Azusa Pacific graduate student-athlete Jaylah Walker, a PacWest Conference champion in the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles along with the 4x100-meter relay, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss returning to the NCAA Division 2 Outdoor Championships for the first time since 2018 when she is scheduled to compete in both hurdling events and both relays May 27-29 at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. Walker, a La Sierra High graduate, examines Azusa Pacific having 11 athletes competing at the championship meet, as the Cougars attempt to win their first Division 2 outdoor team crown after capturing a National Christian College Athletic Association women's championship in 2013, following NAIA titles in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2010. She analyzes the versatility of the Azusa Pacific roster, including heptathletes Jordan Hammond, Meagan Warwick and Nicole Warwick, and how every event group will be represented at the finals. Walker, who is the fastest entry in the 400 hurdles at 58.16 seconds and in the top five in the 100 hurdles with a wind-aided 13.65 effort and wind-legal 13.86 performance, explains her excitement to return to a national meet after placing 11th in the 400 hurdles in Charlotte, N.C. She also reflects on suffering a broken foot in 2019 that cost her the entire outdoor season and then not being able to compete last spring as a result of the pandemic, and how much motivation and determination has been present this year in her training and competition. Walker shares the impact that fellow graduate student-athlete Jennifer Sandoval, a former Division 1 cross country national finalist at San Jose State, has had on the Cougars' roster this season, breaking program records in the 5,000 and 10,000, with the potential to challenge for both national titles and contribute significant points for Azusa Pacific in its team battle against West Texas A&M, Adams State and host Grand Valley State. Walker also shares how her faith has helped her remain optimistic and resilient with the struggles she faced and obstacles she encountered the past two years, in addition to speaking about her quest to earn a Master's Degree in Public Health and having an extra year of eligibility to compete.