Payton Godsey, a junior at Oaks Christian School in California and the reigning Southern Section and state cross country champion in Division 4, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss winning the marquee gold race Dec. 3 at the third Garmin RunningLane Championships at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala. Godsey joined Jenna Hutchins, a graduate of Science Hill High in Tennessee, and former Flower Mound of Texas star Natalie Cook as the winners of the 5-kilometer gold race, becoming only the second student-athlete in the history of the school that opened in 2000 to win a national competition. Lauren Rain Williams-James captured New Balance Nationals indoor 200 crowns in 2015 and 2016. Godsey is only the fourth individual competitor at Oaks Christian to win a state championship in any event, including the first in cross country, joining Williams-James in the 200 and Casidy Palka in the high jump in 2016, along with Niko DiMartino in the long jump in 2010. She reflects on placing 157th in 18:12.3 at last year's race at John Hunt Park and running 17:28.3 on a muddy and more challenging course this season. Godsey revisits the final kilometer of the race and finding herself in third place with 800 meters remaining and being able to find an extra gear to surge ahead of runner-up Zariel Macchia of William Floyd in New York, who clocked 17:34.2. She examines how the volume of her summer workouts, as well as adding more strength training, were beneficial, especially during the postseason. Godsey expresses gratitude for the guidance and leadership of veteran Oaks Christian coach Wes Smith and how instrumental he was in helping her prepare for the postseason. She analyzes an exceptional final month of the season that included a 16:43.1 3-mile effort Nov. 3 to win the Marmonte League crown, followed by a 16:54.2 performance on the 2.93-mile layout Nov. 19 at the Southern Section Division 4 finals at Mt. San Antonio College, followed by winning the Division 4 state championship Nov. 26 in 17:00.1 on the 5-kilometer course at Woodward Park in Fresno and culminated with her victory in Alabama. Godsey speaks about how special it is to receive a championship belt for her success, in addition to her decision to compete in the final race of the season with her teammates instead of participating as an individual at Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon. She looks forward to the 2023 track season and her ambitions and aspirations to eclipse the 4:40 barrier in the 1,600 meters, as well as challenging the 10-minute mark in the 3,200. And Godsey looks forward to the future of Oaks Christian cross country following a memorable season and racing against two-time Division 4 state champion JSerra next fall, as well as Marmonte League rival Newbury Park.