Karrie Baloga, a Colorado-bound senior at Cornwall Central in New York and a two-time All-American at the Eastbay cross country national final as well as an 11th-place finisher in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase for the United States at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the experiences at her first international competition along with preparing for her final prep cross country season. Baloga, 16, reflects on interacting with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who traveled on the same flight from New York to Colombia and many American competitors. She also reminisces about her opportunities to communicate with athletes from several countries during her week in Colombia. Baloga speaks about the friendship she formed with University of Oregon sophomore Harper McClain, who placed 12th in the 3,000 steeplechase final for the U.S. at the World U20 Championships after the competitors took the top two spots at the USATF U20 Championships in June at Hayward Field in Eugene. She also revisits how meaningful it was to reconnect with Stanford commit and 800-meter bronze medalist Juliette Whittaker after they had competed together for the Northeast lineup at the Eastbay national final in December in San Diego. Baloga explains her decision to commit as a junior to Colorado and shares her excitement for collaborating with coaches Mark Wetmore, Heather Burroughs and Billy Nelson, and how significant it is for her to have a chance to add to the steeplechase legacy of the program, including Jenny Simpson, Emma Coburn, Val Constien, Shalaya Kipp and Maddie Boreman. She also analyzes Cornwall competing this fall in Class B in New York as a result of reduced enrollment and the potential to contend for a team title, which Baloga was part of as an eighth-grader in 2018. Baloga also examines the victory achieved by the Northeast group at last year's Eastbay final in San Diego and how inspired she is to return to Balboa Park's Morley Field in December to contend for an individual national title.