Carly McNatt, a junior captain at IMG Academy in Florida and 2019 Foot Locker All-American as well as a 2018 Nike Cross Nationals finalist, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her potential season debut Sept. 24 in the girls sweepstakes race at the Desert Twilight Festival at The Links Golf Course in San Tan Valley, Ariz. McNatt reminisces about not only IMG Academy winning the sweepstakes team title last season, including her ninth-place individual finish on the 5-kilometer layout in 18:12.1, but also the bonding experience shared by she and her teammates, including a trip to visit the Grand Canyon. She explains how the Ascenders are approaching this trip, especially with McNatt still working her way back from hamstring soreness as a result of a recent growth spurt, in addition to sophomore Jais Ward and Tatum David both being sidelined with injuries, but also expresses gratitude for the opportunity to return to the starting line with her teammates and feed off the energy of racing under the lights. McNatt examines how impactful the arrival of junior Layla Haynes, who came to IMG Academy from Barbados, has been for the Ascenders and how much she has improved despite running only three 5-kilometer cross country races in her career. She also analyzes the contributions of senior Anna Rupp, who has provided additional depth to the IMG Academy lineup, especially in preparation for racing Nov. 27 at the Nike Southeast Regional at WakeMed Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C., with the Ascenders looking to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals as a team for the first time in program history. McNatt shares how significant her faith has been in helping her handle the mental and emotional challenges of physical therapy, in addition to maintaining a mature perspective when it comes to training. She speaks about how important leadership has been during her career at IMG Academy, both in terms of the guidance and reassurance she has received from coach Dustin Spanbauer, along with the support she is providing as a mentor to her teammates.