UC Riverside junior teammates Linda Perez and Collette Lowengrub, who took the top two spots Sept. 1 at the Big West Conference Preview meet at Blacklake Golf Course in Nipomo, Calif., join DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss making their first career appearances Sept. 22 in the women's 6-kilometer race at the Bill Dellinger Invitational at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Springfield, Ore. Perez covered the 5-kilometer layout at the conference preview meet in 17:35.5 and Lowengrub ran 17:38.2 to help the Highlanders place second as a team behind host Cal Poly San Luis Obispo by a 39-67 margin. They reflect on the team's altitude training camp in Big Bear following the meet and the decision not to race Sept. 16 at the UC Riverside Invitational at the Ag-Ops Course in order to prepare to compete in Oregon. Perez shares the motivation the Highlanders have to compete once more against not only their conference rivals, but also fellow West Regional programs Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, Sacramento State and UCLA. Lowengrub explains her excitement to have UC Riverside fielding its top lineup for the first time this season. Perez shares how significant leadership has been with a young group and being able to develop a cohesive lineup with the arrival of offseason transfers. Lowengrub analyzes how meaningful building team camaraderie was for the Highlanders at altitude training camp along with the upcoming trip to Oregon in order to establish a group identity ahead of the postseason. Perez revisits her 13th-place effort in the 10,000 meters in a lifetime-best 32:58.63 at last year's NCAA Division 1 West Regional in May in Sacramento, and the motivation that has provided for her this year. Lowengrub speaks about how much inspiration she gained from running a personal-best 19:58 on the 6-kilometer layout to finish 30th at the NCAA West Regional in cross country in November at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash., and how it has helped her prepare for this season. They highlight the potential for UC Riverside to capture its first Big West Conference women's team title since 2008, in addition to the possibility of securing the first individual crown for the Highlanders since Raquel Hefflin and Faith Makau captured consecutive championships in 2014-15, and the confidence gained from watching UC Davis standout and reigning Big West winner Brianna Weidler qualify for the NCAA Division 1 Championships last year, and how that has impacted their pursuit and goals to race Nov. 18 in Charlottesville, Va.

WATCH LIVE WEBCAST SEPT. 22 OF BILL DELLINGER CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL ON RUNNERSPACE