Trey Caldwell, a junior at Concord De La Salle High in California and a returning Division 2 all-state competitor and CHAMPS Sports Cross Country national finalist, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing Oct. 21 in the Division 1-2 boys individual sweepstakes race at the 75th Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational Presented by Nike in Walnut, Calif. Caldwell placed sixth in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes race last season in 15:08 on the 2.93-mile layout at Mt. SAC, then returned to earn eighth on the 5-kilometer course at the CHAMPS Sports West Regional to qualify for the national final in San Diego. He shares excitement for being able to compete against last year's Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes winner Omar Reyes of Oceanside El Camino and runner-up Jason Parra from Long Beach Millikan. Caldwell also explains how encouraging it was to improve from 16:48 in his Mt. SAC debut in 2021 by dropping 100 seconds last year. He revisits summer workouts and having the opportunity to train at 7,000 feet elevation in Colorado for three weeks and how that benefited him in preparation for this season. Caldwell reflects on his victories at the UCSB Gaucho Invitational, Nike De La Salle Invitational and Crystal Springs Invitational and speaks about how meaningful it was to eclipse the 15-minute barrier on the hilly and challenging Crystal Springs course in preparation for racing at Mt. SAC. He also revisits returning Oct. 13 to the Woodward Park course in Fresno at the Roughrider Invitational, in order to become reacquainted with the state meet course when he returns Nov. 25 for the Division 2 championship. Caldwell highlights how meaningful it is to be able to compete against fellow Division 2 athletes Anthony Fast Horse from Ventura, Aydon Stefanopoulos of Los Gatos, Grant Morgenfeld from Palo Alto and Griffin Kushen of Tesoro, and how significant it is to race in a state final that doesn't include an overwhelming Newbury Park presence for the first time in his career. He also expresses gratitude for the guidance and mentorship of De La Salle coach John Pelster, along with the valuable insight and perspective shared by Spartans' alumni such as Oscar Gomez, Patrick Curulla, Connor Livingston, Matthew Schumann and Blair Hurlock, who boasts the program record of 14:48 on the 2.93-mile Mt. SAC layout.

WATCH LIVE WEBCAST OCT. 20-21 OF 75TH MT. SAC CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY NIKE WITH RUNNERSPACE+PLUS