Gabriela Leon, a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference women's pole vault champion representing Louisville along with an NCAA Division 1 Indoor All-American and outdoor finalist, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing June 9 with teammate Aliyah Welter at the Division 1 outdoor championship meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Leon is the only female vaulter this year to clear 15 feet outdoors on multiple occasions and is one of 10 collegiate competitors and 23 American women in history to achieve a 15-1.50 (4.61m) clearance. She explains how meaningful it is to qualify for an NCAA championship meet with Welter for the first time, along with having the opportunity to vault once more against ACC peers Rachel Baxter and Julia Fixsen of Virginia Tech. Leon revisits recovering from a shoulder injury and being able to compete in March at the Division 1 indoor final at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, placing sixth with a 14-5.50 (4.41m) clearance. She reflects on having the opportunity to vault against professional athletes Katerina Stefanidi, Jenn Suhr, Bridget Guy-Williams and Emily Grove at the 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Texas in March, and shares the lessons she learned and the conversations with her fellow competitors about vaulting as a post-collegiate athlete. Leon examines her 15-foot clearances in consecutive weeks at the Indiana Invitational and Clark Wood Invitational, including her personal-best effort at Louisville, and taking attempts at 15-5 (4.70m), the World Championships standard, in preparation for competing June 23-26 at the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Leon shares how instrumental her faith has been in providing courage, resilience and perseverance throughout her career, and knowing that her competition being cut short May 12 at the ACC final at Duke as a result of rain after she cleared 14-9 (4.50m) was an indication that there were bigger opportunities upcoming in the future. She expresses gratitude for her teammates and the collaboration with Louisville vault and multis coach Brooke Rasnick, and how meaningful it would be to become the first female athlete in program history to capture an NCAA outdoor title. Leon also shares how significant it was to attend the Kentucky Oaks for the first time on Kentucky Derby weekend and reminisces about betting on the winning horse.