Sinclaire Johnson
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Personal Bests
Mile
New Balance Indoor Grand Prix
4:23.58
2/2/2025
1000 Metres
2:35.11
1/17/2025
1500 Metres
3:56.75
6/30/2024
800 Metres
36th Meeting Citta' Di Padova
1:59.76
9/3/2023
3000 Metres
8:37.83
2/26/2023
Mile
New Balance Indoor Grand Prix
4:23.58
2/2/2025
1000 Metres
2:35.11
1/17/2025
1500 Metres
3:56.75
6/30/2024
800 Metres
36th Meeting Citta' Di Padova
1:59.76
9/3/2023
3000 Metres
8:37.83
2/26/2023
The indoor season is already on fire and now it’s time for the 118th Millrose Games at the historic Armory.
We’re LIVE from New York with a CITIUS MAG Millrose Games Preview Show, breaking down everything you need to know before the fastest, deepest, and most tradition-rich meet of the 2026 indoor season.
Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, Eric Jenkins, Aisha Praught-Leer, and Anderson Emerole dive into the biggest storylines, must-watch races and athletes.
What we preview:
• An all-time men’s two-mile field that could threaten history
• NCAA phenoms Doris Lemngole and Jane Hedengren colliding with pros in the women’s 3000m
• U.S. vs. Europe in a loaded men’s 800m
• The first-ever CITIUS MAG–sponsored women’s 1000m
• Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson and Dorcus Ewoi are chasing the win in the women’s Wanamaker Mile
• Yared Nuguse going for four straight titles in the men’s Wanamaker Mile
+ More
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How to Watch Millrose Games: The professional events begin Sunday, February 1 at 4:00 p.m. ET, airing live on NBC & Peacock.
Our full written preview on CITIUSMAG.com can be found here.
We’ll be on-site all weekend with live coverage, post-race interviews, and a full post-meet show dropping Sunday night.
_____________________
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“I think they're really just wanting to create more of a middle distance powerhouse especially on the world stage.” Sinclaire Johnson signs with HOKA ahead of her 2026 indoor debut 🔥 Catch the full interview out now; link in bio! Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack
FloTrack
9 months ago
American record holder Sinclaire Johnson sits down with Nia Gibson for an exclusive interview after signing with HOKA. Johnson discusses her new sponsorship, career trajectory, training mindset, and future goals as one of the top middle-distance runners in the world. Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack
Today on the show, Sinclaire Johnson is back, and she just had herself a day at the Merrie Mile in Honolulu. She won the race, ran a 4:21 road mile, and set a new American record. This is not new territory for her either. She has set American records before, made the World Champs team this past year, and after a few tough years battling major bone injuries, she’s finally feeling strong, healthy, and ready to keep building. We talk about racing a road mile without clocks or splits, being coached by her fiance Craig, what she learned from finishing fourth at the Olympic Trials in 3:56, how cross training has helped keep her healthy, and what she is targeting in 2026 with a full indoor season and an outdoor year that looks a little different.
What we talked about:
Sinclaire’s Merrie Mile win in Honolulu and the 4:21 American record
Racing with no clocks, no splits, and a pacer plan that changed in real time
Why this fall felt different and why she feels stronger than ever right now
Being coached by her fiance Craig and what changed in her training and communication
The mental side of returning from repeated bone injuries and reframing fear
Feeling unheard in past training groups and why athlete coach communication matters
Advice for young pros choosing a coach, team, and a life outside running
Olympic Trials 2024, running 3:56 for fourth, and what she learned from it
World Champs season takeaways and learning to adjust without blame
Cross training as a core strategy and how she structures volume off her legs
Indoor season plans and what she is excited to chase next
How world rankings work and what the new “Ultimate Championships” format looks like
Favorite event order: track 1500, road mile, track mile
Life outside running: bread baking, what she is reading, and what she is watching
Last message: being your biggest advocate and trusting your intuition
Media mentioned
Book: The Remarkable Life of Irawati Karve
Show: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Music artist group: RÜFÜS DU SOL
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Nikki Hiltz is among the stars competing at the 2025 Kalakaua Merrie Mile on Saturday, Dec. 15th. They own a mile personal best of 4:16.35, which was the American record until it was broken by Sinclaire Johnson in 2025. Hiltz won the 2024 edition of the Merrie Mile. We’re streaming LIVE from Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki on Saturday, Dec. 13, right here on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel. 📅 Live Stream Starts: 7:00 AM HST (12:00 PM ET) 🏃♂️ Elite Race Begins: ~7:45 AM HST This year’s field is STACKED, featuring: 🔥 12 Olympians 🔥 10 athletes from the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo 🔥 A $10,000 winner-take-all payday The Merrie Mile is run in a unique gender chase format: Women start with a 31-second head start First across the line — male or female — wins $10,000 💰 Prize Money: 1st — $10,000 2nd — $5,000 3rd — $3,000 4th — $1,500 5th — $1,000 $2,500 bonus to the first athlete of the losing gender $10,000 world record bonus Read more about this year's race here: https://citiusmag.com/articles/kalakaua-merrie-mile-2025-pro-field-honolulu-marathon-world-champions
A number of PDX athletes wore the Team USA kit and took on the world this winter on the indoor oval from Nanjing to Gainesville. @nikerunning’s @sinclairejohnson placed 6️⃣th in the 1500m at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China after claiming the🥈at the USA Champs in NYC. @rosecitytrack’s @dac_tales claimed the 🥇 in the 40-44 Men’s 1500m at the Masters World Championships in Gainesville, FL in a meet record of 3:56.51 🔥 @bowermantc’s @kristenrohde brought home the 🥈in the 40-44 Women’s 1500m at the Masters World Championships. @bowermantrackclubmasters men brought home the team XC 🥇 @matt.v.farley with individual XC 🥈 @ahrlinbauman XC 🥈 @bowermantrackclubmasters XC 🥈 @gmitch262 🥈Masters Indoor 3000m Tracklandia IG: https://www.instagram.com/tracklandia/
“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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“But also in the back of my mind, and with talking to Craig [Nowak], was that I would have so much regret if I stopped now. I feel like I have not reached my potential and that’s the biggest thing that I want to do: be able to see how fast I can go and how far I can go.”
My guest for today's episode is Sinclaire Johnson. She's the 2023 U.S. 1500m champion, a two-time world championship finalist, and the sixth-fastest American woman in history at 1500m. Sinclaire has proven time and time again that she belongs among the best–not just in the United States, but also in the world.
But the road hasn't always been easy. 2024 was a year of highs and lows for her: a two-second personal best and a stunning 3:56 at the Olympic Trials final, but also a 4th place finish that left her just outside of the team for Paris. Adding in her two injuries that disrupted both her Trials buildup and her postseason, it's been a year of recalibrating. It's also been a year of reassessing and figuring out what comes next.
In this episode, we get into the emotional rollercoaster of the Trials, her decision to leave the Union Athletics Club, why she's taking full control of her training under the guidance of her fiancé, Craig Nowak. We also talk about what she's learned from years of navigating injuries, her new approach to staying healthy, and how she's setting herself up for success in 2025, starting with this weekend's U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Sinclaire Johnson | @sinclairejohnson on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
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.
OLIPOP: 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.
Back on the podcast is Sinclaire Johnson!
Sinclaire holds PRs of 1:59 (800m), 3:56 (1500m), and 8:37 in the 3k.
While running at Oklahoma State University, she was the 2019 NCAA Champion in the 1500m. She was the 2022 USATF Outdoor 1500m Champion where she then went on to place 6th at the 2022 World Championships hosted in Eugene, Oregon.
She is the 6th fastest US woman all-time in the 1500m.
Sinclaire runs for NIKE and announces on this podcast her new coach and training setup...
In addition to discussing this, Sinclaire walks me through her 2024 season, the setbacks she experienced, and lessons she learned from them, her approach to 2025 and beyond, and so much more!
I always have so many takeaways after my conversations with Sinclaire due to her openness and vulnerability when discussing her running. Take the time to listen to this one as I know it will bless you!
Tap into the Sinclaire Johnson Special.
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it.
If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!
S H O W N O T E S
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In the Hot Window 800m, Nia Akins faces off with Kate Grace, Sinclaire Johnson, McKenna Keegan and more. Meet: 2024 Portland Track Festival Meet Org: Portland Track https://www.portlandtrack.com/ Production: TRACKLND https://tracklnd.com/ptf/ptf Stream supported by Bandit Running https://banditrunning.com/ Cover photo by Amanda Gehrich IG: https://www.instagram.com/amandagehrich/
Did you miss us?!
The U.S. Olympic Trials are back and better than ever in the second half of the 8-day program, with incredible drama, upsets, and underdog stories across the board.
The race of the day (and perhaps the week?) was the women’s steeplechase, where a fast early pace and a topsy-turvy final lap ended with a whole slew of personal bests and rewriting of the record books. Tokyo Olympian Val Constien ended up on top thanks to a phenomenal final 400m, running 9:03.22 to PR by 11 seconds and land at #3 on the U.S. all-time list. Constien had ACL surgery last year and after a long road back is better than ever.
We got our first peeks at the 400m hurdles crew, and the main takeaway from the first round is that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Rai Benjamin are looking like world beaters out for an easy jog. McLaughlin-Levrone in particular shut it down entirely over the final two laps and still ran 53.07, the third-fastest performance in the world this year behind her own season’s best and Femke Bol’s world lead.
Speaking of first looks, Erriyon Knighton doesn’t seem to have missed a step as he ran his first 200m in four months, cruising through the first round with a 20.15 just behind Noah Lyles’s 20.10 in an earlier heat. And a stacked final is set for the 5000m, where reigning U.S. champ Abdi Nur takes on two of the three members of Team USA in the 10,000m, the 1500m Trials champ, and two NCAA champs.
The middle-distance rounds will continue to get more and more cutthroat, with the women’s 1500m featuring Elle St. Pierre, Heather MacLean, Cory McGee, Emily MacKay, Elise Cranny, Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson, and more heading to the semis and Olympians Bryce Hoppel and Clayton Murphy looking ready to once again do battle in the 800m.
“I think the only time I thought about that American record was that last 100m because I was like, ‘You have to beat Elise no matter what. If you guys are going fast enough and you’re not in front of her, she’s going to get it.’ I think I barely outleaned her and ended up getting sixth. The results took forever to load and come up on the screen but when they did it was such a party because everyone set their national record. Seven of us were out there stoked. At this event, everyone is so happy for everyone. It’s cool to see the camaraderie. We know that if one of us is going to do well, we’re all going to rise to that.”
Nikki Hiltz is putting together one of the most impressive outdoor seasons.
Last month was an absolute triumph for Nikki, as they clinched the U.S. 1500m title, kicking to victory ahead of the likes of the 800m Olympic champion Athing Mu, U.S. Olympian Cory McGee and the reigning U.S. champion, Sinclaire Johnson. My interview with Nikki went viral after they dedicated the victory to the transgender community.
Now, Nikki is gearing up for their second career world championships. Back in 2019, in their very first season as a professional runner, they made it to the 1500m final. Since then, they've continued to progress and currently holding the U.S. titles in the indoor and outdoor 1500m, as well as the road mile.
Nikki took their momentum to Monaco, where they clocked a jaw-dropping 4:16.35, shattering Mary Slaney's American record that had stood tall since 1985. It was awesome to see so many national records fall in that race behind Faith Kipyegon’s world record.
In this conversation, we dive deep into their unforgettable performance at the U.S. Championship, that epic race in Monaco, and what they're looking forward to at the World Championships in Budapest next month.
Nikki is not only a phenomenal athlete but an incredible human being as well. Their passion and dedication shine on and off the track, making them an absolute joy to root for.
Host: Chris Chavez | @Chris_J_Chavez on Instagram
Guest: Nikki Hiltz | @NikkiHiltz on Instagram
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I am absolutely thrilled to welcome onto the podcast the one and only Sinclaire Johnson!
Sinclaire was the 2022 US Champion in the 1500m and placed 4th at this year championships sending her to the World Championships next month in Budapest. She holds PRs of 1:59.90 in the 800m and 3:58.85 in the 1500. She runs for Nike's Union Athletics Club. In college, Sinclaire was an NCAA Champion in the 1500m. In high school, Sinclaire was a multi-time state champion in Flordia.
Over the past few months, Sinclaire has dealt with a plethora of setbacks that she shares in-depth about in this episode. I greatly appreciated her openness to talking about the darker side of the sport that all of us have experienced. Through hearing her story and journey in this sport, I'm so confident you'll walk away a better version of yourself and all the more motivated to tackle your dreams. We also discuss why running beef is good for the sport and what she'd cook for Gordon Ramsay for dinner.
This is one of my favorite episodes of all-time, perfect for your summer training, I hope you'll take the time to listen and enjoy it as much as we did having it!
You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching, "The Running Effect Podcast." If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it.
The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo.
S H O W N O T E S
-GET 15% OFF VIVOBAREFOOT SHOES WITH CODE "THERUNNINGEFFECT15%": https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/
-My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en
-Sinclaire's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinclairejohnson/?hl=en
Here from John O'Malley, Shannon Thompson, Kelly Christensen, and Sinclaire Johnson.
You can find the full video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-510ZW1Ac&feature=youtu.be
More mental skills videos at www.coachjayjohnson.com/mental_skills_HS
Here's what coaches and athletes are saying about the Mental Skills course: https://testimonial.to/mental-skills-for-high-school-runners/all
"I look forward to Jay's weekly emails because they are phenomenal reminders for me as a coach." - Isaiah Remington
Get the newsletter here - www.coachjayjohnson.com
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