Marathon Project 2.0, Evan Jager Exit Interview, The Case of the Missing NCAA Title

2025-12-23

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It's the final pod before Christmas and we've got a packed episode! Evan Jager joins us at 52:45 to put a bow on his incredible career. The Marathon Project 2.0 results are in — Priscah Cherono wins the women's race at age 45 in a 2+ minute PB, while JP Flavin takes the men's title and Turner Wiley runs 2:09 as an unsponsored father working full-time with D2 college PRs. Ben Rosa becomes the youngest person in history to break 4:00 in the mile and 2:10 in the marathon in the same year. Plus: World Cross Country team announcements from France and E...

It's the final pod before Christmas and we've got a packed episode! Evan Jager joins us at 52:45 to put a bow on his incredible career.

The Marathon Project 2.0 results are in — Priscah Cherono wins the women's race at age 45 in a 2+ minute PB, while JP Flavin takes the men's title and Turner Wiley runs 2:09 as an unsponsored father working full-time with D2 college PRs. Ben Rosa becomes the youngest person in history to break 4:00 in the mile and 2:10 in the marathon in the same year. Plus: World Cross Country team announcements from France and Ethiopia, the Emily Venters/Evelyn Kimboy NCAA controversy and what it reveals about FERPA, and our full exit interview with Evan Jager reflecting on his incredible steeplechase career — the 2015 Paris fall, Olympic silver, the Oregon Project split, Fancy Bears, and his new job with Nomio in Sweden.

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Links:

Marathon Project Results
Marathon Project Experience Thread
Emily Venters/Evelyn Kimboy Discussion Thread
World XC Course Preview
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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Holiday Gift Plug
01:06 Introductions, Patriots/Ravens talk, Christmas cards
04:01 Weldon's Central Park run
08:06 Marathon Project Women's Race — Priscah Cherono wins at 45
12:12 Marathon Project Men's Race — JP Flavin , Turner Wiley , Ben Rosa
18:34 Ivy League Runner of the Week: Ben Rosa
21:14 Blue Collar Runner of the Week: Turner Wiley
25:38 Marathon Project viability discussion
28:54 Paul Chelimo marathon pr (2:10:55)
31:58 World Cross Country Preview — France & Ethiopia teams
41:21 Emily Venters/Evelyn Kimboy NCAA controversy
46:21 RoJo's FERPA rant
52:15 EVAN JAGER INTERVIEW START
53:28 Impact on American distance running
54:57 Reflections on retirement
59:54 Turning pro at 19 with Jerry Schumacher
65:30 The brutal first year with Bowerman
70:23 Alberto Salazar & Oregon Project history
75:55 Transition to steeplechase
83:42 The iconic 2015 Paris Diamond League fall
99:49 Rio Olympics silver medal
107:22 2018 injury and career derailment
110:45 Fancy Bears leak response
116:58 Thoughts on Shelby Houlihan
124:34 How he wants to be remembered
127:59 The hair evolution
131:19 Rapid fire: Best kicker ( Ezekiel Kemboi ), greatest rival ( Conseslus Kipruto )
136:12 New job with Nomio in Sweden
141:29 His daughter's athletic future Shop LetsRun - New USA XC Shirts, or Give Supporters Club as a gift