The last time Colorado State University celebrated a national title in outdoor track and field, Mya Lesnar was just a toddler. Now, more than two decades later, that same little girl, who once probably couldn’t even lift a shot put properly, is a senior at CSU, carving her name into the school’s history. Well, it’s been a long and winding road for Lesnar. While everyone cheers for Lesnar making it into the books, her mentor has a humbling opinion on this specific performance, something that might just add a few more meters to her future accolades. Hear him out!

Just last year, Mya experienced both triumph and frustration: a glorious indoor national title followed by a humbling fifth-place finish outdoors. This year’s indoor season wasn’t any kinder. As the defending champion, Lesnar walked in with expectations, but walked out with a fifth-place finish. The disappointment stung. But come June, she flipped the script—and did so in dominant fashion. On June 12, at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Lesnar hurled the shot put 19.01 meters, claiming the national title and becoming just the second woman in CSU history to win an outdoor national championship. The first? Loree Smith, who won the hammer throw way back in 2005.

CSU head coach Brian Bedard had mixed feelings about the win, true to form. On paper, Lesnar had crushed it. But Bedard didn’t sugarcoat his analysis. “I still think she missed the big one today because in training we’ve been seeing throws in the 19.30-meter range,” he said. “She probably had a B-plus day for her.” A national title. A B-plus day. That’s the kind of coach Bedard is—one who refuses to let potential plateau. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t proud; he’s far from it.

For background, Lesnar entered the meet as the top seed, and she wasted no time proving why. Her very first throw was the winning one—and the only one of the day to eclipse 19 meters. No one else even came close. In fact, Lesnar’s second-best throw (61-11) still would have been enough to win the title, edging out Illinois’ Abria Smith, who posted 61-10.25. It was the perfect comeback. For Bedard, no. But for her fans, a big YES.

“It was a great start for her,” the coach added later, softening his tone. “We’ve been working on the mental game and trying to have some joy when she competes and really simplify some technical cues and managing excitement levels and all that, and I thought she did that today. When she came up and talked to me between throws, she had a really good awareness of what she was doing in the throw and what she was feeling. I just loved her mindset today. It was mature.” For Brock Lesnar’s daughter, the words mattered.

In the end, the numbers don’t lie—Mya Lesnar is a national champion. And while she may not have hit the 19.30m she’s capable of, she hit something even more important: the standard of greatness that puts her name next to legends. Bittersweet? Maybe. But the victory? Undeniably sweet, and the coach has a huge role in making it. 

Mya Lesnar continues Coach Bedard’s streak 

Mya Lesnar didn’t just make history when she won the national title—she added another jewel to a crown already crafted by Colorado State’s legendary throws coach, Brian Bedard. With her win, Lesnar became the fourth Ram to capture a national championship in the throws under Bedard’s guidance, bringing the total haul under his tenure to six titles. The legacy stretches back to 1998, when Casey Malone won it all in the discus while Bedard was still an assistant.

Since then, Bedard has become the architect of CSU’s throwing dynasty, quietly building champions without the flash or the fuss. But ask Mya Lesnar what really powers that legacy, and she’ll tell you.

“You don’t need fancy things to throw,” Mya said matter-of-factly at the pre-Nationals press conference. “You need one old shot put and a great coach.” In a sport where facilities and equipment often grab the spotlight, Lesnar’s words cut through the noise with the same power as one of her throws. “None of us need fancy equipment to throw far,” she added. “We just have a coach that’s all-in, that trusts us and teammates that trust us, and we like to have fun and push each other.” That trust, that camaraderie, that gritty determination—that’s the Bedard blueprint.

It’s not about chasing perfection with shiny tools. It’s about showing up, grinding every day, and believing in the process. And for Lesnar, it’s about honoring that legacy by living it. One throw at a time.