Vernon Norwood

"I told (Quincy Wilson), ‘Don’t worry about this. I'm going to get you a gold medal. I promise you.’ I kept telling him, 'Don't worry about this, you're good.’ I think he was just a little bit disappointed in how he performed, but I'm like, ‘Don't even worry about that stuff. You're about to walk away with an Olympic gold medal at 16-years-old. There are people who would love to be in your position who are just not. Remember this, feed off this, and understand that this is only going to make you better because now you see how an international competition is.’"

Vernon Norwood joins the show fresh off a successful trip to the Paris Olympics, where he played a pivotal role in Team USA’s triumphs as one of the veterans and hypemen of the squad. Vernon was the second leg of the American men’s 4×400-meter relay team to their third consecutive Olympic gold, clocking an astonishing split of 43.30 seconds on his leg. 

This was just one day after he blazed through the heats with a 43.54 split, showcasing his consistency and brilliance under pressure. 

Vernon’s efforts didn’t just earn Team USA the gold—they also set an Olympic record with a time of 2:54.43. 

And let’s not forget, earlier in the meet, Vernon was part of the mixed 4×400 relay team that shattered both the World and Olympic records with a time of 3:07.41 in the heats. They went on to take silver in the final behind The Netherlands. 

Vernon is a legend for these Games not just for his speed and demeanor on the track but his ability to deliver when it matters most.

5:09 - Reflecting on his experience at the Paris Olympics. 

6:57 - What felt different about this year’s Team USA.

12:40 - His relationship with Quincy Wilson 

14:19 - His goals heading into the Olympics.

17:17 - Addressing criticism on the mixed 4x400m relay. 

20:19 - Thoughts on Quincy Wilson’s Olympic performance. 

24:54 - What his ideal 4x400m relay team would have been. 

27:44 - Thoughts on Letsile Tebogo and Team Botswana.

36:59 - Team USA’s 4x400m relay order + race strategy.. 

41:28 - Thoughts on Noah Lyles 

46:58 - Plans for the remainder of the season.

48:50 - Rapid fire questions + answers. 

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Vernon Norwood | ⁠⁠@vernon400m on Instagram

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“Leading up to the Trials, I was in phenomenal shape. I was putting together quite a few consistent races. But getting 4th, I just feel like I beat myself. Not even trying to be funny, those guys didn’t beat me – I beat myself because of the way I ran in the semi compared to what I ran in the final. I think I left like a half second out there… It was a great battle. I still feel like I finished really hard to get that third spot, but those guys got the best of me.”

Olympic gold medalist Vernon Norwood joins us live in Eugene after his 4th place finish in the 400m at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Vernon breaks down the 400m rounds at the Trials, how the 4x400m relay pool selection process works, shares the behind-the-scenes of creating a top tier 4x400m relay team, how he’s remained a consistent top performer at 32-years-old, and a few funny stories with other top U.S. sprinters. Hear more from Vernon in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast.

Host: Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Vernon Norwood | @vernon400m on Instagram

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LIVE SHOWS

Good Morning Track and Field will start your day with some takes and updates from Eugene hosted by Eric Jenkins, Mitch Dyer and Karen Lesiewicz at 8:30 a.m. PT.

TRIALS TALK – our hit daily podcast series from 2021 – returns on The CITIUS MAG Podcast feed + streaming live immediately post-race to unpack all of the action immediately following the meet.

LIVE MEET COVERAGE

Stay updated on live results, mixed zone interviews and more on the CITIUS MAG Instagram, X and Threads pages while the meet is underway each evening. All interviews will be uploaded to our aforementioned YouTube channel.

MORNING RUNS

Also, CITIUS MAG Newsletter subscribers will be getting daily emails from the Trials as David Melly rounds up all of the biggest results, stories + our best interviews, photos and original content from Eugene. If you want to hook a friend, there’s no better time than the Trials so forward them the emails or encourage them to sign up today for FREE here: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/

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👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“I'm still processing everything. It still very much feels like a dream. I keep telling everyone that every morning I’ve woken up since the race, I keep having to check my phone, check the date, and make sure I’ve already raced and that it’s not coming up. I was like, ‘Wait, that actually happened, right?’ I feel like for me it’s been a lot of processing, a lot of pinch me moments, but a lot of joy.”

Sister duo Juliette and Isabella Whittaker join us live in Eugene after their breakout performances at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Juliette qualified for her first Olympic team by placing third in the 800m and Isabella took 6th in the 400m final. The sisters share about how they were able to split their focus between the NCAA season and Olympic Trials, how they manage nerves before their races (and each other's races!) and lots more. Hear more from Juliette and Isabella in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast.

Host: Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Guest: Juliette Whittaker | @jwhittaker22 on Instagram + Isabella Whittaker | @b_whit215 on Instagram 

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CITIUS MAG LIVE From Eugene! will bring you daily interviews with athletes, coaches and notable folks in town at noon PT each day. Our guests for day six of the Olympic Trials include Chari Hawkins, Anna Hall, Nia Akins, Eric Holt, Vernon Norwood, Allie Wilson, and Juliette + Isabelle Whittaker.

LIVE SHOWS

Good Morning Track and Field will start your day with some takes and updates from Eugene hosted by Eric Jenkins, Mitch Dyer and Karen Lesiewicz at 8:30 a.m. PT.

TRIALS TALK – our hit daily podcast series from 2021 – returns on The CITIUS MAG Podcast feed + streaming live immediately post-race to unpack all of the action immediately following the meet.

MEET COVERAGE

Stay updated on live results, mixed zone interviews and more on the CITIUS MAG Instagram, X and Threads pages while the meet is underway each evening. All interviews will be uploaded to our aforementioned YouTube channel.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“Coming in here, I was confident in my training and what we’ve done and I felt ready, but also I felt like maybe everyone was feeling that way – so it was important to show up, take care of business, not sleep on anybody, and make it through the rounds as safely as possible.”

Nia Akins joins us live in Eugene after winning the 800m title at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Nia breaks down how she approached the 800m rounds at the Trials, how she stayed composed during the 800m final when chaos broke out, shares about how she gained confidence heading into the meet, how she and coach Danny Mackey structure her training + competition schedule, and lots more. Hear more from Nia in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast.

Host: Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Guest: Nia Akins | @nia_akins on Instagram

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CITIUS MAG LIVE From Eugene! will bring you daily interviews with athletes, coaches and notable folks in town at noon PT each day. Our guests for day six of the Olympic Trials include Chari Hawkins, Anna Hall, Nia Akins, Eric Holt, Vernon Norwood, Allie Wilson, and Juliette + Isabelle Whittaker.

LIVE SHOWS

Good Morning Track and Field will start your day with some takes and updates from Eugene hosted by Eric Jenkins, Mitch Dyer and Karen Lesiewicz at 8:30 a.m. PT.

TRIALS TALK – our hit daily podcast series from 2021 – returns on The CITIUS MAG Podcast feed + streaming live immediately post-race to unpack all of the action immediately following the meet.

LIVE MEET COVERAGE

Stay updated on live results, mixed zone interviews and more on the CITIUS MAG Instagram, X and Threads pages while the meet is underway each evening. All interviews will be uploaded to our aforementioned YouTube channel.

Also, CITIUS MAG Newsletter subscribers will be getting daily emails from the Trials as David Melly rounds up all of the biggest results, stories + our best interviews, photos and original content from Eugene. If you want to hook a friend, there’s no better time than the Trials so forward them the emails or encourage them to sign up today for FREE here: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

And that’s a wrap on the 2023 World Championships! Kyle Merber, Jasmine Todd, David Melly and David McCarthy break down the ninth and final day of the meet, where we saw a thrilling 800m final on the women’s side, an electric final lap to cap off a tactical 5000m on the men’s side, a shocking finish in the women’s 4x400m relay and so much more. Day 9 in Budapest did not disappoint!

Here are a few highlights from the last day of the World Championships: 

– Women’s 800m: Mary Moraa won the stacked final in a personal best of 1:56.03 + Keely Hodgkinson snuck through on the inside for silver in 1:56.34 + Athing Mu faded to third in 1:56.61.

– Men’s 1500m: Back-to-back 5000m golds for Jakob Ingebrigtsen! Ingebrigtsen and Mo Katir dusted the field in the final 400m to run 13:11.33 and 13:11.40.

– Women’s 4x400m relay: Femke Bol showed that she can deliver on relays, moving from 3rd to 1st in the final 100m to give the Netherlands the victory in 3:20.72.

– Men’s 4x400m relay: Team USA won its 30th medal through the men’s 4x400m! The quartet of Quincy Hall, Vernon Norwood, Justin Robinson and Rai Benjamin put on a dominant performance, winning the race in 2:57.31.

– Men’s marathon: Victor Kiplangat claimed the victory in 2:08:53 + Zach Panning ran 2:11:21 to place 13th as the top American.

– Lots more!

As an official partner of World Athletics, ASICS is proud to support all of CITIUS MAG’s content throughout this year’s World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023. CITIUS MAG is the premier destination for real-time competition updates, in-depth analysis and interviews with your favorite track and field athletes.

CITIUS MAG LIVE AT WORLDS: The show will air on the CITIUS MAG YouTube Channel between the morning and evening sessions of competition (Every day at 8 a.m. EST in the U.S.). 

CHAMPS CHATS ON THE CITIUS MAG PODCAST DAILY: The CITIUS MAG team of Chris, Kyle, David McCarthy, Jasmine Todd and Katelyn Hutchison will unpack all of the day’s biggest surprises and offer up their insights and analysis from being at the new National Athletics Centre and interviewing athletes each day. The podcast recording will be streamed on YouTube at the end of every day and will be also available on The CITIUS MAG Podcast feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to shows. 

DAILY CITIUS MAG NEWSLETTER: David Melly will recap all of the biggest moments, highlighting his must-watch athletes and events for each day while also pulling together some of our best content, photos and social moments that the CITIUS MAG team captures.