PUMA Elite Running team member Fiona O'Keeffe, an All-American at Stanford, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss becoming the fastest American female athlete under age 25 in the half marathon in addition to producing the best debut at the 13.1-mile distance by a U.S. woman on a record-eligible course Jan. 15 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon by clocking 67 minutes, 42 seconds. Kara Goucher achieved the fastest debut in 2007 at the Great North Run in Newcastle in the United Kingdom by running 66:57, but the course was not record eligible. O'Keeffe, 23, elevated to the No. 5 all-time American competitor on record-eligible courses and sixth overall, including Goucher's performance. She revisits what a significant day it was for U.S. women's distance running in Houston, with 37-year-old Keira D'Amato setting the American record in the marathon by running 2:19:12 and 38-year-old Sara Hall achieving the American record in the half marathon by clocking 67:15 to eclipse Molly Huddle's 2018 performance of 67:25 on a record-eligible course. O'Keeffe shares how beneficial it was to have a group of athletes including Dominique Scott from South Africa, Jess Judd from Great Britain and fellow American Emily Durgin to be able to race with for most of the event, along with several male competitors who were able to block the wind. She examines how meaningful it is to be mentioned among some of the most accomplished distance runners in American history with her half marathon achievement and how much she learned from the experience. O'Keeffe reflects on her preparation throughout the late summer and fall of racing at various distances and in different environments on the roads after she competed in June in the 10,000-meter final at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. She expresses gratitude for coaches Alistair Cragg and Amy Cragg, who are leading the North Carolina-based group sponsored by PUMA, and how sharing their experiences has proved beneficial for O'Keeffe in her first year as a professional athlete after attending graduate school at New Mexico since making her pro debut in February. O'Keeffe also analyzes the benefits of training with former Arkansas standout Taylor Werner, Utah graduate Poppy Tank and recent Boston College competitor Emeline Delanis, and shares how they have helped her improve and develop as an athlete, in addition to creating a supportive team dynamic. Following altitude training camp, she looks forward to returning to the track and looking to lower her times in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, with a focus on competing at the U.S. Outdoor Championships.