Natalie Bitetti, a senior and two-time NCAA Division 3 cross country All-American for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps along with the winner of the past two Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Division 3 West Regional titles, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the Athenas competing Nov. 18 at the NCAA championship meet at the Big Spring course in Dickinson, Pa. Bitetti placed 39th last season in Lansing, Mich., to help Claremont-Mudd-Scripps finish 10th at the NCAA final. She also secured 16th in the Division 3 championship meet in 2021 in Louisville, Ky., to contribute to a second-place performance by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the best in program history. The Athens, who won their 13th consecutive SCIAC crown and sixth straight West Regional title, are making their 25th appearance at the Division 3 final, including their 15th in a row, and are seeking a fifth podium finish overall. Bitetti reflects on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps winning the NCAA Division 3 Pre-Nationals race Oct. 7 at the Big Spring course and her placing second behind Genna Girard of Williams on the 6-kilometer layout. She analyzes the thickness of the grass at Big Spring as presenting a challenge to the athletes, along with learning to adapt to racing in colder weather as a California resident. She shares her pride in the improvement of teammates Elle Marsyla, Riley Capuano, Sara Wexler, Laura Zimmer, Angie Gushue and Revere Schmidt, and how this year's Claremont-Mudd-Scripps lineup possesses similarities to the 2021 group that was runner-up by a 130-132 margin behind eight-time Division 3 champion Johns Hopkins. Bitetti, who decided to shift her focus as a collegiate student-athlete from softball to distance running, expresses gratitude for the leadership and guidance of fourth-year Claremont-Mudd-Scripps coach Marina Muncan, and how her approach to training and competition has benefited the Athenas. She also praises veteran teammates Meredith Bloss, Riley Harmon, Emily Clarke and Sophie Gitlin for their support during Bitetti's career. Bitetti analyzes how significant it would be for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to become the first Division 3 women's team on the West Coast to win a national championship after Pomona-Pitzer captured men's titles in 2019 and 2021, and helping gain more respect and recognition for SCIAC athletes and programs on a national level.