Grand Canyon graduate student-athlete Israel Oloyede, runner-up last year in the men's weight throw representing the University of Arizona at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing March 11 in the final at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. Oloyede is the collegiate leader 80-2.75 (24.45m) and ranks No. 5 all-time among NCAA competitors, as well as No. 9 in American history and 12th among global athletes. He explains the significance of Grand Canyon having a pair of male athletes qualifying for the Division 1 indoor meet for the first time in program history, along with Ethan Harris in the high jump, after Scott Marshall was the first male athlete representing the Antelopes to reach the NCAA indoor final in 2018 in the pole vault. Oloyede reflects on his first experience Feb. 18-19 at the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico and contributing to Grand Canyon captuirng its sixth consecutive men's team crown, as well as the women's team help sweep both titles. He revisits participating in the weight throw final Feb. 27 at the USATF Indoor Championships and placing sixth overall with a mark of 76-1 (23.19m), needing a clutch performance in the third round to advance to the final, and how beneficial it was to face that level of competition including Alexander Young, Daniel Haugh and Rudy Winkler ahead of the Division 1 Indoor Championships. Oloyede shares how much he has developed physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually since last year's indoor final and how his faith and family have supported him in his new environment at Grand Canyon. He expresses gratitude for his collaboration with throws coach Nathan Ott, along with the guidance of head coach Tom Flood and the entire coaching and training staff at Grand Canyon. Oloyede looks forward to a matchup with Alabama's Bobby Colantonio, who has thrown 79-2.75 (24.15m) and ranks No. 8 in collegiate indoor history, along with 23-meter competitors Newlyn Stephenson and Taige Bryant of Eastern Michigan, as well as Jake Wickey of Kent State. He also explains how he will be using a redshirt season during the spring outdoor schedule and will compete unattached in the hammer throw as he continues to work toward a Masters degree in business analytics, and will use his final season of eligibility for Grand Canyon in 2023.