Dillon Powell, the reigning NCAA Division 2 Indoor 5,000-meter champion, the defending 10-kilometer cross country winner as well as last year's outdoor 10,000 champ, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the Orediggers competing April 21-22 at the Mines Pre-Conference Invitational and pursuing 10,000 qualifying times for this year's national meet. Powell was originally scheduled to race April 21 at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford's Cobb Track and Angell Field, but only Loic Scomparin will represent the Orediggers at the meet in the 5,000. Powell revisits running 28:22.78 in the 10,000 at last season's Payton Jordan Invitational and elevating to the No. 9 all-time competitor in Division 2, and how that race served as a breakthrough for his success during the past year. He reflects on his limited schedule of racing during the winter indoor season, including a lifetime-best 13:28.46 in the 5,000 on Feb. 11 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University that set the Division 2 all-time indoor mark, along with a 13:48.13 effort March 10 that captured the NCAA title at the division championship meet in Virginia Beach. Powell also examines his training since clocking 13:30.93 on March 31 at the Stanford Invitational that helped him elevate to the No. 4 outdoor competitor in Division 2 history. He shares how meaningful it is to race with several teammates on the Orediggers' home track, similar to the strength and depth demonstrated during the cross country season, culminating Dec. 2 with Powell capturing the individual title in 29:28 and Colorado School of Mines placing all seven athletes in the top 30 to produce a 43-177 victory against Wingate in University Place, Wash. Powell looks forward to potential races April 28-29 at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships in Nebraska, as well as the possibility of competing May 6 at a Sound Running event in Southern California. He also analyzes the Orediggers' pursuit of a team podium finish May 25-27 at the Division 2 outdoor final at CSU-Pueblo, and trying to maximize their resources across several distance events, along with the 110-meter hurdles, high jump and pole vault. Powell also speaks about how instrumental his work with a sports psychologist since August has been with regard to his mental health and preparation, along with how significant his faith has been during challenging moments of his running career.