West Virginia junior Ceili McCabe, the reigning Big 12 cross country champion and an All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to reflect on her thrilling victory Oct. 29 at the conference championship meet in Stillwater, Okla., as well as looking ahead to the Mid-Atlantic Regional hosted by Lehigh on Nov. 12 at the Goodman Course in Bethlehem, Pa. McCabe examines the significance of becoming the first West Virginia student-athlete to win a Big 12 cross country title, in addition to being able to edge three-time champion Cailie Logue of Iowa State by a 20:44.2 to 20:44.8 margin to help the Mountaineers place third overall. She also analyzes the opportunities for West Virginia to earn an automatic berth to compete Nov. 20 at the Division 1 championship meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla., if the Mountaineers can earn one of two automatic berths at the Mid-Atlantic Regional, where they enter the event as the top-ranked program. McCabe explains how meaningful her improvement is on the Stillwater course after placing 42nd on March 15 at the NCAA final and the confidence she gained from her performance at the conference championship meet. She also revisits her exceptional effort Oct. 15 to win the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, which included lowering her time from 21:40.5 in 2019 to 19:57.4 this season. McCabe shares the benefits of facing elite competition in Louisville, Wisconsin and Stillwater in preparation for the postseason, and being able to test her closing speed on several courses. She also expresses gratitude for the opportunity to compete Feb. 5 at Apalachee Regional Park, in order to give her a better understanding of the course when she races at the national final. McCabe also shares how grateful she is for the collaboration with West Virginia coach Sean Cleary and how instrumental he has been in her development. She also speaks about her opportunity to compete for her native Canada on home soil in the Under-20 cross country race in February 2020 at the Pan Am Cup in British Columbia, and looks at how several of the North American athletes in the race have transitioned well into the Division 1 college ranks. McCabe also reflects on her sixth-place finish in the 3,000 steeplechase final June 12 at the Division 1 championship meet in Oregon, and her ambition to represent Canada at the senior level in the event in the years ahead, in addition to pursuing a career in sports media along with running professionally.