Kostas Zaltos, a junior at Minnesota representing Greece and a three-time Big Ten Conference men's hammer throw champion and a two-time All-American, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing June 7 at the NCAA Division 1 Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. Zaltos is the Division 1 leader and a top 20 all-time collegiate competitor at 246-11 (75.27m) and top 10 in Greek history with his performance April 28 at the 113th Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. He reflects on opening his outdoor season March 4 in the hammer ring in Texas, and how beneficial it was to have experience at the venue ahead of the Division 1 championship meet. Zaltos also revisits the qualifying May 24 at the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento, and winning the competition, in addition to watching teammate Jake Kubiatowicz overcome fouls on his first two attempts to produce a personal-best 228-9 (69.73m) in the third round to secure a berth to compete in June 7. Zaltos highlights how meaningful it is to be part of the deepest hammer throw lineup in the NCAA, also including Kaleb Siekmeier and Isaiah Schafer, and what living, training and competing with them has done to provide support and motivation for him representing the Golden Golphers. He also expresses gratitude for the guidance and mentorship of Minnesota throws coach Peter Miller, and how beneficial the collaboration has been for him, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zaltos examines how significant his mental health has been this season, and how valuable it has been to connect with support outside the sport. He explains how his mindset and approach has been focused on becoming the first Minnesota male athlete to capture a hammer throw title, and how important it is to achieve the feat for his family and to represent Greece. Zaltos also analyzes how meaningful it would be to become the first Greek hammer thrower to secure the NCAA championship since Spyridon Zoullien at Virginia Tech in 2005-06.