Mya Lesnar becomes first Ram to win an indoor and outdoor national title in track and field

She becomes the second woman at Colorado State to win an outdoor national championship, joining Loree Smith who won the hammer throw in 2005. Lesnar now has four first-team All-American honors to her credit after placing fifth in the shot outdoors a year ago and placing fifth indoor this season.

Lesnar is the fourth Ram to win a national championship in the throws under Bedard --six titles in total -- the final five in his tenure as the program's head coach. The first was Casey Malone in 1998 when he was an assistant as the head throws coach.

Every path has been different, making each unique.

"The journey is different. The athlete and circumstances are different," Bedard said. "I got a little more nervous on this one head into finals. I felt a challenge was going to come, but it never happened.

"You'd hope all the athletes would have some sort of experience like that where they kind of learn from some failures and grow from it and improve. It doesn't always happen that way. She's really had to dig into some areas to work on to get better, whether it is technical stuff or maintaining the mental side of things, really learn to enjoy the sport. Just to see her personal growth is amazing. That's just her maturing and really taking a hard look at what she's doing. If she wants to continue in this sport, we're trying to teach her to have joy in what she's doing. It can be fun, and you can still be very competitive and intense in what you're doing."

After she finished her warmup tosses, she came over to the edge of the track and talked to her coach. They discussed technique and cues, but the last thing he said to her was to have fun.

That hasn't always been easy for her, carrying a reputation as an ultra-intense competitor. Not on this day. She felt good entering the day, and when Bedard suggested she interact with her personal fanbase, she obliged.

Which felt great, and a bit of a breakthrough. She said the "old Mya, the less mature Mya" would have felt completely out of whack showing such emotion. Nor did the pressure of knowing this would be her final collegiate performance.

Instead of being overwhelmed by emotions, she fed into them and thrived.

"It was awesome. Sometimes I get a little too serious," she said. "There's a time and place for that. I think I decided today my last collegiate meet I was going to have fun, trust the process and get it done."

Trusting the advice came easy considering the source from which the idea came. It took no time at all for her to build that feeling with Bedard after transferring to CSU three years ago, and she will trust him forever more.

She held the trophy firmly but considered it to be shared ownership. Not just this title, or even the first. But the journey they took together which put her in the spotlight.

"I don't think it's set in yet. I am very, very happy with the progress I've made at CSU," she said. "Honestly, I would not be where I am without Brian Bedard. Obviously, family and teammates, but 100 percent this goes to my coach and a lot of ups and downs we've had together and worked through together. We have the best relationship."

She has consistently thrust herself into the spotlight while at Colorado State, claiming multiple conference championships to go with the national ones. Being in the spotlight comes with taking the top step on the podium, but the bright lights are not her favorite part.

She prefers the work and the competition. It wouldn't matter if no one were there to record the history, she would gladly do it in anonymity. She was thankful she got a chance to do it again the last chance she had.

"There was a ton of emotions. I've won before indoor. It's taken awhile to get back to No. 1 again," Lesnar said. "A lot of emotions; very happy, a lot of hard wor, a lot of dedication. A lot of trust with my coach, and then just executing. and not thinking; not overthinking and doing too much."

Allowing her to make her intentions clear and concise from the start in a sonic boom of a final statement as a Ram.