Sophomore Lauren Ping and junior Katie Sigerud of Desert Vista High in Arizona, who helped Desert Vista XC Club win the Nike Cross Virtual national team championship in November, join DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss their return to the track Feb. 13, when they are scheduled to compete in the 3,200 meters at the first Sundown Track Series event at Queen Creek High in Arizona. Both athletes express gratitude for Newbury Park coach Sean Brosnan creating and organizing the Sundown Track Series, which is also scheduled to include events Feb. 27 and March 27, and how appreciative for being able to compete in elite distance races in Arizona, instead of having to travel to run indoor events in other states, which they previously had to do when they lived in Minnesota. Sigerud shares her excitement over being able to race the 3,200 for the first time since 2019, and her optimism that an increased level of strength and fitness gained during the cross country season will help her be competitive against a field that is expected to include California athletes Harper McClain, Stormy Wallace and Sadie Engelhardt, among others. Ping revisits her 2-mile personal-best 10:23.28 set at the 2019 New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet, as well as her pursuit of improving on a 10:32.07 effort in the 3,200 in June in her last track competition at the Desert Dream Last Hurrah at Poston Butte High in San Tan Valley. Both athletes reflect on their exceptional fall cross country seasons, which included taking the top two spots at the Arizona Division 1 state final in November, along with finishing third and sixth in their race in the 15-18 division at the AAU National Championships at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. They reminisce about winning the Nike Cross Virtual team title in November, and finishing fourth and fifth overall in the 5-kilometer competition in 17:02.2 and 17:04.1, as Desert Vista edged Run Brave XC of Boise, Idaho, by a 53.5 to 55 margin.