San Diego State standout Danae Dyer, a Mountain West Conference outdoor champion in the 100-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay along with an indoor All-American and conference winner in the 4x400 relay, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the Aztecs capturing their first team title since 2018 with their victory May 13-15 at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Buchanan High in Clovis, Calif. Dyer reminisces about representing Temecula Valley High at California state competition at the same venue and how fitting it was to eclipse the 13-second barrier for the first time in the 100 hurdles on the same track with her wind-aided 12.99 performance. She examines capturing the first conference title in the event for San Diego State since Micha Auzenne in 2017, and the pride in the Aztecs sweeping both hurdles championships, with Maya Brosch securing the 400 hurdles crown in 59.54. Dyer analyzes being one of 19 collegiate competitors this season to run sub-13 under all conditions, along with 51 in the world. She shares her excitement for being able to compete May 26-29 against the USC trio of Anna Cockrell, Jasmine Jones and Mecca McGlaston at the Division 1 West Regional at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas, along with Arkansas athletes Daszay Freeman, Yoveinny Mota and Jayla Hollis, in addition to the Texas duo of Tara Davis and Chanel Brissett, plus Baylor's Ackera Nugent, the reigning NCAA indoor 60-meter hurdles champion. Dyer also speaks about the motivation for San Diego State's 4x100 relay lineup of Tai McDonald, Aisha Watt and Jada Moore, which ran 44.15 to win the Mountain West crown, to advance from the regional at Texas A&M and qualify for the national semifinals June 9-12 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. She also shares how significant it was for the program to be able to host several home meets this season, including the Aztec Invitational, in addition to competing against the top programs on the West Coast in preparation for the postseason. Dyer also expresses the importance of her faith and how it helped her remain patient and resilient throughout the pandemic, along with the support of family, friends, coaches and teammates.
