Becca Richtman, a Montana Tech senior and the reigning NAIA women's 3,000-meter steeplechase champion along with the indoor mile and 3,000 winner and cross country All-American, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing May 25-27 at the NAIA Outdoor Championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Ala. Richtman is scheduled to race the steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000, facing the challenge of five races and 26,000 meters in three days, including the steeplechase prelims and 10,000 final less than 45 minutes apart May 25. Since temperatures in Montana have been in the 30s, she speaks about heat training indoors in order to prepare for the humidity and warmer conditions in Alabama. Richtman also reflects on racing the 4x400, 800, steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000 in late April at the Frontier Conference Championships in Great Falls and contributing 40 points to the team total, with freshman Abby Clark adding 43 spread over four individual events, the heptathlon and 4x400 to help the Diggers capture the women's title with 226 points overall. She revisits the NAIA Indoor Championships in March in South Dakota and competing in six races over three days in the mile, 3,000 and 5,000, and how she learned from last year's outdoor meet to eliminate external distractions and only focus on preparing for competition, racing and the necessary recovery periods. Richtman shares how she has continued to develop and improve in the steeplechase and her anticipation for competing against Jenna Melanson of British Columbia, as the two athletes rank second and third in NAIA history in the event at 10:11.03 and 10:17.30, respectively, both chasing the 2015 all-time mark of 9:53.71 by Maria Bernard of British Columbia. She also speaks about the opportunity to race against Glynis Sim of British Columbia in the 5,000 and Kyla Becker of British Columbia in the 10,000. in addition to her excitement for teammates Abby Clark (high jump), Jenna Jordan (javelin throw), Tristen Sedgwick (discus throw) and Naiya Beaudin (triple jump) also competing in Alabama. Richtman, who graduated May 7, explains her desire to become a small business owner, along with her ambition to contribute in the coaching profession.