything put together. Like those bigger stadiums, Tokyo and Paris are amazing stadiums in London. But because it's not, it's much bigger area. Like I don't think you feel the energy quite as much.

5:28You still feel a lot. But yeah, you still, it's, yeah, it's like, it's all the stadium. Obviously here, there were, there were as many seats this time. So there was a top deck in 2023, which they put some bleachers up there. But it's not as much as they had in 2023. So it's not going to be the full like 30, 35,000, I don't think. A bit better less than that. How do they make the infield black? Like is that just paint? They were spray painting it. That's a lot of paint. Yeah. That can't be great for the environment. Yeah, but you know what? Neither are turf fields. That's true. So is it better to, I don't know. There's, there's a lot of worse things going on in the environment than one track neat, spray painting in infield for a few days. Like I don't, did they have data centers here? Like there's new fish to fry. Let's not, we're trying to have some fun. Like let them be. City's mag is not taking a stance on data centers just for record. Yeah. We're, we're, we're looking into it. Yeah. All right. So the way we're going to cruise through this preview is we're going to go day by day

6:30in order of the finals taking place. And so we'll start with the action taking place on Friday and for folks who want to be able to keep track of like when these events are taking place and how to watch the city's mag schedule post is now up on our Instagram. So you can scroll through and get full details on, you know, the events taking place and also had to watch live because it'll be airing across NBC NBC SN and peacock on Friday Saturday and Sunday. The only televised day will be Sunday on NBC. But day one, one to four PM day two and three. I think are from 12 to 3 PM Eastern time. So we've made it easy for folks to be able to see the schedule in Eastern time. And that's pinned to our Instagram. So for day one, we've got a couple finals on the track. So we're going to focus on the track events. If you want some field events breakdowns, you've got the polythrow show and also Anderson Emeralds, the final leg.

7:32Keep it at a two hour episode, previewing the sprints and the in the jumps. So this won't be as long. We're going to keep this, you know, moving along. So for day one, the first thing that they use is the next four by one. I want to touch on that really quickly. It's going to be chaos in that event. Mac, you've got a Mac mic on, right? You were on the plane here with Jeremy Warner, right? He was on your flight over. Did you guys talk, I think I presume, about the four by fours. But did he say anything about the four by ones? He's mostly four by fours, right? Yeah, Jeremy is mostly four by fours. But we were just talking about the dynamic of the new mixed gender. Four I wanted to, and just how difficult that is as a new event, because the different speeds go into the exchange zones. Crazy. And just kind of how different federations are, and how they're going to perform over the next couple of years. Because there are some countries that are largely based, like directly out of their federation groups.

8:34And they can practice really frequently with each other going into a championships. And then there's other countries like the US where the athletes just do not see each other until they show up. And this is going to be their first time practicing. It's going to be like the day before today. Yes, it's going to be today. So, and going into a event like this, when I'm exactly sure, I think, who is in the relay pool and whatnot. I think, well, to make this easy for the US. Why do these stuff, the stuff, it's people. That's what I was going to say. They're going to use Genes and just be free. Right. So, in previous years, it's been, last year was really easy because basically just Dennis's group. But, yeah, it's a new event. And it's like, I think it's here to stay because all the data has shown that regular fans love relays. So, it's here to stick regardless of what we think. But yeah. Something I like about the scheduling on this is that there's no 100 or 200 during Friday's competition. So, there's just no excuse not to have your best athletes out of there.

9:35It's straight final. The excuse is, I don't want it to impact my day one. And obviously, like, are we going to see Kenny and Melissa on it? I doubt it, that doubling. So, you know, I'm going to be able to see some good people to come out. Okay, so that's the truth. It's like, it's impressive to come away from the Ultimate Championships being a double champion and winning $300,000. Even more impressive if you come away with three titles and you participated in one of the relays. Legends are made. You're the Ultimate Ultimate. The first Ultimate Ultimate Champion. And you will receive no medals. Only checks. You know, one person will be doing all the events that say, be hunting. That's true. And she's used to it. Yeah, exactly. She's been doing it, like, she's racing every day for like months and a half. Yeah. All right. So then when we'll presume the US is going to have a good team in the mix for everyone, who else should we be looking at for a parade? Well, I think GB already seen one Europeans, which was, I was kind of impressed that they managed to pull that off.

10:39To be honest, I mean, it's a different team there because there's no D-Nurse and there's no Zon L. So, Jamaica. I think Jamaica could, again, it depends on how they put out there. Because with Jamaica, they've showed that they can be the quickest. But I think, because I think they, I can't remember what happened in Glasgow, a Commonwealth. I don't know if they're asked to remember what happened there. But they, yeah. But they can be a good team. The usual suspects will be in there. All right. Then we move on over and later in the afternoon to 36pm Eastern time will be the Men's 5K. And a couple days ago, Kyle, you did text a group. You're like, I think everyone keeps, like, overlooking how good of a matchup this one is going to be. Because we are guaranteed to see the Ackibing of Britson versus Cole Hawker in this one. They're still just sort of, at the moment, the entry is still reflect the Ackib doubling in both of the events. But you're thinking that this could be the better of the two matchups between them.

11:41Yeah. So I didn't tell you guys this yet, but I took my Uber here with John Galth, a paid for the Uber Sport Big J. What did you disclose that? I disclosed that to him that I was paying. John, if you're listening, very funny though, is I was legitimately listening to John talk on their podcast on the way here. And then I got to use the bathroom on the flight and I was like, hey, go. And he had just told the funny joke. So it was good timing. But so we were talking about this and saying, like, so then you just stood in the aisle and we just broke down the 5K together. The pilot won the land. I said, do another lap. Cole, so, all right, take a step back, world ultimate. So much of the races we've seen throughout the year. And the races that I'm most excited for, some of these matchups that we just haven't seen and we have not seen Cole in a 5K at all, let alone against Yaka.

12:45That's only happened once and it was in Tokyo. And Yaka was not at 100%. And so throwing the likes of Parker Wolff, who people of high hopes for in this and a few of the other studs here. And it's like, all of a sudden, this is like the most intriguing matchup to me because we actually have not seen any of the main contenders really race each other. And I don't know if Yaka based off of what we've seen last couple of weeks is ready to contend in the 1500. We'll see if he even lines up in the 1500. But we do know that he's very ready to run a good 5K based off of Europeans. And so, you know, after all the trash talk that the two have kind of traded the last week, this feels like a real rivalry. I don't think these two like each other. This is impression I'm getting based off of everything that's happened last few years. Yeah, well, I would just say like little birdies from the Diamond League final that was actually like fairly real post race of words.

13:52Sources of other sources. Sources have said that it was fairly real afterwards. But as real as Dragonfield can kind of get normally in track field, we get people apologizing to each other after they have a little like a battle of words, like the men's 200 we saw trials few years ago. But I think this one is more real. The videographer told me that they have footage with no sources. No, no, no. That's not also not my sources. They have footage so we will probably get to see at some point really from yeah, but then the trap between Holden Yakum. We need like a full TMZ. That's why I wanted to share it. So keep an eye out for that. There's a minute long so we can monitor. Well, can we buy it? The buy is better than time we should. But okay, so back to this feels like a real rivalry. I want to just pull apart just sort of the two different ways this race can go. If it's a 1310 race, we've seen how this goes where Yakum is very much in contention to win it.

14:57Calls in contention to win a 1310 race. You've got the likes of Graham, Nico, Beniamahari, Jacob Krop, guys who've gone sub 13 regularly on the Diamond League circuit. Of course, the reminder that involves a pace. But when you have enough of those guys making it fast from the front, is that a way to beat the kick out of Yakum? Who maybe is still coming back in at 85% now or 90% of fitness, but he's not 100% there. Yeah, I mean, if you're a Dzu Yehun, because you didn't want to say it. Gide, Nittakka, Samana. How is that? That was pretty good. Like college buddies from Jacob Krop, if you're the East Africans and you have coal hawk or any off of this race and you let it be race going north of 13 flat.

15:59Okay, what do we need to see at the first K that makes you think are they're messing it up? What? Honestly, I don't think it matters. Unless it's 1250 and no one's going to make this race a 1250 pace. But they need to. Yeah, but they're not going to. It's pretty nice. I've cared whether it is. I will say like it's... But no one is going to... I mean, it's raining tomorrow. It's a bit cooler, maybe. But I don't see any of these guys making it hard. Then they're not seriously trying to win. And we're like metal even because they've got no shot. Maybe Parker Wolfe does. Parker Wolfe... But he's not going to make it hard. He's got no reason to. Yeah, he's got no reason to. Yeah, Parker does like... I started to throw Parker Wolfe with Jacob and Cole as... Mac, you're going as far as putting him ahead. I'd put him ahead. I think it is a better kick this season. And both of those guys. I think he's shunned over and over. No, I don't think Jacob is... I mean, I hate... I mean, I could totally eat my words here. But I don't see how Jacob did favor it in this in any way.

16:59Compared to how good some of these guys have looked. Is there a favorite? I mean, I'm going to say don't sleep on Mikaiyan. Because he has... There's a lot of people... Because we all are saying different people's names. Yeah, but I don't think there is a favorite. I would agree. And Kai Robinson, he did a cum loss. He's an amazing championship. But I think he's right. Jacob's a favorite. What five can you lose when he's got you down here? I'm not saying that. You're not saying that. You're saying... Jacob just has the aura, right? And now... This is having a 1,500. Yeah, he's got the aura. It's just the aura that's in win race. I'm not saying he's got one. But he's got... He literally has won. Like, what is it? Three global championship titles in the five game. Because no one tries to do anything. I don't know. But he's the 0-2 Max. I just thought, don't get me started. Yeah, I just... It's pretty even split race of like three or four guys who have won the jidimit. Yes. And I'm only saying I don't think he's a favorite because of his lack of build going into it.

17:59He's obviously just super fit. Like, he's almost there. But I just don't think he has that last little, unfortable last 100 meters against some of these guys who are having career here. Is the knock on Cole not being the favorite? The fact we just haven't seen him over 5k. Yeah, just we haven't seen him run that many 5k's. Is also... Like, we haven't seen him run that well. Well, I was impressed by the ones he ran last year. Yeah. Generally, what it is. Yeah, I mean, those are good. But like, also that was slower race and dude, see that again. Likely. Okay, so at what point in the race is it a k? Is it 2k where is there a split you want to see that tells you they're serving this up to Yacob and Cole and Parker Wolfe? If they ever run above 240 in the first bike, if you're not running sub-13 pace, I just don't think anyone besides those three have a shot. This might just be in a fast or slow race, might no one have a shot. But I would at least try to... If I'm thinking how am I going to be Cole Hawker, then it's like,

18:59I will like, let's definitely run 1240 something. But I... Yeah, so you need a sacrificial lamb. And there's no teamwork happening here. Ethiopians, like Adice Yuhunu and Binion Mahari, they're not teammates. I don't think they're going to take... Like, I just don't see Mahari haven't done that little season. Mahari hasn't looked the same as that one. And he hasn't looked the same as last season. But yeah, I think it really is. I really do think the Americans are... I remember the decent shot here. We're not saying Grand Blank's name was. And he might finally get the big win. Yeah, no, I mean, he's... He's... he's looking good. Like, he's close well. Unfortunately, he's getting second by all the... And we'll take it with a K to go. Yeah, we'll take it. Hopefully it's to another American. We've got to be taken... The Americans are the rest of the field. Is it American going to win or is going to be in the field? Ooh. I'll go in American wins. And this isn't... This is like, try to be objective about it. Not just, you know. No, I know. And that was so quick to say that that's sure people are going to be like, He's a patriot.

19:59I think you have at least two Americans, arguably three that have a legitimate shot. And outside of the Americans, you have two people with a legitimate shot. Which is Kho, Yakaad and... Nittakarachama. You're growing off Karabansen. Come on, Tram. I mean, he looked amazing and come off, but that's the harder field. Yeah, he wasn't really a factor. Normally, a great kicker. All right, so really quick. So I'm taking Americans over the field. You're taking Americans over the field. Say if they're Americans over the field. And now I'm taking Yakaad. All right. You're already on the field. I'm taking the aura. All right. Shifting over to the Women's 5K. Ethiopia has half the field. I predicted this when they announced the ultimate chance that I was like, this is going to... You got LaKina Amabah, who's around the world leading 14-18. Ashlyn Buecke, also 14-18, for winning Highloo.

20:59What I said on our episode earlier this week, was that this is their best chance ever to win $150,000. Like, even when you move to the Marathons, you're not going to maybe get as big of a payday here. I would think that for many Highloo makes is the favorite. You won the Brussels Diamond League in 1435. And I... It was an Ethiopian sweep there with Amabah and Gettuch. It could be any sort of that combination, right? I think Amabah and Berwick came also very good and had really strong kicks all season long. They've been like trading wins and highly sort of come into shape towards the end of the season. So, and Berwick chose to skip the Diamond League final, I think, we assume she chose to skip it. And therefore, it's coming in here fresh as well. So, I do wonder whether that plays in her favour, because she's looked like one of the very best as well this year. So, I... Yeah. And I think the problem is, if it becomes a slow race,

21:59we saw Rose Davies' camp feature. I think she's the one other person that we haven't seen Shelby. She haven't looked the same as many other... She's the runner up at USA. Yeah. But, yes, we haven't seen her since USA, so I don't know whether she's just been training or what her kind of situation is. But... Yeah. It'd be too easy to do Ethiopian vs. the field for this one. So, I want to go... And I'll add Rose Davies to the mix. Does the winner wear green or not? Yes. We're all on the same page. The winner will be wearing green in this one. I mean, just hold too, like if this thing... Just hold it a little bit. Yeah, if it goes over the green. Okay, so yeah. If it goes over the green, it's a little bit slow, then all of a sudden, you know, she's really throwing herself in the mix. I mean, overall, I like Highloo. I think she's just so versatile and can win this in so many different ways and is just peaking really well right now, as we saw the Dynamite final.

22:59I mean, she's coming back in the 1500s. She's got a big weekend undecided, so I don't see her pushing the pace. But she closes and she just... She's a winner. I don't know. She's my pick. I don't know how you would beat her right now when she's on her game, because I'm pretty sure any pace that they throw at her she'll cover and... She's saying, one have better speed than her in this race, besides Jess Hall, who may not be there if it's a low-14 race. Again, this is probably the event where you're looking at, like, why did not... not about a clady pass on this thing. Like, the Italian Federation must be paying up the wazoo to get her to compete. Oh, it's because she's a real job. Oh, she's a police officer. She's a police officer. Yeah. Well, it's here, yeah. She looks to run cross country as a whole we've been told. Yeah. She has criminals to catch. She I read the... So I had a... I had a...

23:59I'm not gonna read it. No, but... Now the listeners are what are these talking about. So, they're... someone brought up in our group chat that... I think I brought it up the fact that... Someone, we're all looking for the guy. Yeah. It's... I do think that there could be a sitcom written about all these track athletes who double as, like, law enforcement in their respective countries. All of them. No, in the Kenyans. No, Kenyans in the Italian... Kenyans, like... How many are they? Well, I don't forget. What's Timberi's, please, officer? I think he's a police officer, thank you. I mean, they were the only... So the general idea is you take... Timberi, Barclady, Marcel Jacobs. Marcel Jacobs. And it's like a superhero sitcom. And depending on what the bad guys are doing, they use different skill sets to catch them. So if someone's really high up... Yeah, I have fun. And Timberi's jumping off. Just give the crowd.

24:59Don't read it. Don't read it. All right. Our imagination is better. But yeah, it's... It was basically like... There was a pickpocketer at the Trevvy Fountain. Who's like... I'm not... Don't read it! And then they run 400 meters away. You can't send Marcel Jacobs a naughty bottle of cleddy goes and gets the pickpocketer. That was like a little fan fiction. This episode of the City of Smack Podcast is sponsored by Suntow. And I'm very excited to welcome them on as a podcast partner. Let's talk about the Suntow run two. This is Suntow's new flagship built specifically for road running and the marathon. Last week in Brooklyn, we hosted a dozen US Olympic marathon trials qualifiers. And hopefuls for their first hands-on look at it. And then they took it for a run along the Brooklyn waterfront. A few days before that, I watched Emma Grace Hurley crush a workout with it in Indiana. She gets ready for the Chicago marathon. Clayton Young is the face of this new campaign.

25:59So they're supporting American distance running and they're looking to make more waves in the US market. Here's what stood out to me. I've been wearing it for about two weeks now. The new display is three times brighter than the original version of the run. So you can actually read your splits in the beating sun without having to shade your hand or... move it too close to your face. You don't lose your form. The body of the watch weighs 35 grams with a stainless steel bezel. So basically feels like it's not on your wrist. You get around 10 days of battery and daily use in 24 hours in performance mode with dual frequency GPS. Which means clean, accurate tracking underneath trees beneath overpasses between tall buildings. If you're someone who's had your watch lose GPS in Manhattan or Chicago, you know that this really matters. A new feature is energy sense. It's a single screen that calculates the pace that you can sustain. How much endurance you have left and how far you can still go at your current effort.

27:00I've been playing around with that a little bit. You adjust before you blow up, not after. The watch also tracks your sleep, HRV training balance. So you know when to push and when to back off in your workouts. So if you're in the market looking for a new watch, recommend checking out the Suntor Run 2. It's got offline maps and music on the 64 gig model. So you don't need your phone when you're running. It comes in a variety of different colors. They've got aloe green, all black, feather gold. And the fun part about Suntor is that you can also swap out the watch bands and they've got a bunch others on their shop. So it doesn't matter the maker model, the watch bands. If you want a white one, a black one, a red one, green one, it works across their different array of watches. So I've worn the Race 2, the Vertical 2, and now I've been running in the Run 2. So it starts at $349. You can check it all out at us.suntor.com.

28:02If you smash the link in the show notes, Sidious Mag gets a little bit of a kick back from every purchase. So give the Suntor Run 2 a try with you every mile adventure starts here. Back to the track. We also straight away from the schedule because the women's fight is on day two. Day one, you got the women's 100 meter hurdles. The Masai Russell show comes to town. And she's got a cool redemption story here because she walked off this track all tearful in 2023. And then that fueled her to her Olympic gold medal. And she's got a chance to end her season on a perfect note here and claim the ultimate title. She's got the Diamond League title, World Record so far this year. For a couple people, the World Athletics Athlete of the Year is at stake here. And I would put her just sort of on that short list too.

29:04If she can make it through the... Because this is her last competition of the season, right? So she did it. But regardless, this is the last big one that matters. And so she's just the favorite at this point, right? And she's number one in our power rankings. Number one, yep. We see that spot. Yeah. So it was something that I wanted to do at our content day that we're about to go to at the track. He's basically asked all athletes who bear MVP for the season is so far. And I think most athletes need same as I. Yeah, I would think so. We'll redo the power ranking based on the athlete race. She was actually here at this track earlier in the year and she won here. So she got some good, good, good, good, good, you. Toby Ameson's been the only person closest and she's around 12 to 23 this season. How many times is... I don't have the stat in front of me.

30:05Messiah Russell run faster than that so far this season. It's high top 10 average. You saw the career is now 1220. Cheers. Which is like the World Record from 10 years ago. I think that's what Katie Harris is all about. So how much, how many more years does she have to sustain this kind of success before you consider her the greatest 100 herdler of all time? Very few 100 meter herdlers have ever one back to back gold. At the Olympics. Someone's going to get on me. Has anyone done it? Jasmine Cymatric went ahead an amazing run of winning medals. But the hurdles specifically, such a different event to repeat in that I think if she goes back to back and she just strings from 24 to 2028, what she's doing now then that. No one's done it. No one's done it. No one's done it. Correct. I mean, the closest you got is Sally Pearson going and well, Don Harper winning an 08 and then getting silver in 2012.

31:09And then it was the flip. It was Sally Pearson with silver in 08 and then got gold in 2012. And then that's what Jasmine has done worlds and Olympics back to back. Yeah, but other than that, like, and if you look at just sort of, yeah, the 2024 podium, the size, the only one who has consistently held that kind of success over since the Paris Olympics. So in a sample, Mayaela has been injured and then now she's kind of there's reports she's facing a wearabouts failure. Jasmine Cymatric win out on maternity leave and then kind of struggled last year. So you got to really give big ups to Messiah for just sort of like this level of sustained success, you know, since the Paris Olympics. So she's the favorite. I think if there's anyone to maybe disrupt that, it could be Toby Amason or her training partner, Devon Charlton. But again, you know, Messiah has been head and shoulder. I love what I'm saying. Devon and Messiah line up next to each other because Messiah's start just really is put together so well when she's next to Devon, just the best starter in the world.

32:11And they're obviously so comfortable running next to each other. So I do hope that they end up next to each other again because I think it's a place of comfort, but it makes for a very exciting for 60 meters. Men's side, we go over to the 110 hurdles, 16 men entered and so you got semi-finals and then finals on the same day. Jacobi Tharp enters as the world record holder and also fresh off of the Diamond League champion. He's gone sub 13 four more times since breaking the world record. He ran, what was it? 1285 at the continental tour here in Budapest earlier in this year and just went 1303 to win the Diamond League title. Of the field, the only other men who have broken 13 the seconds, 13 are Jamal Brit and Trey Cunningham, but they haven't been able to do it as consistently as Jacobi Tharp. It's like Jacobi is the favorite and then I would probably put Jamal Brit potentially as a disruptor there.

33:13If he was not as hurt as he was coming off the track, which pre- you said he was fine. He posted on Instagram that he's fine. I would say, do not sleep from Bradley Franklin, he's coming and he won just last few days ago and he's been racing really well recently and he's been winning races. So I think he's another threat. But this one, if it's America versus the field, it's a USA sweep. I don't see like, DiMario Prince who has been good, but he's not quite been as consistent. Orlando Bennett, who's sort of metalist last year has not been as consistent this season either. I view us with six athletes in the field and that's without Grant Holloway, who had the buy. So, pretty awesome. All right, now we go over to the finals taking place on day two and we start off with the women's 400 and for this one, it's been just fairly clear all throughout the season that Marlady Polino is just on another level.

34:27He's unbeaten in the diamond league, holds the world lead. This is where, you know, over the last couple of years, Polino's was always I think the runner up at championships and she started her winning streak up until they got snapped by Sydney, look like the Veroni last year. But she's the head on favorite 48, 48 in Paris in June, 48, 64 in Brussels. And then, yeah, it's just been so good. Alia Butler, if she can try to get back into that 48 form that she's had earlier this year and the same thing, you pointed out, you want to see Henriette Jager get closer to that, you know, knock another personal best off. She was 49 or 4, Salva and Nasser hasn't looked the same so far this season unless like she's ready to pop a really fast one. But Polino is a favorite. Yeah, Polino is favorite by Marlady. I think we just want to see her like it's the last race of the season. We know she peeps really well, like Karen, she get close to 47 if conditions allow.

35:32And I think I do want to say like Nikisha Price has been coming into the form. She's coming and she's coming and we know she's someone that can run 48 for I have very best. So like she's the one other person that I would say, keep an eye on her. If she has a good day and Paulina has not as good a day, like there is a chance that kind of sucks for Polino that like you can go undefeated all season and win the ultimate title. But because you can't get the world record, which is still 47 six from Marie de Koch of East Germany from 1985 that like your case for well, that's like the year kind of gets hurt a little bit because then Messiah at the upper hand with the world record. But unless you win the popularity vote, which I guess remember that is a factor and all of that. Good see Sean Lee, mostly back for injury. So that's that's quite a nice little story. Just one in BC. Really after being out for over a month.

36:33Men's 400 kept in a ship. He has done it all so far this season. He's been undefeated so far and he just ran 43 for in Brussels moved him to number five on the all time list. And he owns four of the five fastest times of 2026, but not the world lead because that still belongs to Samuel Ogasi 43 38 from the NC championships. Ogasi not here. So cabinet shipy is arriving as the world champion, diamond league champion and a favorite for the ultimate title. It's just a matter of like if if there's a world record that is on watch here at these championships, it's this one. Yeah, I mean, I loved watching him race this season because he now just has such a signature race pattern, the sit and kick in the 400 and he's like one of the few who can do it. I mean, if you're in the lead, which dream Richards and jacquery Patterson have been many times and then they see the finish and they don't see a cabinet shipy, like at what point are they like they cannot celebrate.

37:44If they're in the position like they can be three meters from the finish line and I don't want to see them throw their hands up because he comes like a freight train down that last hundred. I don't know if rye is going to be able to match that. I don't know. And rye still figuring out his race pattern and like the best way to run and con just has it down. So even if physically he's capable, con just a race right now. So rye ran what 43 83. Yeah. And Celessia. So I don't know, I feel like this is an intrigue to lose. Gosh, I really like at the beginning of the year, January, bold predictions for the year. This is the one where I said, Rye is going to win this one. I know. Hey, I'm sticking with championship performer. What do you guys think Colin could run in like an 800? That's not going to last. It's the king of moving up. The bill.

38:44He's kind of got the bill. The hundred. He's a nine eight. Run out. Oh god. This one's really, this one's going to be really good. Beyond Kevin and Shiffie, you do have again, rye Benjamin, Zikithi Nene, J'Cord Patterson, J'Rim Richards, especially J'Rim Richards. No, he had a really strong performance in Brussels. So everyone's coming along at the right time. I think that this race could probably mirror something like what we saw at the Paris Olympics with, was it the top four guys in Paris and the top four guys in Brussels all broke 44. We could probably see, I can see five guys doing it here. This could be one of the must watch races of the entire weekend. All right, so that's the men's 400. Then we got the women's 1500, which in the absence of Faith Kippiegan, this one is just wide open. If you look at the diamond league and how it panned out throughout the season, we had a variety of different winners.

39:48And it ended with a breakthrough by Claudia Casmierska taking the diamond league title in a world lead of 354. The second fastest woman of the year is Dorcas Iwi, who just ran the silver medalist from last year and ran a personal best. So she's even better than she was in 2025. Jess Holt was just 0.01 seconds behind. So again, people are turning on and peaking for these championships. But then again, you have to kind of remember that Georgia Hunter Bell is got some crazy 800 meter speed. Great range has been on a tear all throughout the season that maybe we could think of Brussels as a little bit of a off performance. But I might look to her as the favorite. If they let it go slow and she can unleash the signature kick.

40:50There's no favorite in this one, which is great. Yeah, I mean Claudia though is there's momentum here. And the way she something I admire is the way she ran in Celeste on home turf to make sure that it was fast enough for her to get a national record. And then turning around and running completely the opposite way and making a big move with 200. Yeah, and I think that there is a world in which she finds that middle ground and she is towards the front and she probably will have the confidence now to just pick her spot and second third and sit there and wait. When someone's running like this six athletes have broken through these six this season in this field. And they'll have a pacer if Berca Highland chooses to go and make it fast. And that benefits, you know, we've seen we've seen that. I think you know I come from the GDF's like I school of coaching like Eric's coaching her.

41:50GDF's husband I think but I think they are all the same favorite. So there's two different wins to ways to run this one. If it's a 407 race like we saw in Birmingham, I mean that's a Georgia Hunter bell win. It goes 354 maybe it favors Kazmir Skud or Kissi Roy Jess Hall. But then you can do maybe there's highly there's yeah remember I guess Georgia underbells PB is 352 from Paris right. There's no way this goes. I think if she's refreshed I think I you know I do think Georgia has about like will have this under control. But she has to like she was looking tired last week. So it really does depend have last week has gone for her Nikki Hiltz obviously see the best last week in Brussels. But I don't think we've seen the best at Nikki this season. Well, pre was pretty good. Pre was good. Yeah, I mean time wise. Well, I think that's what it is right. If it's if it's slow enough then we know Nikki's always a threat right. If it's 357 or slower I think Nikki's in content Nikki's in serious content.

42:55I think if it goes a bit quicker than that I do think that the rest that the field has probably a little bit more. I think that the you know there's always always the talk of American records and like this one this year. It's kind of just like been a byproduct like no one's out where they've been like I'm going to go for the American record in this race. But people have been starting to get edge closer and closer. Yeah, I mean, do you think the four right 99? It's it's going to happen soon and it might be Emily McCoy for all you know like she's running great as well. So the way the women's if can't go how competitive is right now and how fast they keep running that won't be there a year. So real quick prediction on winner. I'm going Kessmyr Spitt. Yeah, that's a pretty good I'm going to go with Kessmyr Spitt too. Mack.

43:56We know preets picking Georgia. Oh, Nikki. Yeah. Just said yeah. Makes it out. Right next is the women's 800 which we've spent hours talking about on this podcast over the last couple months and that's because it's been it's the best event of the year. And now it gets a little bit interesting because yes, we've seen Audrey were over as Femkeable multiple times to round out the diamond leak season. But and we've seen Audrey were come out on top each time out. And we're going to get closer and closer. But you add back in Keely hostens in which we saw the three of them go head to head at the European championships except now Keely is a little bit fresher based off of sitting out Brussels and Zurich. But the big question is was that just a reset was it due to a hiccup in training or an injury of sorts.

44:57And so we've seen the answers when we see them all in the semifinals. But again, I think you just have to appreciate that we're in maybe one of the best women's 800 meter. The greatest error the women's 800 meters that isn't fueled by extra substances. Yeah, I respect the hell out of Keely's decision to just sit out the couple races and just she just hadn't had the string of training that she needed and she probably is regrouped feels so much more like herself. I think that she's going to be a significant factor. But Demka has just very clearly been figuring things out. But overlooked again again is how good of an actual racer Audrey Barras. Like she knows how to get the most out of herself, how to get around people, how to control races, when to attack, how to time things. That's what happens when you race 30 times a year, your entire career. You get really good at racing and she is an excellent racer.

45:58So I like that they're all bringing something different to the table for this one. So where are we held on by just point 0.06 seconds. That's the closest thing that Demka has been in this one, no pacemaker this time around. Can Audrey do or like still find a way to do her thing and go out and not she's not going out in 26. I think the way that she wins this week is forcing is forcing Keeley to take the lead out of the break. I think that's I mean she's done that before and then kick her down. Yeah, I think it's just for her lead and then for force Keeley to squeeze from the front. And then she's like the last 200 is going to be. I'm not sure. I think where a lights lead and she's sure like yes, she looks like she's getting tired. She seems to keep running away to win and I think she likes lead. So I think she's going to get a friend Mac thinks that Keeley is going to go. No, I think that that's how I think I'm going to I think Vera is going to force someone else to lead.

46:59I keep like waiting for the other like she would drop where I'm like oh she's going to be a little tired because she keeps running 153 154 every single race. But it's not happening. And I just I don't know it especially after last week I don't see her absolutely ripping it again. No, if she takes the lead from the front, I like I feel like that's a ripper and with no rabbit. I think that she let someone else take it and then does that. You know it's a fascinating thing. There are 16 women in this field. The fastest or the slowest seasons best is 158.4. Wow. And that's how fast is it going to take to just get into this final? Well, it was the same. It took one day to get out the heat that you were paying. It might be like 156 high to get into the final. What's even crazier is how is it like it is very deep one through 16.

47:59But how far away is the top three women are? Oh yeah. And it's all that is quite unbelievable. I know it's like sorry like in any wild even Rodgers like every single race we see it's you know it's keely or or or Vemka and then it's all half a straight away and then there's the rest of the field. Easy one to try to fact the box. Yes. The sounds like we wouldn't have asked this out loud like maybe 12 months ago. But is there a world Femka wins this? I think there's a chance. Of course. Absolutely. Absolutely. I could see. It's a one to be six race. Let's go. I could see keely and Vero like torsing themselves to 50 to go and Femka not having to do anything but sit behind them. And we last week was a good indicator that she can move over the last 100 meters. Seven to one to six race. Keely's got it. I could depend on the final. I can't. I... Vero's.

48:59I think Vero's is so good. Vero's so good. I just... Yeah it's hard. And I have a lot of sympathy now for keely like a week after my fall with my bum knee like I can barely put socks on like I'm so impressed with what she did like running pre like I'm like yeah like... Wonder Warrior project over here. I'm like literally like if you know if she's able to be like she clearly that clearly affected what she was able to do mid season. And I think yeah you're right like the reset could have done wonders for her if it's been cleared into an untrubbed and better training and refocusing plan. Yeah. Alright let's go around. Maybe we know you're picking keely. I'm still picking Audrey. Sorry. No, okay. I'm still picking Audrey. You're picking. I'm starting to think keely's got a shot here. I'll go keely. Vero. I'm going Femka. I want to see it.

49:59Like I think more realistically it'll probably be where O'Hodgkinson but what do I want? I want Femka Win. It just makes the plot line for next year just so much more interesting. That's funny. I want Rochine Willis. Yeah. Femka Winning would do wonders for my Twitter. That'd be just really fun on there. I think Femka Winning would be just hilarious. This is the one race we finally see or just pump her arms. We just see this insanely different form in the final app. She started doing it. She started doing it a little bit. Can't wait for that one. Well, well, well. About time for refreshing twist. The City's Mav podcast is brought to you by OliPOP. For your entertainment, I'll be doing some OliPOP ASMR. Hello again. It's me, Gabby Henteman. Back to remind you how mouthwatering a crisp, cool, gut-friendly soda sounds right about now. Now that you're several miles into your run, praying for shade and keeping your eyes peeled

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52:03For 25% off your next order, use Citius 25 at checkout. Get the fiber, avoid the fear. Happy running. Then we have women's 100 meters. This will be the one time we get to see Julian offered versus Melissa Jefferson wooden in this one. Those two are the clear favorites. She carried registered returning to the same stadium where she became world champion. But unfortunately, I do think it's Melissa versus Julian in this. And I got to say, I think Julian has put together, I think, a little bit more impressive reps each time. And the way she's raised, I think, is just a bit more assertive and dominant each time. But Melissa storming back, I think, right after she sat out USA's, and the diamond lead that she won after that was also very impressive. So I could see it going on your way. Yeah. You don't bet against M.J.W. I mean, I just like Melissa so much. I think she's such a gamer. I respect the hell out of her.

53:04She just doesn't have that many hundreds this season, which has kind of gotten overlooked. Like, you know, she's run five and that includes a heat at USA or at pre-fantane. So she's just getting better. I mean, if you just chart out her trajectory right here, it's timing really well. What do we think of the fact that Julian's focusing on just the hundred and like, what does that mean? I don't, part of me was like disappointed by it. I wanted to see her double. Imagine just not like taking another $75,000 worst case scenario. Yeah, I'm just kidding. She was very clear and I think that like her coach, like we know from the past, right? Like her coach, makes a plan and they stick to it. That is how they work. Well, until Tokyo and then you bail on the 200. But that she was injured, right? So she was injured after that and she had to completely like take some time off for

54:07reset and she has like just seeing her the season. She's been a lot happier, a lot more relaxed to herself. She's put a lot less pressure on herself and she was the world leading 21151 from Lannaker. Like, I mean, I can't, we would have loved to see that 200 matchup, which we don't get the talk to see. Is there an asterisk at whoever wins the 200? No. It's a race who's here. Or not in that, but like there's now a plot line for you. Well, you're going to do the same thing. But I'm off the next journey. It's Kenny wins and you're thinking, oh, but Noah was in here. Yeah, but an injury is different. An injury being injured or healthy of a start line is part of running. Choosing not to run isn't different. But what about when you choose to have a baby in the ultimate year? Do you put an asterisk over the 400? No, that's more important than anything. But obviously, Sydney is not an erase. Yeah, that's a different story. That's a different story. Yeah, that's a different story. Okay, so we've seen Jefferson would in versus Alfred two times so far this season.

55:11In Celestia, Jefferson would in 1-1078-1083 and 0-4 days later, Julian Alfred flipped it and ran 10-70. But both of them ran 10-70. I think the biggest thing you've got to remember is that Dennis Mitchell and Melissa are just so good at peaking that they won worlds last year in 1061. And that was well clear of both Tina Clay and Angelina Alfred. So I could see something similar where they were saving the best for this meet. And so that's why I'm more inclined to pick. Yeah, I'm just kidding. Carrie's coming back to Beta Pest, she won't have all tried to. I wish I would have seen something a little bit more at injury in Brussels. In order for me to really think, okay, she's going to stun the world. If it's 60 degrees, does that change anything? Like, if it starts to rain, which is it is in the forecast, maybe Zoe Hobbs has a chance because she won the con. I think it actually changed the thing. Just maybe someone's hand me. It's just, it's a little bit left.

56:12It's just going to be someone on how or for let. Alfred and the other is, I don't think it changes anything between those two. To knock it out then very quickly in the 200, I think it's MJW versus Gabby Thomas. And Gabby, like even with a two month layoff, I think from racing, like she goes out and runs 1101, 1102 in the 100 at a small meeting in Italy. So she just, right where she left off, basically from earlier in the season. They have not matched up all year since the Twitter beef. Oh, that's true. Yeah. And then, well, I think, and the, the debt kind of drops off quite quickly because of all the scratches in the 200, right? So, you know, and so I think that you've got Kayla White and Cambry Sturgis. And then you want to bring up Amy Hunt, so go on there. And well, no, as in, like, like, Sean, we haven't seen for a few weeks. And then Amy Hunt, I think, yeah, it's, and Amy Battle has not looked as good as she was looking last season. And behind that, I don't think there's anyone who's going to challenge anybody, really. It's a shame, a day's a hard isn't here. Yeah, she'll let the see her versus Tori Lewis.

57:14Oh, massive. Yeah, that too. There's a lot of people beefing in the call room beforehand. Um, we're team chaos here. Yeah, we love, we're good. Twitter's, uh, we love, we're good. We love the chaos, yeah. Yeah. Does any part of you Kyle think that because MJW participated in some events last year that allowed for a double across multiple days that it fares better for her here to move between the hundred and 200? It's like, oh, we've seen or do this. Versus. What? Versus. So coming away with both wins and 100 and 200. I think she's the first person to have her double at the hundred and the 200 and then it neat. Yeah. All right. That's the, uh, we knocked out the women's hundred. Let's go to men's men's hundred and 200 and their men's hundred men like for the marquee event of the sport that gets all the glitz and glamour at the Olympics. This hunt, the hundred has not been that exciting this year and now it's like, man, I wish

58:16no louses in this one because anytime he's in the race, it's so much more interesting. So I look at Obliq Saville. Yes, he is the reigning world champion and he won several times in the diamond league, lost a couple to cancel the jai. But that's it. Like I think that there's, there's a bit of a drop off after that. What was Kishane's injury? Like I feel like he just quietly, I mean, has touched us away. So maybe the heartbreak, the bereavements, I think. So I think he's hurt because he was racing. And yeah, but to your point, like without him and Noah, it is a totally different field. I am glad that we have Obliq here, but there's one guy in this field who's run nine six this year and that's Marcel Jacobson. Championship performers. World Ultimate Championships. Although he didn't tell your PN file, right? Well, he got injured. He got 12 to, but he's on the start line. So there's a chance. That's my guy.

59:16All right. I think Obliq Saville is the man to beat in this one. Although it would be, if we want to root for chaos, he have lock on Kennedy when the whole thing. He's running nine eighty five earlier this season. And then when we go over to the 200, it's a little bit of a different cast and not as much of a overlap. Noah would have been probably like one of the only people who would have been the favorite. Kenny's doing both of us. Kenny's doubling. Let's see. Let's go. Go's doubling. And when we look at the 200, if there's ever been a title, I don't think Kenny's ever gone to a championship as the favorite in an event. And now with the absence of Noah, and let's see. Let's go. Not looking as strong. I think this is his best chance to win a big one. And that's great confidence to take into 2027. Yeah. And then you should pick Lane one. That's right. We have the draft. We have the draft. And you wrote about this in the lab count. Yeah. It summarized it for folks. So there's a Lane draft in the 200s.

1:00:18So basically like the top ranked athlete can choose which Lane in which heat they want to be. And then they work down. And so Kenny will have the first overall pick in the draft. And I think he should pick Lane one. It will only be for the prelims. I think it would be funny. And it will make it. It's a statement piece. But most importantly it would be funny. And then I think of like down the line someone that has to pick if they'd rather be in like Lane one not with Kenny or like Lane three with Kenny. And then you know they're going to have a big thing Lane one because even out of Lane one in a prelim like Kenny's going to make it guys. So you'd be best to avoid him. Yeah. That's just a little silly. Big. Big chance for Kenny to win a big one. All right. Let me go to the final day of competition. Women's 400 hurdles. Mac and I actually saw Hannah Cockrell at the end of our run. And she's just kind of like coming around at the right time.

1:01:19She's overtaken I think Emma's apatholova as you know the favorite. Emma won all the early Diamond Leagues and then Anna's just really good at you know I guess peaking as the season progresses. And so this is her chance to come away with a big title. It's those two. Yeah. I don't think there's anyone else who's shown the capability really to win when stuff here and yeah it's those two and Anna was kind of keeping her cards close to her chest all year in the season. She was like I'm trying some stuff. She wouldn't tell me what when I cried to interview her and then when she when it all came together and she ran that 52 one she was like that's what it was all about. And I think she's going to try to max lip on the next one. So yeah. I think it's been interesting like Zeppelin to lovers last hurdles have gotten pretty sloppy under pressure. So she soothes in that race where Anna ran a 52 one. Emma had actually like she decided to go for it so they were trying a different race

1:02:23strategy. She went out a lot harder than she normally does because she normally does kind of come through late and that was just a deliberate strategy to kind of see if she could run quicker. Yeah. Obviously didn't didn't work. She hit the last hurdle and she got tired whatever so but yeah I don't know. I mean she maybe she puts it back together for for well ultimately. Let's hope for a Delilah Muhammad podium. Yeah. That'd be nice. I mean well there's no podium here because it's only about the winners. But there's no podium at all. I don't think so. I think it's literally just about winning. They're not celebrating anything about second or third place here. That's true man. That's what they told me. It's the token thing. Everyone gets to all get ready. If you finished third of the world ultimate championships will we acknowledge it? No. Do you think the world ultimate championships make with the pdf pages for global medals? Is Camille Herron and I know it's just Camille. No, sorry. No, I don't know. No, that's the guy who does the Wikipedia pages. Is there one track fan?

1:03:23I think so. I think we met him once. Really? I don't know if he does a lot of sport, but I think he does a lot. Okay. We met him at the armory. Tid me. Okay, I forget about that. Yeah, I mean this is this might be Delilah's actual goodbye. But at this point I'm like, we're so close to LA. She's going to do it. Just stick around. Yeah, she's sticking around. Yeah. All right, we already touched on the women's 5K. In 800, the Emmanuel Wanyone show, but is Ken Marco Arope's new Achilles bring back some good juju and magic because this is where he wanted the world title. And then also is what's Jim Elson, Johnny got up his sleeve for this one. But when Yoni was just each time out, I thought that he was being really aggressive in Brussels and he's still a health strong. Yeah. When Yoni has this thing where he just doesn't die, it's pretty sick. It's a huge advantage in 800-minute races where generally the idea is we can die the least.

1:04:30Would dad say that it's Sid Javi's last 100 is just back. And reminds me of Telfi McCluffy the way he looks sometimes. He just looks incredible. And so I don't know, I mean, he's coming on strong right now. I don't know if it's enough to close the gap on when Yoni. I'm interested to see now without rabbits what happens. Like, do you think Marco takes it? He has taken it very hard a couple of times a season and we've seen it's probably too hard. Is all the pressure on when Yoni to make this a 141-142 race? No, I said Javi, in a 143 race is a serious fact. Well, he's a fact in a 143. Mark English. Brandon's going to shout out if it's in 143. Yeah, exactly. Thanks. I mean, Brandon Miller, what was the last time that he ran? Zerr.

1:05:31Yeah, he was there but he didn't have the kick. I know. Yeah. I think Brandon's looked impressive each time now. But he chose to go back, have a couple of weeks of training, miss Brussels. Like, I think he'll be coming back short. And we know Daddy Mack, he's very good at that. That busy man. He's just super good with Bernadot that races. They are race very often when they do. They race really well but this is one that he's race to lose. Like, he can run multiple way different times. You've made so many of these solid. Okay. Yeah. But he's just, he's looked too strong and he races too consistently. And his biggest competition is currently sitting and so, so, so excited. His fizz head. Do you think? I'd love to hear that Cooper Luckinhouse got detention for like taking out his phone in the middle of class to watch. That's what he gets in trouble for. He's like, I'm paying attention to my real job.

1:06:33I have a feeling he can do anything in that high school. So get away with it. Yeah. All right. Final event and the big shabang that we love to talk about. Men's 1500. And what have you made of? So of course, we unpack all of the Yaka versus cold beef on this weekend Trouting Field episode that we dropped a couple days ago. So if you didn't listen to that, you can go back and listen to just sort of like all of the contest around it. And one thing we kind of noted was that it's just must be fun to be Josh Kerr to just like sit back and watch all of this unfold. And then you pipe in at the very end and throw throughout a 48 second 400 on your Instagram. And the content of the workout for it was 642, I think, time three. And then this was just a 400. I was tacked on to the very end. I read Mac. The splits that John Gaul shared in his article. And Mac said pretty standard workout. Nothing too flashy. The 48 is nice.

1:07:35I guess you're the YouTube, I guess, that are like the masters of interpreting workouts. What did you make of it? All you need to know is that Josh said he's fine. And if he says he's fine and he's talking to the media, then he's fine. Yeah. If Josh says I'm going to win this race, he's healthy. He's fine. If he's saying he was going to be a lot of pain in suffering or whatever the line was, then I'm going to tell you he felt pretty good during that work. Yeah, and things are going well. Yeah, I don't think there's anything special about that work. It was just a maintenance end of season, you know, feel good workout with like a little bit of confidence booster in that last 400. It's closing guys actually like run 48 15 guys run 48's because like everyone, a lot of these guys can do that. They just don't do it that often. What's the best ever in a practice? Did you guys ever? Yeah, I've run some 50 points. No, 48's. Well, you're in 48. Yeah, did you?

1:08:35I've run 49's in practice. Three. I've run 70's. But it's rare. It's really an interesting thing. Yeah, you do it once, maybe twice a year. Like I would be shocked if Josh has run that fast at all this, maybe you know, like you, like it's a two's and three's you'd be running that pace, but like an actual 400 and you're rarely. I mean, this is what we were talking about earlier in the season preparing to just run a straight time trial in 3.42 is totally different in the preparation than a championship. Well, the thing is, is this a straight final here? Yeah, but I guess the point being is that in the lead up to London, it's more about dialing in 54's. Well, then we saw a couple weeks later at Commonwealth, just absolutely. Toiled with the feels. Like, that's the thing. Well, it's hard watching the Diamond League final and then being like, we saw most of these guys run Commonwealth final and Josh, like towards like children. That's sort of like, okay, yeah, I mean, it's been impressive.

1:09:37Cammyers run 328 so far this season. Wins the Diamond League final in 330, but it's like he got beat down by Josh Kerr at Calm Games. Does anyone have a shot against Josh? It has to be one of those where he's not like he's sick or something like you got sick when you arrive. Like, has to be something like that. He's the favorite. I didn't see anything as a side of a lost part. I didn't see anything of Brussels, which made me think that any of these guys could go place to it. And I think he's anywhere close to the Shakey pool. What he would take is Manuel Coge shoving him off the trash. Which would be a real possibility given how we've seen him. Or what the fuck and tripping him up. That's it. I think we see something like, was it re-classic two years ago? I mean, just took it with 600. I think we see something like that. He's now, we've seen London, then 600 to go is quite comfy. Even though he dominated that last laugh and comment, well, I don't think that's the

1:10:37way anyone wants to run a race like that. He was, I don't know if you know this term, pretty, Argy Bargy. I was the one who didn't know that. You don't want that. If you just know you're the best guy, you want a clean race. Until Fancoke, Fancoke, which says otherwise. Yeah, I mean, this is going to be, the ultimate championships are built for a race like this, where you're pulling in the Raining Olympic Champion, the World Champion. They've burped their own rules for this race. So now we kind of just hope Yaka actually sticks to it and shows up for this one. I really want him in this one. So one of the things that has been made to the 1500s that there hasn't been, there's been what, nine different winners in nine years. You're thinking it's just like the NBA title. So if you had to pick someone who has not won in the last nine years, it would have been

1:11:4110 miles. 10 miles, yeah. Oh, cowach, Pradoo, cowach. Yeah, but we said strap. I guess, oh, that's right. Geez, I'm forgetting that. We were so high on him at Milrose Games. He disappointed. He disappointed to stand. I'm stuck. Stainlessly. He was like, full. He was crisp. He wanted to die in the league. Then he wanted to die in the league. I hear him. He's a serious man. He's a serious man, soldier. I've seen that guy accept the collab tag from us, like four feet away from us when we posted it. Pretty cool, though. Yeah, pretty cool. He's a rider die city, a guy. I've seen him pick up other people's phones and follow Sidious Mag. Oh, yeah. He's on their phone, yeah. So am I inclined to go crazy and pick Ethan Strand for the win? Yes. Do it. That's crazy. I already picked Femke to win the 800. So I mean, I'm going to stick with John. Femke to win the 800 is not a crazy thing.

1:12:42So Ethan's a look. If picking Ethan to win the 1500s will a crazier? Then Femke to winning? Yeah. Is Ethan Strand a top 10 all-time performer? Yes. In America. That's the way. He's the braining US champion. Oh, no, no, he's not. Who's the braining 1500 champ? What do you mean? In the US. Outdoors. Who won USA Outdoors? Oh, you're counting this year. Yeah. I don't know if we... It wasn't anything green, right? I was like, what do you mean? He was like so long ago. Yeah. But he's not in this one, is he? He's not in this one, is he? All right. Anyway, all right. Let's wrap it up. Josh Kerr versus the field. Josh Kerr. Josh Kerr. Josh Kerr. Sorry, Ethan. Josh. Yeah. All right. So that does it for... 400 handles. 400 handles. Oh man. That's for real.

1:13:42I mean, it's the big three. It's the big three. Yeah, for real. Yeah. I'm not going to do it. This is what I'm saying earlier. Like, it's one of the matches we haven't seen this year. Rye versus Allison. And honestly, like, I don't know if Carson has a shot anymore versus Allison. I mean, it's a good season. But it's just Allison's happened. Allison's now pulled away. Yeah. Allison's pulled away. And also, Rye will have the 400 handles. Like, at this point. Yeah. So I think Allison is still Allison's to lose. But I'll be in trouble. We'll be in trouble to see what we can do. Yeah. All right.

1:14:43That's a wrap on today's episode. Thanks for listening. For the time, the curiosity, and for making this show part of your routine or your run. A big thanks to our producer, Jasmine Fair, and to everyone behind the scenes who helps make the CitySmag podcast happen. If you enjoyed today's episode, a quick five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Helps people find this show, and we read every single one. You can find much more track and field coverage at CitySmag.com. And you can follow along across all of CitySmag social channels. We'll see you next time. Thanks again for listening.