Alex Maier
Personal Bests
Marathon
2:11:24
10/13/2024
10 Kilometres Road
28:57
8/3/2024
3000 Metres
Millrose Games
7:43.05
2/11/2023
5000 Metres
13:11.80
12/3/2022
10,000 Metres
28:12.68
6/8/2022
Marathon
2:11:24
10/13/2024
10 Kilometres Road
28:57
8/3/2024
3000 Metres
Millrose Games
7:43.05
2/11/2023
5000 Metres
13:11.80
12/3/2022
10,000 Metres
28:12.68
6/8/2022
A recent 59:23 half-marathon for American long-distance star Alex Maier wasn’t a case of him catching lightning in a bottle.
It was the culmination of years of quiet dominance: from Oklahoma State to national titles, American records, and a seamless transition to the roads.
And with his stellar race in Houston, he’s now the second-fastest U.S. man of all time at the half-marathon distance.
But this isn’t a random one-off occurrence. In 2025, he won the Düsseldorf Marathon in April with a time of 2:08:33; it was a top-15 all-time mark for a U.S. runner.
He also claimed his first national title in March in Atlanta, running 1:00:48 to secure a spot on Team USA; and then set a 10-mile American record of 45:15 at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in April.
He was a former standout at Oklahoma State, where he earned multiple First-Team All-America honors, including a 5th-place finish at the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Championships. He also placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 3,000m and 5,000m in 2023.
He’s gone from NCAA standout to national champion; from American records at 10 miles on the road to becoming the second-fastest U.S. half marathoner ever.
His trajectory is impossible to ignore. And the most interesting part? It all feels like he’s just getting started.
Tap into the Alex Maier Special.
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“You can't be someone who shies away from sticking your neck out. I tell our guys: ‘We are trying to win.’ I'll say it publicly. I will say it to anybody. Maybe that puts pressure on us. But life is pressure. Athletics is practice for life. You need to figure out how to handle pressure, how to handle stress, how to handle others’ expectations, your own expectations, and manage it”.
We continue with our office hours episodes as I sit down with Coach Dave Smith, one of the most accomplished coaches in NCAA cross country history and the architect behind Oklahoma State's dominance. Since taking the helm in Stillwater, Coach Smith has built a powerhouse program leading Oklahoma State to four NCAA men's cross country titles and a Big 12 record of 13 conference championships. He guided the Cowboys to a historic team performance at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championship, scoring just 49 points, the third lowest winning total since 2000.
Coach Smith’s accolades don't stop there. He's a four-time National Coach of the Year, a Team USA coach on the world stage, and a leader of a program that has consistently produced NCAA champions, All-Americans, and world-class athletes like German Fernandez, Taylor Roe, Alex Maier, and Sinclaire Johnson.
In today's episode, we dive into his journey from athlete to coach, how he's cultivated a championship driven environment at Oklahoma State, what's next for his program, his athletes, and his take on the future of distance running in the NCAA and beyond.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Dave Smith | @coach_dave_smith on Instagram
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“It was just trusting my fitness. It was only my second half marathon coming in… It was a new experience, but it felt familiar to me given all the training that we've done. I felt like I was very prepared to handle what was thrown at me and the unique challenges you get in the half marathon. So coming into Atlanta, I had a lot of confidence.”
My guest for today’s episode is Alex Maier – a rising star in American distance running who just made a statement at the USATF Half Marathon Championships. In near-freezing conditions and a brutally fast race, Alex surged ahead late to claim his first national title, running 1:00:48 and securing a spot on Team USA for the World Road Running Championships, which we just learned today will not be held in San Diego in September. No reason was given by World Athletics but a new host city is expected to be announced soon.
Alex is a former All-American at Oklahoma State and is no stranger to tough courses and big races. But his transition to the roads with Puma Elite has taken him to another level. In this episode, Alex takes us inside his breakthrough win and how his training at OSU, and now with Puma Elite, has set him up for success. We also talk about his future goals, his experience moving up in distance, and what’s next as he prepares for Worlds.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Alex Maier | @alexmaier._ on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
OLIPOP: Big name sodas are rolling out bold new flavors in 2025, but the real buzz is happening in the prebiotic pop aisle. If you haven't already jumped on the Olipop train yet, now's the time. BuzzFeed just came out with an article that recently named Olipop the best overall soda for flavor — and with a lineup that includes classic root beer, vintage cola and cherry vanilla, it's easy to see why. Try Olipop today and save 25% on your order using code CITIUS25 at checkout at DrinkOlipop.com.
KETONE-IQ: Level up your training with Ketone-IQ – a clean shot of energy with no sugar or caffeine. Or try the new Ketone-IQ + Caffeine, combining 5g of ketones with 100mg of green tea caffeine for a smooth, sustained boost. It’s used by pro runners like Des Linden and Sara Hall. Proven to enhance endurance, focus, and recovery, ketones are 28% more efficient than glucose. No crashes, no bonking—just next-level performance. Take the shot. Feel the difference. Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six pack of Ketone-IQ with KETONE.com/CITIUS.
RUNNA: Runna is the #1 rated personalized running app designed to help you crush your goals no matter the distance. Runna is trusted by hundreds of thousands of runners around the world and makes expert coaching accessible with personalized training plans that fit every goal, fitness level, and schedule. Whether it's someone's first 5K or it's someone chasing a marathon PB, they are here to help runners train smarter, stronger, and love every step of the way. Sign up for Runna today and get your first two weeks free using the code CITIUS.
The 2025 U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta delivered fireworks, with PUMA Elite’s Alex Maier and Taylor Roe claiming national titles and locking in their spots for the World Road Running Championships. Roe’s late-race surge past Weini Kelati underscored Oklahoma State’s pipeline of elite talent.
Meanwhile, indoor track is officially in chaos mode. Heather MacLean ran 4:17.01 for the mile, which also unknowingly broke the U.S. indoor 1500m record. Nico Young continued his meteoric rise, clocking 12:51.56 for 5000m—second-fastest by an American ever. Yared Nuguse chased the mile world record but settled for 3:47.22. Also at BU – Graham Blanks broke 7:30 in the 3K and Aidan McCarthy ran a historic 1:45.19 in the 800m.
With NCAA Indoors, World Indoors, and outdoor season approaching fast, the distance scene is more competitive than ever. Tune in as we break it all done.
Bonus: Harry Styles ran 3:24 for the Tokyo Marathon.
A cold day in hilly Atlanta as America’s best throw down for a chance to rep the US in the World Half Marathon Championships. Paces went out hot, with Hillary Bor taking the men out at American record pace. But the massive effort would take its toll as Bor let the chase pack catch him on the big uphill that is normally the downhill finish of the Peachtree Road Race. Alex Maier ran a brilliant race, running at the back of the chase pack for the first half of the race. He finished with a PB on this course that only the most devious of race directors would describe as “rolling” On the women’s side, Weini Kelati took a commanding lead at around the halfway point, only to fade suddenly before the 15k mark. From then on, Taylor Roe and Georgia native, Emma Grace Hurley, traded the lead into the finish. Roe crossed the line first, pulling herself and Grace to Team USA berths and shiny new PB’s. . Thanks to Atlanta Track Club for granting me media access and to my local team of Bryan Liang and Michael Uko for on course video coverage. . 📹 @michaeluko , @bryliang , Kofuzi
MEN’S TEAM CHAMPIONS | OKLAHOMA STATE
– One year after losing on a tiebreaker on their home course, Oklahoma State left nothing to doubt and downed the defending champion Northern Arizona 49–71.
– The Cowboys put five runners in the top 15.
– Freshman Denis Kipngetich was the top OSU runner in fourth place overall in 28:59.7 for the 10K course. Fellow freshman Brian Musau was not far behind with an eighth place finish in 29:11.0. Fouad Messaoudi was 10th in 29:13.3. Victor Shitsama took 12th at 29:16.1. Alex Maier was 15th in 29:20.2.
– This is Oklahoma State’s first men’s team title since 2012.
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