Mira Costa senior and Duke commit Dalia Frias, the reigning CIF Southern Section Division 2 cross country champion, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the Mustangs capturing their first section team title since winning the 3-A crown in 1982 and their pursuit of trying to sweep both team championships at the California state meet Nov. 27 at Woodward Park in Fresno. Frias reflects on her second sub-17 performance this season at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut to capture the individual title and how meaningful it was to secure a 73-82 victory over Anaheim Canyon in preparation for the state meet. She revisits her third-place performance in the Division 1 state final in 2019 and her aspirations of joining the 12 female athletes who have eclipsed the 17-minute barrier at Woodward Park, including Southern Section standouts Claudia Lane of Malibu, Sarah Baxter of Simi Valley, Destiny Collins of Great Oak and Anita Siraki of Glendale Hoover. Frias also shares how significant it would be to join Savannah Pio in 2010 and Melia Chittenden in 2016 among the Mira Costa state individual champions, also in Division 2. She explains how motivated the Mustangs are to win a team title for veteran coach Renee Williams-Smith after four previous podium finishes without a championship, in addition to how inspiring it would be to have both the boys and girls teams win state crowns on the same day. Frias analyzes the success she has achieved throughout the season, including a victory Sept. 18 at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic by producing the fastest 3-mile performance in meet history at 15:43.5, along with elevating to the No. 12 all-time performer at Mt. SAC by winning the Division 1-2 team sweepstakes race at the Oct. 23 invitational in 16:42.8. She also shares the learning experiences from her third-place finish Sept. 25 at Nike Portland XC in Oregon and how valuable the opportunity was to race against a national-level field to prepare her for the postseason. Frias also speaks about the growth of the Mira Costa program throughout her career and how her teammates have continued to rise to the occasion this season against top teams throughout the state and country. She provides insight into her recruiting process and how she felt at home during her official visit to Duke, in addition to how much she is looking forward to racing in the Atlantic Coast Conference during her collegiate career. Frias also discusses the opportunities to potentially compete Dec. 4 in Alabama at the RunningLane Championships and how important it would be to compete in her last high school cross country race with her teammates.