Michelle Atherley, the reigning Thorpe Cup women's heptathlon winner and 2022 NACAC Combined Events champion and World Athletics Outdoor Championships qualifier, along with the 2019 NCAA Division 1 indoor pentathlon champion competing for Miami (Florida), joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing April 17-18 in the elite heptathlon with a personal-best 6,352 points at the 64th Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif. Atherley, 28, is competing in her first heptathlon since September at Decastar in France, which came five weeks after winning the Thorpe Cup for the United States with 6,079 points in Marburg, Germany. She revisits becoming the first American female athlete to compete in the pentathlon at the X-Athletics multis competition in January in France, where she scored 4,413 points to secure sixth place. Atherley also shares her decision to pursue that competitive opportunity instead of participating in the USATF Indoor Combined Events Championships in Indianapolis. She speaks about planning her schedule for the year with the focus on preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials in June at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., and her additional motivation after not completing the heptathlon last year following a fall in the 100-meter hurdles at the USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field. Atherley expresses gratitude for Miami head coach Amy Deem, as well as her coaches and support system, in addition to her family, for contributing to her pursuing and achieving goals as a professional athlete. She also explains how meaningful and gratifying it has been to take on the role of coach and role model with Sprint Miami and how rewarding it has been to give back to the running community. Atherley also highlights her passion for painting and creating artwork, and how it allows her to showcase her creativity off the track as well through Do It All Creations. She reflects on her opportunities to represent the U.S. at international events like the World Championships and Thorpe Cup and NACAC meets, and how she is hoping that her health and continued improvement allow her to qualify this summer for the Paris Olympics. Atherley also discusses how enjoyable it is to reconnect with friends and peers at multis competitions, especially at a domestic event with the depth of the Mt. SAC Relays.