Kassie Parker, the reigning NCAA Division 3 cross country champion for Loras College who has also won indoor track and outdoor track national titles in her career, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her pursuit of back-to-back crowns Nov. 19 at Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich. Parker shares her excitement for Loras having both teams qualify together for the first time in program history, including the women making their first appearance at the NCAA championship meet since 1997 and only the third overall. She also explains how the women's team was inspired to advance to the NCAA final to motivate coach Bob Schultz to dye his hair brown and Parker's suggestion to have it dyed purple instead. Parker also analyzes the potential for the Duhawks in the women's 6-kilometer race, as well as her examining the overall race for the team title. She shares the challenges the weather conditions will produce in the race and whether Parker might be capable of eclipsing the 20-minute barrier in a 6-kilometer competition for the first time in her career. Parker revisits her performance Oct. 1 at the Division 3 national preview and what she learned about the Forest Akers course following her 20:31.3 effort. She also reflects on her opportunity to race Sept. 16 against Notre Dame at the National Catholic Invitational and prevailing against the entire Irish lineup by achieving a mark of 17:02.1 in a 5-kilometer competition at the Burke Golf Course. Parker speaks about competing multiple times against fellow All-American Aubrie Fisher of Wartburg in preparation for the national final, along with her opportunity compete against Fiona Smith of St. Benedict and Anastasia Tucker of Hope during the regular season. She shares how significant it is for both returning champions, along with Alex Phillip of John Carroll, to have the opportunity to defend their titles, especially with so many Division 3 All-Americans moving this season to Division 1 programs. Parker also discusses the success of Ella Baran, Ari Marks, Esther Seeland, Danielle Page and Ariel Keklak for their new Division 1 teams this fall and how they will all be competing Nov. 19 at the NCAA championship meet at the Greiner Family Course at Oklahoma State in Stillwater. She also looks ahead to her plans for indoor track and competing unattached, since Parker only has the spring outdoor track season available for her remaining eligibility.