Haley Loewe, a Tennessee-bound senior at Bentonville High and the fastest 5-kilometer cross country competitor in Arkansas prep history as well as the reigning 6A state champion, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her competing Sept. 30 in the 35th edition of the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival at Agri Park and the University of Arkansas course in Fayetteville. Loewe achieved the Arkansas all-time mark last season at Chile Pepper by winning the "El Caliente" girls race in 17:20.50, which is also the No. 3 prep performance in meet history, trailing only the 17:06.80 mark achieved by London Culbreath of McKinney North in 2018 and the 17:10.70 effort recorded by fellow Texas standout Chelsey Sveinsson from Greenhill in 2008. Bentonville, the reigning Arkansas 6A state champion, also placed fourth last year in the "El Caliente" girls team competition. Loewe examines how significant the race at Chile Pepper was last season in building confidence for the rest of the season, including her state title and a 19th-place finish to earn All-America honors at the Garmin RunningLane Championships at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala. She revisits her 17:23.70 effort Sept. 16 at the Lucas Lovejoy Festival in Texas and how encouraging the race in preparation to compete again at Chile Pepper. Loewe, who finished runner-up to sophomore Macy Wingard of Denton Braswell in Texas, at the Lovejoy meet, analyzes the potential for both athletes at Chile Pepper and the possibility of both competitors challenging Culbreath's meet record. She also speaks about how valuable it is for Bentonville to have the opportunity to compete against Lucas Lovejoy and Olathe West from Kansas, teams that both finished in the top three in "El Caliente" girls competition at last year's meet. Loewe reflects on her challenges with iron deficiency during the spring track season and how instrumental the support and guidance of Bentonville girls coach Randall Ramaker was during that difficult period. She also expresses gratitude to her teammates and family for their unconditional support as she returned to fitness and a higher level of competition. Loewe shares how important it has been for her to be involved in community service projects and church mission trips and the joy she gets from being able to help those who are less fortunate. She also discusses her decision to attend Tennessee and to have the opportunity to contribute to the Volunteers' tradition, along with learning from coaches Sean Carlson and Nic Jacobsen.

WATCH LIVE WEBCAST SEPT. 29-30 OF CHILE PEPPER CROSS COUNTRY FESTIVAL ON RUNNERSPACE