Erin Marsh, a five-time All-America first-team honoree for Duke and the only female multi-event athlete to make the NCAA Division 1 podium at both the indoor and outdoor championships in 2021 and 2022, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her selection to compete in the first international event of her career in the annual Thorpe Cup - United States vs. Germany showdown July 9-10 at St. Mark's School in Dallas, Texas. Marsh, who took third in the heptathlon with 5,929 points June 10-11 in her final competition for Duke at the Division 1 championship meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., revisits the challenges presented by the inclement weather and her quest to surpass runner-up Ida Eikeng of Washington entering the 800 meters. Marsh ran 2:14.64 in the 800, compared to Eikeng clocking 2:31.65, but despite her performance, she fell short by 10 points overall. She reflects on her personal-best 5,946 points May 12-13 at the Atlantic Coast Conference finals to secure the heptathlon title at home and Duke's quest to capture another women's team championship, only for Miami (Florida) to prevail by a 108 to 100.5 margin after the Blue Devils won last year's outdoor crown at North Carolina State after tying Florida State with 110 points, as well as their triumph at the conference indoor meet in March at Virginia Tech, tying the host Hokies with 86 points. Marsh examines the U.S. roster for the women's heptathlon scheduled to compete in the Thorpe Cup, including fourth-place NCAA finisher Allie Jones of Stanford and 14th-place athlete Callie Jones of Texas Tech, in addition to reigning Division 2 champion Cheyenne Williamson of Saginaw Valley State, along with post-collegiate entries Alissa Brooks-Johnson, Sarah Glidden and Melanie Winters. She explains her opportunity to continue to train as a post-collegiate athlete with Duke head coach Shawn Wilbourn, along with the future potential in the combined events of Isabel Wakefield and Brianna Smith, in addition to the arrival of San Diego State transfer and Mountain West pentathlon champion Sara Absten. Marsh analyzes her goal of surpassing the 6,000-point barrier after four career 5,900-point efforts at the ACC Championships and NCAA Division 1 finals during the past two years. She also speaks about teammate and friend Lauren Hoffman competing in the 400-meter hurdles at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships.

 WATCH THORPE CUP LIVE WEBCAST JULY 9-10 WITH USATF.TV+PLUS SUBSCRIPTION