Georgia sixth-year pole vaulter Kayla Smith, an All-American pursuing a Master's degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership in the School of Social Work after graduating with a degree in sociology, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss clearing 14 feet for the third consecutive year and preparing to return to the Razorback Invitational, where she achieved a personal-best 14-4 (4.37m) last year at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. Smith, 23, revisits her victory Jan. 23 by clearing 14-0.50 (4.28m) at the Carolina Challenge and taking attempts at a potential PR height of 14-4.50 (4.38m). She examines the matchup of the two vault groups from Georgia and Arkansas, and the first of many showdowns to showcase supremacy as the top lineup in the country. Smith reveals her transition to an eight-left approach and the adjustments she has made early in the season to benefit from her speed and aggressiveness on the runway. She speaks about the expectations the field-event athletes carry at Georgia in order to pursue a podium finish at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships in March, and possibly challenge for a national title, and how significant the contributions of Anna Hall, Titiana Marsh, Jasmine Moore, Shelby Tyler and the pole vaulters will be in the postseason. Smith, who has endured six combined surgeries on her knees and right foot during her collegiate career, reflects on returning for a sixth year after the pandemic canceled the NCAA Indoor final in Albuquerque last season and shut down any spring outdoor competition as well. She also analyzes how the presence of veteran student-athletes have been important in mentoring a young Bulldogs' roster. Smith expresses gratitude for her internships connected to her Master's program, including an opportunity to connect with Jacobs and Cushman Food Bank in San Diego during the summer, and her upcoming internship with Book for Keeps in Athens. She also describes the challenges of being an academic-athletic mentor at Georgia during a period of online and virtual learning. Smith looks ahead to a June vision of her final pole vault competition being at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.