Lexi Ellis, a redshirt junior at Oregon and the reigning Pac-12 women's triple jump champion, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing along with teammate Dominique Ruotolo June 11 at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene. Ellis reflects on her first appearance at the Division 1 outdoor final in 2019 in Austin, Texas, and how significant it is for her to be returning to a championship meet, especially after not being able to compete at the NCAA indoor event in 2020 in Albuquerque, N.M., as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. She revisits her 44-0.50 (13.42m) performance May 28 in the third round of the West Regional in Arkansas, securing her berth to advance to the Division 1 championship meet. Ellis also analyzes her foul in the first round of regional competition and what she believed to be the biggest jump of her career, even surpassing her 44-6.25 (13.57m) effort April 15 at the 62nd Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike in Walnut, Calif. She also examines rallying to win the Pac-12 title May 15 with a fifth-round mark of 42-11.50 (13.09m) at Hayward Field, edging Ruotolo and Temitope Ojora of USC, who both produced 42-9 (13.03m) performances. Ellis shares the details of her inspiration speech to all of her Oregon teammates prior to the Pac-12 meet and explains her pride in the Ducks sweeping both titles at home, with the men's team winning a 15th consecutive crown and the women securing a 16th overall championship. She explores the potential of the Oregon women to contend for a podium finish at the NCAA Championships, with the Ducks having qualifiers in nine events, including multiple athletes competing in the 100-meter dash, 200 meters, shot put and triple jump, as well as being the top overall qualifier in the 4x100-meter relay. Ellis shares the motivation for her and Ruotolo to join Chaquinn Cook as the only All-America first-team honorees in the women's outdoor triple jump in program history. She also speaks about the men's triple jump matchup involving three-time champion Emmanuel Ihemeje of Oregon and 2019 outdoor winner Chengetayi Mapaya of Texas Christian, and how Ellis appreciates athletes who promote their events and rivalries in the sport. Ellis also looks forward to competing June 23-26 at the USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.