July 3, 2025
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"I’d been working so hard for this and had so much conscious energy going into winning this title and putting it all out there — my last attempt, last ditch effort... I was so relieved, so happy, and so proud of the work that I’ve done."
My guest for today's episode is Nathan Green. In one of the most tactical and tightly contested NCAA 1500m finals in recent memory, Nathan Green emerged with more than just a lean at the finish line; he walked away with his second NCAA title, and perhaps more meaningfully, cemented Washington's 1500m legacy as one of the most dominant in NCAA history. He closed in 51.46 seconds to edge out UNC's Ethan Strand. In a blanket finish that saw 11 of the top 12 finishers within less than a second of each other, it was the kind of race that required patience, poise, and a final lap gear that few possess — and Green had it all to pull it off.
But this wasn't just another tactical win. This was also a passing of the torch moment. Joe Waskom and Luke Houser have moved on to the professional ranks — and Nathan, who calls him his older brothers, carried the legacy forward. With this win, Washington becomes the first school to win six of the last seven NCAA 1500m and mile titles — a stretch powered by three athletes who have each won two. That's Joe Waskom, Luke Houser, and now Nathan Green.
Today, we talk with Nathan about what this title means to him, the pressure and pride of carrying the UW streak forward, how he nearly dove at the finish line, whether or not his coach actually yelled, ‘jump,’ and what's next as he turns pro and stays in Seattle under coach Andy Powell.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Nathan Green | @nathanrgreen on Instagram
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Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and on Feb. 15th, 2025 finally broke five minutes for the mile.
