533. Friendship Fest with Allie Wilson & Yolanda Ngarambe

Published: June 28, 2022, 9 a.m.

"This is the first time in so long that I\u2019ve been lining up with teammates, and it makes it so much more special. There\u2019s nothing better than having a teammate who, even if you\u2019re not in the same heat, you\u2019re warming up together. There\u2019s less pressure because you\u2019re doing it together."

Allie Wilson and Yolanda Ngarambe are two of the fiercest middle-distance competitors in running right now. But off the track? The Atlanta Track Club Elite teammates are fun, silly, and as giggly as it gets. In this conversation, Allie and Yolanda share the story of how they first met (Allie was running late, Yolanda saved the day) and how their instant bond was formed. We recorded this conversation on Friday morning, June 24, when Allie and Yolanda were both in Eugene, OR, for USATF Outdoor National Championships. Allie had just competed in the 800m prelims the night before and was resting up before the semi-finals that night. (She ultimately advanced to the finals, where she finished fourth in a very exciting race.) And while Yolanda (the Swedish indoor mile record holder!) awaits word on whether she'll get to represent Team Sweden at World Championships next month, she was in Eugene cheering for her teammates and managing the team's social media accounts (her first time on the other side of the mixed zone!).

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What you\u2019ll get on this episode:

  • What Allie and Yolanda are doing in Eugene (3:20)
  • Allie and Yolanda introduce each other (5:00)
  • What the Atlanta Track Club Elite team dynamic is like (10:00)
  • How Allie and Yolanda met and became friends (15:25)
  • What Yolanda has to do to make Team Sweden for the World Championships (25:00)
  • The lowdown on Yolanda\u2019s recent racing (26:00)
  • All things USAs (38:00)
  • What Yolanda and Allie are each like on race days (52:45)
  • Yolanda and Allie shares the moments when they felt most proud of each other \u2014 and all about Allie's viral finish line moment in May (1:01:10)

Check out:

Allie Wilson on Episode 469 of the Ali on the Run Show

Olivia Baker on Episode 491 of the Ali on the Run Show

Allie\u2019s viral racing moment

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