For Kali and Brayden Dahl, the journey to becoming teammates at BYU began years before they ever stepped onto the track wearing BYU uniforms.
The married couple first met while competing for Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona. Although they spent time on the same track team, their relationship didn't immediately develop into a romance.
"We actually didn't date in high school," Brayden said. "We were on two double dates, but that was it."
Years later, however, those casual high school connections would lead to a partnership that now extends far beyond athletics. Today, the Dahls are married, pursuing business degrees and competing together as standout hurdlers for BYU track and field.
Their story is one of patience, faith, perseverance and a shared commitment to helping each other succeed both on and off the track.
Brayden's path to BYU was relatively straightforward. After graduating from Highland High School, he committed to BYU before serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lisbon, Portugal.
Long before arriving in Provo, Brayden knew he wanted the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. During his senior year of high school, he reached out directly to BYU hurdles coach Kyle Grossarth to learn what it would take to earn a spot on the roster.
"I reached out to Kyle," Brayden said. "I was like, 'Hey, you know, I want to run for BYU. What are some good times I could hit in the 110-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles for me to have an opportunity?'"
Grossarth gave him specific goals to target throughout the season.
"He gave me these goal times at the beginning of the season," Brayden said. "And then there was zero communication throughout the whole season."
Everything changed after Brayden achieved those marks at the state championships.
"At the end of my senior year, I hit those times and he emailed me out of nowhere saying, 'Hey, great races at state. I'll be contacting you soon.'"
That conversation ultimately led to an offer from BYU, one that Brayden deferred while serving his mission before eventually joining the Cougars.
Kali's journey to Provo looked much different.
Unlike Brayden, BYU was not initially on her radar during the recruiting process.
"I didn't even talk to BYU when I was committing," she said.
Instead, Kali attended Utah Valley University, where she competed for three years as a hurdler. While she enjoyed her experience at UVU, the opportunity to train under Grossarth eventually became too appealing to pass up.
"Our coach, Kyle, he's really the reason I transferred," Kali said. "I really transferred to come work with Kyle because he just knows everything about hurdles."
The transfer also meant she would finally have the opportunity to compete alongside her husband.
The couple began dating after Brayden returned home from his mission. At the time, he was attending BYU while Kali remained at UVU. About a year later, they were married in July 2024.
For their first year of marriage, however, they found themselves balancing life as newlyweds while competing for different schools.
"We were in different track programs, different schedules," Brayden said. "Totally different schools."
Their daily routines rarely aligned.
"I'd wake up in the morning, go to weights, and she would go to class," Brayden said. "Then she'd come home and then she'd go to practice when I was home. And then I'd go to practice later."
While the arrangement was challenging, it also reinforced how important their shared interests were to their relationship.
Now, with both athletes competing for BYU, life has become simpler.
For the Dahls, one of the greatest advantages of being married athletes is having someone who fully understands the demands of the sport.
"I think it's a built-in support system," Brayden said.
The shared experience creates a unique level of understanding.
"With track, you go through the same workouts," he said. "You can understand how each other are feeling. You can push each other to reach your goal, set goals, achieve goals."
That support extends beyond race day.
Both athletes are intentional about setting goals and communicating them with one another. Kali keeps a whiteboard with season goals written down, while Brayden tracks his own objectives as well.
"I was able to see Kali's vision, what she wanted to accomplish," Brayden said. "So during practice or at the meet, I could really go like, 'Oh, that's awesome. That's what she wanted.'"
Kali said sharing goals allows them to actively help one another improve.
"Because I told Brayden, he's helping me look for it too and can help me do it," she said.
Their partnership has also helped them navigate the challenges of balancing athletics, academics and married life.
Brayden is studying accounting, while Kali is pursuing a degree in business management. Although they are in different programs, being at the same university has created more opportunities to support each other.
"When you're at the same school, you're working toward the same thing, like building your life together," Kali said.
Kali's transfer to BYU has also allowed the couple to spend far more time together as teammates.
As hurdlers, both athletes train under Grossarth and frequently participate in the same workouts, lifting sessions and team activities.
Traveling together has become one of their favorite aspects of competing for BYU.
"It's just been so fun because we get to travel together," Kali said. "Some meets they even let us stay in the same room together, which is awesome."
She laughed while describing another perk of competing for the same school.
"We get to sit by each other on the plane," she said.
Beyond the convenience of sharing a team, both athletes believe BYU's culture is one of the program's greatest strengths.
"Our team this year has been so competitive against each other, which is so good," Kali said. "Every rep you're competing."
What stands out, she explained, is the way teammates push one another while genuinely wanting everyone to improve.
"It's competing in a way that we all want to get better," she said.
That supportive environment has helped create a culture where athletes challenge one another while remaining unified.
Faith also plays a major role in shaping the BYU experience.
Kali said one of her favorite traditions involves weekly spiritual thoughts shared among teammates.
"Our weight coach, coach Zach (Stetler), every Friday had us each take a turn sharing a little spiritual thought every week," she said.
She believes those moments strengthen relationships throughout the team.
"It's super cool to hear everyone's testimonies and stuff every week," Kali said. "I feel like that strengthens the team."
The team also participated in a devotional while attending the Big 12 outdoor championships in Tucson.
"It was super cool because all of us got to talk about our hardships or trials or things that our faith can push us through," she said.
Brayden agrees that BYU's faith-centered culture sets the program apart from many others around the country.
"I love what coach Kyle says to us all the time," Brayden said. "I love being here because I love you guys. I love the gospel."
He said coaches and athletes from other programs frequently notice the difference.
"People come up to us and say, 'We love your team. They're always super respectful. They're always happy,'" Brayden said.
For him, that reputation reflects the values the team strives to represent.
"That's really just what the love of Christ is," he said. "We are happy, we are respectful, we're loving towards everyone."
The impact of BYU's environment is evident not only in the culture but also in athletic performance. According to Kali's mother, Nikki McEuen, the program has helped both athletes continue to develop.
"BYU definitely has it dialed in," McEuen said. "Kali's times dropped and Brayden's times. What a cool experience to make memories together as a couple on the track, to travel and compete together."
As the Dahls continue their collegiate careers, they remain focused on supporting one another through every challenge and achievement.
Their advice to other athlete couples is simple: communicate openly, set goals together and help each other pursue them.
Whether it's improving a hurdle technique, earning a degree or preparing for the next competition, the couple believes success is easier when someone is running beside you.
For Kali and Brayden Dahl, the race has never been about individual accomplishments alone.
At BYU, they have discovered that some of life's greatest victories come from pursuing goals together, one hurdle at a time.