Oregon State redshirt sophomore Kaylee Mitchell, a cross country All-American both in Division 1 for the Beavers as well as Division 2 for Seattle Pacific, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal following her sixth-place finish Oct. 29 at the Pac-12 Championships at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah. It marked the second time Mitchell placed in the top 10 at the Pac-12 final in the same calendar year, after finishing seventh March 5 in Washington. Mitchell reflects on Oregon State placing sixth overall, but shares her optimism for a rematch with Oregon, Washington and Stanford, along with competing against Boise State, Gonzaga and Portland on Nov. 12 at the West Regional meet at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento. She revisits the last time she ran in Sacramento in 2019, while still competing for Seattle Pacific at the Capital Cross Challenge. Mitchell won the women's race by defeating several Division 1 competitors, but never had an opportunity to return to the venue for the Division 2 national championship race two months later after she was sidelined with an injury that cut short her season. She looks forward to her first regional competition since 2018, when she placed 16th for Seattle Pacific in Billings, Mont., to advance to the Division 2 nationals in Pittsburgh, where she earned All-America honors by finishing 35th. Mitchell also examines her performances this season at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and Bill Dellinger Invitational, gaining valuable experience competing against large fields of elite runners. She shares how Oregon State coach Louie Quintana has the Beavers prepared to excel again in the postseason, and the benefits of training with Grace Fetherstonhaugh, who participated in both the Division 1 indoor final in the 5,000 meters, along with the NCAA cross country championship meet in March in Stillwater, where Mitchell earned All-America recognition again by securing 20th place. Mitchell analyzes how important Oregon State finishing 16th at the cross country nationals was in helping the program build a tradition of success, along with wanting to advance to compete Nov. 20 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. She explains how strength training has helped in her development as a distance runner after beginning her running career as a sprinter, in addition to contributing to her injury recovery and prevention, along with her academic focus on food and nutrition, especially studying dietetics. Mitchell also shares her background as the child of a father in the military, and her opportunity to compete internationally for either Germany or the United States, in addition to explaining the challenges she faces with generalized anxiety disorder, and how important the support of her family, coaches and teammates have been in Mitchell maintaining positive mental health.