Lindsay Cunningham, a Winona State sophomore and the reigning NCAA Division 2 indoor champion and record holder in the 5,000 meters at 15:41.30, along with an All-American in cross country and outdoor track, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing April 13 in the elite invitational women's 10,000 meters at the 63rd Mt. SAC Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif. Cunningham is one of two Winona State national champions scheduled to compete at Mt. SAC, along with defending Division 2 indoor and outdoor 400-meter champ Shereen Vallabouy racing April 15. She revisits competing in the 10,000 twice last spring, before only deciding to focus on the 5,000 at the Division 2 outdoor final at Grand Valley State in Michigan. Cunningham shares her ambition to eclipse the 34-minute barrier for the first time and expresses gratitude for being able to compete against such a strong field, including fellow Division 2 national champion Brianna Robles from Adams State, as well as Division 1 All-American Cailie Logue of Iowa State. She revisits her 5,000 victory March 10 at the Division 2 indoor championship meet in Virginia Beach and setting the division record, prevailing against runner-up Robles. Cunningham also analyzes the benefits of racing against another Adams State standout and winner of several Division 2 titles, Irish athlete Stephanie Cotter, in the 6-kilometer cross country final in December in Washington, as well as in the indoor 3,000-meter final March 11 in Virginia Beach. She shares excitement for returning April 27 to the 113th Drake Relays at Jim Duncan Track in Des Moines, Iowa, as the defending champion in the 5,000, and her pursuit of running under 16 minutes outdoors for the first time in her career. Cunningham also looks forward to the Division 2 outdoor final May 25-27 in Pueblo, Colo., and the challenge of running championship distance races at elevation, resulting on more emphasis being placed on personal-best efforts during the regular season and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference meet. She also weighs the potential of competing in both the 5,000 and 10,000, and how meaningful it would be for her and Vallabouy to again capture national titles.

WATCH LIVE WEBCAST OF 63RD MT. SAC RELAYS ON APRIL 12-15