Christian Noble, a two-time NCAA Division 2 indoor champion and seven-time All-American at Lee University in Tennessee who boasts division records in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss becoming the sixth competitor in division history to eclipse the 4-minute mark in the indoor mile with his 3:59.70 performance Jan. 22 at the Vanderbilt Invitational, along with looking forward to racing Feb. 4-5 at the Camel City Invitational at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. Noble reflects on his indoor mile progression, including 4:00.60 last year at the UAB Vulcan Invitational and 4:00.26 at the same event Jan. 15, before becoming the first athlete in the division since 2018 to achieve the feat. He expresses gratitude for teammate Carson Bix, a transfer from Adams State in Colorado, along with the Ole Miss trio of James Young, Shane Bracken and Dereck Elkins, for helping Noble accomplish his career goal. Noble also speaks about Young transferring from Division 2 program Academy of Art to Ole Miss to join Bracken, a former standout at Division 2 Saint Leo, on the Rebels' roster. He explains how much the presence of Bix, who placed second in the Division 2 outdoor 5,000 final in May at Grand Valley State, has benefited not only Noble's training, but also elevated the entire program. Noble analyzes the opportunities for Lee to compete in the distance medley relay against several strong Division 1 programs at Camel City, in addition to racing in the elite 3,000 meters against a field comprised of both college and professional athletes. He examines the potential for Lee to win the DMR title for the first time in program history at the Division 2 indoor championship meet March 11-12 at Pittsburg State in Kansas, as well as the opportunity for the Flames to improve on their fourth-place performance at last year's final when they had only five qualifiers participating at the CrossPlex in Birmingham. Noble projects Bix joining him as a sub-4 performer at Boston University in February, which would help Lee join Adams State as only the second program in Division 2 history to boast a pair of athletes to accomplish the goal. He also speaks about the opportunities for teammate and reigning Division 2 indoor champion Celine Ritter, who will also be competing at Camel City in the elite women's 3,000, looking to eclipse the all-time division best of 9:07:05 produced in 2019 on an oversized track at the Dempsey facility in Washington by Caroline Kurgat of Alaska-Anchorage. Ritter ran the Division 2 record of 9:11.41 on a 200-meter indoor track last season at Camel City to finish fifth in the elite field.

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