Simone Plourde, the reigning Pac-12 champion in the women's 1,500 meters and a recent graduate of the University of Utah representing Canada, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss making history as the first female athlete in the program to win the event at the conference final May 14 after teammate Emily Venters captured the 10,000 title May 12 at Mt. San Antonio College's Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif. Plourde also revisits fellow Canadian athlete Grace Fetherstonhaugh of Oregon State winning the 3,000 steeplechase and 5,000 championships. She reflects on the last lap of the 1,500 final and producing a 61.48-second split to prevail by a 4:09.48 to 4:09.85 margin against Stanford's Melissa Tanaka. Plourde, who also boasts personal-best efforts of 8:53.95 in the 3,000 and 15:21.19 in the 5,000, also examines joining North Carolina State's Katelyn Tuohy, as well as recent Brigham Young graduate and former teammate Whittni Orton-Morgan, along with Colorado legend Jenny Simpson, Texas Tech all-time great Sally Kipyego and former Oregon star Jessica Hull as only the sixth female athlete in collegiate history to run sub-4:10 in the 1,500, sub-8:55 in the 3,000 and sub-15:25 in the 5,000. She speaks about how significant it has been to have teammates and training partners like fellow Canadian Erin Vringer, as well as Josefine Eriksen, Bella Williams and Venters, and how they have all contributed to her success. Plourde also explains how meaningful it has been to have Utah coach Kyle Kepler as a mentor, and how beneficial his training plans have been, especially during the indoor and outdoor seasons. She analyzes how inspiring and empowering her fourth-place finish in the 3,000 were March 11 at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor final in Albuquerque, N.M., and what it meant to stand on the podium as a first-team All-American for the first time. Plourde looks forward to competing May 25 and 27 at the Division 1 West Regional in Sacramento, and advancing to the NCAA outdoor championship meet June 8 and 10 in Austin, Texas. She also speaks about the importance of remaining present with her goals and training and collegiate competition, before potentially shifting focus to racing this summer representing Canada, as well as completing additional summer school academic requirements.