Loras College senior Kassie Parker, the NCAA Division 3 record holder in the 10,000 meters and national champion in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing April 28 in the women's seeded 5,000 meters at the 112th Drake Relays Presented by Xtream and Powered by Mediacom at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. Parker is attempting to become the first female athlete from a Division 3 program to eclipse the 16-minute barrier in the 5,000 at Drake Relays, in addition to pursuing the 2003 division record of 15:37.48 achieved by Missy (Buttry) Rock of Wartburg. Parker would become the third female in Division 3 history to produce a sub-16 performance after Ella Baran of Johns Hopkins ran 15:49.09 on April 22 at the Virginia Challenge. She reflects on being part of the victorious distance medley relay lineup for Loras at the 2019 Drake Relays, and then finishing third in the 10,000 and DMR last year. Parker explains the challenges she has encountered in training because of a recent illness, especially during a visit to Colorado completing workouts at higher elevation, but is hopeful she will be able to compete as well as she did April 1 at the Stanford Invitational when she achieved the division 10,000 record by clocking 33:03.61. She analyzes the depth of the 5,000 field, including athletes from Oklahoma State, Michigan and Northwestern, as well as Division 2 Grand Valley State and Winona State, along with fellow Division 3 All-American Anastasia Tucker of Hope. Parker revisits her biggest indoor performances in the 3,000 at Notre Dame, clocking 9:13.10, and the 5,000 at Iowa State, becoming the first Division 3 female athlete to eclipse the 16-minute barrier indoors by clocking 15:58.58. She speaks about the legacy of national titles Loras is building under coach Matt Jones, winning the 2019 outdoor crown, along with the 2021 outdoor and 2022 indoor championships, and how well-rounded the group is this spring, seeking another victory in May at the Division 3 final at SPIRE Institute in Ohio. Parker also examines her potential to contribute April 30 to another DMR lineup for Loras at Jim Duncan Track.

WATCH 112TH DRAKE RELAYS PRESENTED BY XTREAM POWERED BY MEDIACOM APRIL 28-30