Charlotte Bednar, a junior at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and two-time Nike Cross Nationals All-American, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her New Jersey prep all-time effort 16:25.90 in the 5,000 meters competing unattached Oct. 10 at the Garden State Track Club High School Fall Showcase at Thomas A. Edison Park. Bednar revisits how she was supposed to race Sept. 19 at the first Garden State showcase event, but ankle soreness pushed back the date of her season opener. She reflects on 235 days in between competitions, since capturing the 2-mile title Feb. 18 in 10:29.86 at the Eastern States Indoor Championships in New York. Bednar examines the significance of running faster than last year's 5,000 mark of 16:34.66 achieved by Alexa Westley of Warren Hills Regional at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor final in North Carolina to produce the top time by a New Jersey prep athlete, in addition to how meaningful it is to elevate to the No. 23 prep performer in history, including seventh among all juniors. She expresses gratitude for the competition of junior Jenna Mulhern of West Chester Henderson in Pennsylvania, who remained within striking distance of Bednar past the 3,000-meter mark, before finishing second in 16:40.46. With Lawrenceville not contesting any fall sports, Bednar also looks forward to returning to cross country as an unattached competitor, especially without NXN or Foot Locker nationals on the calendar this winter. She shares the importance of challenging herself in a national-caliber field to evaluate both her fitness and development since returning to a regular training and competition schedule. Bednar also remains optimistic that the limited indoor track schedule in October at The Armory in New York will eventually lead to racing opportunities for elite distance runners during the winter months. In addition to her running, Bednar has also remained active by playing tennis, basketball and football with siblings and friends, in addition to completing a 50-mile round-trip bike ride to New Hope, Pennsylvania. She also celebrates joining her sister by having her braces removed in March, in addition to earning a wrestling championship belt for her 5,000 victory.