Talking in Ovals

205. 2026 NJ XC Preview with Corey Annan & Bakari Tice

Lyle, Dave and Alex are joined by Corey Annan and Bakari Tice as we get set for another New Jersey high school XC season!  We go over who we think will be the best for t

204. John Grady | Track and Field Super Fan & 25+ Year Distance Coach at Bishop Eustace Prep

Lyle, Dave and Alex are joined by John Grady, Distance Coach at Bishop Eustace Prep, and we cover wide range of topics. We start by finding out his spark for becoming a

203. Bobby Papazian | Former Gill St. Bernards Standout Runner and Youth Club Coach

In Episode 203 of Talking in Ovals, former competitive runner, reluctant lawyer, and youth track coach Bobby Papazian joins us to share the spark that ignited his athleti

202. Ben Andrus | From Near-Death Heart Scare to Penn Relays Glory

Episode 202 of Talking in Ovals brings Lyle, Dave and Alex together with Ben Andrus, the standout distance runner who just wrapped an unforgettable career at Haddonfield

201. The Best 250 NJ XC/TF Athletes of All-Time | with Jim Lambert & Andy Martin

Welcome to Episode 201 of Talking in Ovals with your hosts Lyle Smith, Dave Hyatt, and Alex Cuesta. In this episode, we are joined by legendary sports writer Jim Lambert

200. Celebrating 200 Episodes of Talking in Ovals!

Episode 200 of Talking in Ovals is here! We’re celebrating a massive milestone: 200 episodes of conversations about track, field, and everything in the world of athletic

199. Ray Hoffman | Head Men's and Women's XC/Track & Field Coach at Kutztown

In this episode, we break down the electric Kerr Mile Record performance l, our full reaction to the historic run, whether any current competitors can re-break it soon, s

198. Special Announcement | Kerr Record Attempt | And More!

We have a special announcement right off the top to lead the show! This will change the show forever in the best way. The we talk about the mile record attempt by Josh K

197. Stella Blanchard | Wilberforce XC and Track Star, National and NJ MOC Runner-Up in the 800

Join us as we sit down with Stella Blanchard, Wilberforce XC and Track standout, NJ MOC Runner-Up in the 800, national finalist, and All-American. Stella takes us through

196. NJ MOCs and Nationals Wrap-up with Jim Lambert, Corey Annan & Bakari Tice

On this episode, we’re joined by Jim Lambert of NJ MileSplit and Corey Annan and Bakari Tice of NJ.com for a deep dive into the current state of high school and college t

195. Summer Wilson | Irvine HS Standout, National Record Holder & Duke Commit

In this episode, we sit down with Summer Wilson, Irvine HS national standout, national record holder, California State Champion, and Duke commit. Summer shares her athlet

194. Dave Alfano | Trials of Miles Racing, Enhanced Games & Track's Future

We sit down with Dave Alfano, co-founder and co-owner of Trials of Miles, to talk about what it has been like scaling the company, running more events, and how big he see

193. James Logan | From Stage 4 Cancer to IRONMAN

In this powerful episode of Talking in Ovals, we sit down with James Logan, IRONMAN triathlete, endurance beast, and Stage 4 cancer survivor who refuses to slow down. Ja

192. Alexandra Klein & Coach Jack Tarpey | Small School Runner with a Chip on Her Shoulder

In this episode, we sit down with Alexandra Klein, Shore Regional’s standout junior distance runner, and her coach Jack Tarpey to talk about what it really takes to build

191. Austin Willis | Assistant Coach at Montclair High School and founder of ONTHEMARK Track & Field

Dave and Alex welcome Austin Willis on the show and he shares his athletics journey and expert jumps coaching advice. We cover: - Long Jump vs Triple Jump training diffe

190. Karl Torchia – CBA Track & Field Legend | Coaching Through Change

In this episode, we sit down with Karl Torchia, Head Track & Field Coach at Christian Brothers Academy and one of the most respected coaches in the sport. With decades of

189. Ace Etienne | Senior Sprinter & Jumper at Manasquan High School

In this episode, we sit down with standout senior athlete Ace Etienne and his coaches Michaela Read and Evan Kainer from Manasquan High School. Ace opens up about his jou

188. Jim Lambert l Penn Relays Day 1 Recap + NJ Track & Field Indoor Wrap + Outdoor Preview

Joining us is Jim Lambert, Senior Writer for NJ MileSplit, for a deep dive into the biggest stories in New Jersey high school track & field! In this episode: - Penn Rela

187. Nicol Traynor Starkes l Inside Rutgers XC/Track Success

In this episode, we sit down with Nicol Traynor Starkes, Associate Head Coach of Cross Country and Track & Field at Rutgers University. Nicol shares her personal athleti

186. Chuck Schneekloth l Are Relays Necessary? Honest Debate with Track Club Legend

In this episode, we sit down with Chuck Schneekloth, Founder and Director of the Garden State Track Club, to explore what it takes to build a thriving track & field caree