Lauren Ping, an Oklahoma State-bound senior at Valley Christian High and a three-time Arizona Division 1 cross country champion at Desert Vista along with a Nike Cross Nationals and Eastbay National Championships qualifier, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the transfer to a new school for her final year along with her recovery from injury that affected her performance during the spring track schedule. Ping shares how beneficial it was to give her verbal commitment to Oklahoma State during her junior year and how much relief it has provided entering the fall season. She also explains how important it was to create her own connection with Cowboys coach Dave Smith and the program, regardless of her older sister Grace Ping being on the roster. She examines the potential for the Oklahoma State women's cross country team this fall and the excitement over Stillwater being the host Nov. 19 for the NCAA Division 1 Championships. Ping also examines her younger brother Jamison being part of the Valley Christian cross country program and her excitement to watch him improve and develop, and having the opportunity to share her final high school season with a sibling after being her prep career with Grace as a seventh-grader at Cotter High in Minnesota. She analyzes how meaningful it would be to eclipse the all-time record of 17:03 on the 5-kilometer Arizona state meet layout at Cave Creek Golf Course achieved in 2016 by former Rio Rico standout and Washington All-American Allie Schadler at the Division 4 final Nov. 12, in addition to winning the Nike Southwest Regional title again to advance to Nike Cross Nationals at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore., the same venue where she placed 11th to earn All-America honors in 2017. Ping speaks about racing Sept. 30 at the Desert Twilight Festival at the new location of Coyote Run Golf Course at Leisure World in Mesa, and focusing on quality over quantity in her schedule to ensure she is at her best in November and December. She also reflects on training during the summer again with her friends and peers at Project Gold, along with competing in June at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, Wash. Ping expresses gratitude for the fellowship she has built with athletes across the country and especially at Valley Christian, being able to share her faith and spiritual journey during bible study and Trojans' team-bonding activities.