Chiara Dailey, a sophomore standout at La Jolla High in California who finished second at the Division 4 state final and placed 14th to earn All-America honors at the CHAMPS Sports Cross Country Championships last year, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing Oct. 20 in the Division 3-4-5 girls team sweepstakes race at the 75th Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational Presented by Nike in Walnut, Calif. Dailey triumphed in the sweepstakes race last year in her Mt. SAC debut in 16:58 to become the fourth freshman in meet history to eclipse the 17-minute barrier, joining Misson Prep's Jordan Hasay, Simi Valley's Sarah Baxter and Lauren Ping from Desert Vista High in Arizona. She also became the fifth female athlete from the San Diego Section to achieve a sub-17 effort on the 2.93-mile layout at Mt. SAC, along with Rancho Bernardo's Molly Grabill, Canyon Crest Academy's Carlie Dorostkar, La Costa Canyon's Kristin Fahy and Torrey Pines' Megan Morgan. Dailey revisits her experiences from both the Mt. SAC Invitational, in addition to competing on the 5-kilometer layout at the venue last season with a third-place finish at the CHAMPS Sports West Regional. Dailey shares how meaningful it has been to compete against La Costa Canyon's Gioana Lopizzo and looks forward to another opportunity to square off Friday. She also highlights the strength of San Diego Section athletes this season, along with Eastlake sophomore Jaelyn Williams and her La Jolla teammate Kirra Fisk. Dailey also examines the depth this year in Division 4, with returning state champion Payton Godsey from Oaks Christian, as well as Scotts Valley's Ashlyn Boothby, La Canada's Maya DeBrouwer, South Pasadena's Abigail Errington and JSerra's entire lineup. She explains how beneficial it has been to compete Sept. 16 in the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race at the 42nd Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS America, in addition to Oct. 7 in the Bill Buettner girls championship race at the 44th ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno. Dailey revisits how valuable it was to race multiple times in December last season in preparation for another national opportunity this year. She also expresses gratitude for veteran teammates Daphne Mayer and Fisk, along with the guidance, wisdom and insight from her father Adam, a former collegiate athlete who frequently trains with Dailey.

WATCH LIVE WEBCAST OCT. 20-21 OF 75TH MT. SAC CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY NIKE WITH RUNNERSPACE+PLUS