Davis Bove, a graduate student-athlete at Cal Poly and a two-time NCAA Division 1 indoor qualifier along with making a pair of NCAA Division 1 South Central Regional cross country appearances during his time at LSU, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing Oct. 27 in his first Big West Conference Championships, with the Mustangs at the Blacklake Golf Resort in Nipomo, Calif. Cal Poly is the reigning men's cross country conference champion and has won 18 of the past 24 team titles, along with 13 of 24 individual crowns, with Jake Ritter winning his third career championship last season for the Mustangs. Bove reflects on his victories Sept. 22 at the Dellinger Invitational and Oct. 14 at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational, contributing to Cal Poly team triumphs in both meets. He revisits how meaningful it was to race for the first time with his Cal Poly teammates in Oregon, after coach Ryan Vanhoy made a late decision not to have the Mustangs race along with the Cal Poly women's team at the Virginia Invitational and travel to the Dellinger Invitational instead. Bove also highlights the depth in the Cal Poly lineup and how beneficial it has been to train with veterans William Fallini-Haas, Spencer Pickren, Aidan McCarthy, Anthony Guerra, Colton Swinth and Michael Chambers, in addition to several promising newcomers. He expresses gratitude for Vanhoy and his ability to build team culture as well as being purposeful and intentional in his approach to training and racing, and how important execution has been for the Mustangs. Bove explains how special it will be for Cal Poly to race at home in the Big West Conference final for the first time since 2013, with the Mustangs having won the past four men's team titles as the host school in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2013. He also looks forward to racing the 10-kilometer distance Nov. 10 at the Division 1 West Regional at Haggins Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento and how significant Cal Poly's ability to race as a pack can be in the Mustangs' pursuit to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships for the first time since 2011 on Nov. 18 at the Panorama Farms Course in Virginia. Bove also shares how his training as an elite triathlete has contributed to his overall fitness and mental toughness competing in cross country and track.