Sam Bush, a senior All-American at North Carolina State and NCAA Division 1 finalist in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the Wolfpack pursuing a seventh consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference title Oct. 28 at the Panorama Farms venue in Virginia and their quest to secure back-to-back national titles Nov. 19 at the Greiner Family course at Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Bush reflects on the legacy North Carolina State has established and the expectation to contend for conference, regional and national championships each season and the accountability that creates among the student-athletes to excel. She speaks about the impact of Tennessee transfer Sydney Seymour in the North Carolina State lineup this fall, following the contributions of recent transfers Allie Hays from Columbia and Hannah Steelman from Wofford. Bush also explains how valuable the presence of Marlee Starliper has been during the track and cross country seasons after overcoming injuries early in her collegiate career. She also examines how valuable the depth and experience of the Wolfpack roster has been in dealing with the pressure that comes with being the reigning NCAA champions. Bush revisits a pivotal conversation she had with North Carolina State coach Laurie Henes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the real possibility that she might have walked away from the sport after not improving and progressing at the rate she desired following an elite prep career at Turpin High in Ohio. She analyzes how significant earning All-America honors by placing 32nd at the Division 1 cross country final in Tallahassee, Fla., was in serving as a catalyst for her success on the track, including a sixth-place effort in the NCAA indoor 3,000 championship in Alabama and a 10th-place performance in the outdoor 5,000 in Oregon. Bush also reminisces about competing in the 4x1,500 in April at the Penn Relays and how memorable the showdown was involving North Carolina State in Arkansas that resulted in both teams producing sub-17 efforts and eclipsing the collegiate record.