Ainsley Erzen, the Iowa girls state record holder in the 800 meters along with a four-time 3A state track champion and an elite soccer player at Carlisle High, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing in both sports as a freshman at Arkansas. Erzen, who won the 2021 Nike Outdoor Nationals title in the 800 in a state-record 2:06.52, explains why she didn't return to Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., to compete at the event again this year and how she shifted her focus to preparing for the fall soccer season for the Razorbacks. In addition to playing in an Aug. 10 scrimmage against Kansas, Erzen made her official collegiate debut for Arkansas on Aug. 18, seeing 13 minutes of action as a midfielder and taking one shot in a 1-0 loss to St. Louis. Erzen examines the decision of former Kentucky standout and PUMA athlete Abby Steiner to play both sports for the Wildcats following an outstanding prep career at Dublin Coffman High in Ohio, as well as how an ACL injury early in Steiner's career in Lexington forced her to decide on competing only in track for the remainder of her collegiate eligibility. Erzen reflects on winning the 800 and 1,500 championships in May in her last Iowa 3A state final, after also prevailing in both events at the Drake Relays in April in Des Moines. She shares how meaningful it was to play her final season of soccer as well as competing in her final track season with junior sister Tessa Erzen, and how instrumental their father Todd Erzen was in mentoring and encouraging both scholar-athletes. Erzen explains the benefits of training with XLR8 Iowa Track Club as well as playing soccer with Sporting Iowa ECNL, and how those opportunities have prepared her for competing in the Southeastern Conference. She also analyzes her interactions thus far with Arkansas women's soccer coach Colby Hale, along with women's track and field program head Lance Harter, who is entering his final year of coaching at the collegiate level before retiring. Erzen also speaks about the impact she had as an ambassador for girls high school sports in Iowa and revisits how meaningful it was to collaborate with members of the state legislation in order to guarantee opportunities in the future for female athletes in the state.