Reigning Virginia Class 4 state champion and Loudoun Valley High junior Ava Gordon, who finished fourth at NXR Southeast and 58th at Nike Cross Nationals last season, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her participation Oct. 17 in the girls seeded club race representing NOVA AC (NVAA) at the VA Elite Invitational at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville. Gordon revisits her performance Oct. 2 at the 14th Desert Twilight Festival at The Links at Queen Creek in San Tan Valley, Ariz., placing third in the girls unattached/club sweepstakes race by covering the 5-kilometer course in 17:16.56. She expresses gratitude for being able to compete in a national-caliber field that also included Washington standouts Emily Van Valkenburg of Eastlake and Julia David-Smith of Issaquah, along with Stormy Wallace, a junior from Sage Creek in California. Gordon also looks forward to potential matchups at the VA Elite Invitational against Brooke Rauber of Tully High in New York and Juliette Whittaker of Mount de Sales in Maryland. She examines how much her entire Loudoun Valley has developed and improved since finishing 10th last year NXN and how optimistic she was about the potential for the lineup competing as Purcellville XC to place higher this season. Gordon reflects on the meaningful work put in by Loudoun Valley coaches Marc Hunter and Joan Hunter to not only maintain a consistent training schedule for the student-athletes, but also for creating structure and opportunities for NOVA AC to compete during the fall, despite the VHSL not starting its official cross country season until February. She also shares how instrumental the support has been from her coaches, along with her family throughout the pandemic, especially when it comes to maintaining positive mental health. Gordon also speaks about how significant the presence of the Fetterolf family has been in the Loudoun Valley program, with sisters Scarlet, Ricky and Cecelia all varsity athletes competing this year.