WATCH NXR SOUTHEAST LIVE WITH RUNNERSPACE +PLUS SATURDAY

Jessica Secor, a Tennessee-bound senior at DuPont Manual High in Kentucky and the Class 3A cross country runner-up who led the Crimsons to their first state team title since back-to-back crowns in 2016-17 with a 77-106 victory Oct. 29 against Assumption, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the preparation to compete Nov. 26 at NXR Southeast at WakeMed Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. Secor, a four-time regional champion, reflects on her 5-kilometer effort of 18:07.6 at the state final and competing against five-time state winner Ciara O'Shea of Madison Central and her all-time mark of 17:07.6 at the Bourbon County course in Paris. She examines how meaningful it was for her and fellow seniors Mary Kate French and Gwyneth Cunningham to triumph at their final state cross country championship and helping DuPont Manual winning its fourth girls title in program history. Secor analyzes how instrumental freshman Bailee Montgomery, sophomores Emerson Wyatt and Maggie May, along with junior Flora Biro have been in DuPont Manual's success and how much they have progressed throughout the season. She examines how beneficial the competition for DuPont Manual at the Mason Invitational, Centerville Saturday Night Lights and Trinity/Valkyre Invitational was in preparation for the postseason. Secor also explains how valuable the opportunities to race against Katie Clute from Olmstead Falls and Samantha Erbach from Waynesville in Ohio, along with O'Shea, have been in her improvement this season. She expresses gratitude for coach Tim Holman and his leadership and guidance throughout her career and the supportive culture and tradition he has helped build for the Crimsons. Secor revisits her experience at the 2019 NXR Southeast at WakeMed and the lessons learned that will help DuPont Manual in the championship race. She also speaks about her decision to attend Tennessee and the similarities among Volunteers coach Sean Carlson and Holman, and how that factored significantly into her decision, along with the insight and perspective of former DuPont Manual star Yared Nuguse, who was trained by Carlson at Notre Dame. Secor also speaks about the support of her family, including from her brothers as a triplet, along with her older brother at Kentucky and older sister at Western Kentucky, and how her mother encouraged her to stay connected with the sport competing with the Louisville Striders. She shares how special it would be for DuPont Manual to return Dec. 3 to Nike Cross Nationals at Glendoveer Golf Course in Oregon for the first time since 2017.