Laura Taborda, the reigning women's 3,000-meter steeplechase national champion from Portugal and the No. 6 all-time athlete in her country and No. 6 in Arkansas history at 9:50.86 along with an accomplished artist who designed the national team scarf for Portuguese athletes who competed at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss racing May 25 in the steeplechase at the NCAA Division 1 West Regionals at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville. Taborda, who took third May 10 in the steeplechase in 9:52.99 and secured seventh May 11 in the 5,000 at 16:07.06 at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Gainesville, Fla., is looking to advance to the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships on June 5-8 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. She revisits her experiences at the regional meet the past two years, representing Eastern Kentucky and placing 10th at the 2022 Division 1 East Regional before finishing 17th in the semifinals at the NCAA outdoor championship meet, along with placing 29th overall at last year's West Regional representing the Razorbacks in Sacramento. Taborda, 25, explains her aspirations to also represent Portugal on June 7 at the European Championships in Rome, but her commitment and dedication to instead compete June 6 for Arkansas at the Division 1 semifinals. She reflects on her previous experiences competing for Portugal at European Under-23 Championships and at the European Team Championships and her ambitions to qualify to race for her country at the Olympics and World Championships in the future. Taborda highlights the impact that Arkansas coaches Lance Harter and Megan Elliott have had during her career and how grateful she is for their support and guidance, especially with her improvement in the steeplechase as a 5-foot-1 athlete. She speaks about her passion for drawing, sketching, graphic design and ceramics, and being able to creatively express herself, especially her artwork highlighting Tokyo Olympic medalists Patricia Mamona and Pedro Pablo Pichardo from Portugal. Taborda also analyzes the connection of the evolution of her artwork since age 13, as well as her development since first competing in the 1,500 steeplechase at age 15, and how repetition and opportunities have been the key in her success in both areas, as well as her pursuit of a degree at Arkansas in Operations Management.