Angelina Napoleon Reflects On Her 9th Place Finish At the World Championships 3000m Steeplechase Final At 20 Years Old | Tokyo Recap

“This is the moment I’ve been training three years for. There’s been three years of a lot of hard work and hard times to get to this. This is the thing in my mind, that dream and goal that’s kept me going. Once I put that into perspective, it was a lot easier to ride that wave of momentum into Worlds.” Our guest today is Angelina Napoleon — the 20-year-old NC State steeplechaser who just capped off a super impressive and long outdoor track season. In Tokyo, Angelina made her World Championships debut, ran 9:18 in the heats to advance, and then came back with a 9:17 in the final to finish ninth overall — and as the top American in the women’s steeplechase. That finish crowns a year where she lowered her PB from the 9:50s all the way down to 9:10, finished third at NCAAs, and proved she belongs on the global stage. What stands out about Angelina isn’t just the times, it’s her perspective: she left Tokyo proud, grateful, and already hungry for more. She talked about staying calm in the chaos, adapting to challenges, and soaking up the love from her family and friends as she raced halfway across the world. Now, as she heads back to grass and cross country season, we’re hoping this makes you a fan of her going forward. ____________ Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠ ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠ Guest: Angelina Napoleon | @angelinanapoleon on Instagram Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ASICS: The Megablast is the Mega Man of the Blast lineup. Armed with ASICS’ latest foam innovation, FlyteFoam Turbo Squared, it’s 33% bouncier and 10% softer than before. That means every stride feels effortless—whether you’re out for an easy shakeout, stacking long miles, or testing race pace. The lightweight woven upper keeps your foot locked in, the rocker geometry smooths out transitions, and the AsicsGrip outsole gives you confident traction no matter the road ahead. And here’s the kicker—no plate needed. If you’re ready for the shoe that defines ultimate bounce, check out the ASICS Megablast— available now at asics.com and your local run specialty store. WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at WahooFitness.com and use code CITIUS at checkout. OLIPOP: Straight out of Bikini Bottom, Olipop’s limited edition SpongeBob cans have arrived. Pineapple Paradise features a burst of juicy pineapples and a splash of mandarin. It's on shelves now at Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Circle K, Amazon, and select stores nationwide. ⁠You can check out all of their flavors and get 25% off your orders at DrinkOlipop.com using code CITIUS25 at checkout.⁠