Allie Hays, a graduate student-athlete at North Carolina State and two-time NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships qualifier and Division 1 outdoor finalist during her time at Columbia, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her impact this fall on the Wolfpack program, including a fifth-place finish Oct. 29 at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships at Notre Dame to help North Carolina State capture a sixth consecutive team title. Hays shares the challenges she faced to remain motivated with her training during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Ivy League had shut down all athletic competition for student-athletes for several seasons. She expresses gratitude to Columbia coach Daniel Ireland for continuing to inspire her with workout plans and how beneficial it was in helping her maintain fitness. Hays reveals a conversation she had with her brother about entering the transfer portal and how she felt the ideal fit for her would be at North Carolina State, and how grateful she has been to learn from Wolfpack coach Laurie Henes and train with her new teammates. She explains how the success achieved by former Columbia teammate Katie Wasserman and newly signed member of HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite following her transfer to Notre Dame, including a runner-up finish in the Division 1 outdoor 5,000 meters in June, gave Hays the belief and necessary confidence that she could contribute at North Carolina State. Hays examines how significant it is to train with returning All-Americans Kelsey Chmiel, Hannah Steelman and Katelyn Tuohy, along with one of the deepest rosters in the country, also including Samantha Bush, Mariah Howlett, Sarah LaTour, Heather Holt, Nevada Mareno, Savannah Shaw and Dominique Clairmonte. She shares how valuable the experience was racing Oct. 15 against New Mexico, Brigham Young, Minnesota and Oklahoma State at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and the reminder of how necessary it is for the Wolfpack to remain connected in races with larger fields, including the Southeast Regional on Nov. 12 at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park in Louisville, along with Nov. 20 at the Division 1 national final at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. Hays reflects on her NCAA championship experiences competing for Columbia in 2018 and 2019, and is looking forward to the opportunity to contend for a national team title with North Carolina State. She also speaks about pursuing her Masters degree in science with an emphasis on natural resources and working as a research assistant in the prestigious Baker Lab.