Kaela Edwards, an adidas professional athlete and 2016 NCAA Division 1 indoor mile champion at Oklahoma State, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her 1:59.86 performance and runner-up finish behind Ajee' Wilson (1:58.93) in the 800 meters Feb. 28 at the Trials of Miles Texas Qualifier in Austin. Edwards reveals the timetable of having her adidas contract renewed ahead of the meet, and the reassurance that provided in her future, along with allowing her not to place any added pressure on the competition. She revisits her first career sub-2 effort at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships, when she clocked 1:59.68 in Des Moines, Iowa, and shares her emotions after eclipsing the barrier again for the first time in 980 days. Edwards reflects on clocking 2:00.39 at the Music City Distance Carnival in August and running 2:00.79 at the Golden Gala in Rome in September and how that not only provided confidence in her training, but created more motivation to achieve another sub-2 race early this year. She examines the benefit of running Feb. 13 against Wilson at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, and how that helped her race with more belief when they squared off again in Austin. Edwards also analyzes the significance of she and Wilson both running under the 2-minute mark after a 40-year streak of at least one American female athlete producing a sub-2 performance outdoors was snapped in 2020. She reminisces about returning to the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., the same site where Edwards captured her NCAA indoor mile title five years ago, and clocking 9:00.04 in the 3,000 meters in her season opener Jan. 24 at the Magic City Elite event. Edwards also speaks about her development and growth the past year training with coach and boyfriend Chad Noelle, and his desire to expand the "Noelle Coaching" training group in Colorado with newer post-collegiate athletes. She also emphasizes how meaningful it will be for Oklahoma State to be host March 15 to the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships.

DYESTAT DISCUSSIONS - EP67 - KAELA EDWARDS AND CHAD NOELLE