MileSplit50 Girls Team Rankings Countdown

How long have you coached at Great Oak?

This will be my 15th year at Great Oak and I've been there since we opened in 2004. Coach Dan Noble is our other varsity coach and has been with us since 2004 as well.

What is your meet schedule this fall?

We will focus on the big 4 invites this season; Woodbridge, Bob Firman, Clovis, Mt. SAC. We will open as a team at Seaside Invite but won't go full out...

How has summer training gone for your team? What do you focus on during the summer months?

Summer training has gone well for the girls and they look ready to contend this year. We have a lot of depth and about 21 girls working hard at the varsity level. Our main focus this summer is building our mileage base and being ready for the rigors of the post season meets.

Which athletes do you see as the probable top five this season?

We have some very talented athletes this year that will put us in the front of most races we are in. Tori Gaitan and Fatima Cortes both attended the Nike Elite Camp this summer and look amazing. Arianna Griffiths just won the Baldwin Park 5k in 17:01 and looks to be one of the top girls in the state this year coming off a 4:47 1600 last year as a sophomore in track. Juniors Audrey Dang and Aubrie Nex will be 2 of the biggest improvers this season and have looked really solid and should be in the top 5 this year. After these girls we have 6 very good soph girls that will be battling for top 7 spots, including the Weidler twins (Brianna and Kylie) who look like they can both battle for top 5 spots by the end of the season. This may be the best team we have had at Great Oak by the end of the season.

Who are your team captains or leaders and what stands out about them as examples for the rest of their teammates?

Our captains have not been set yet, but we have some very good leaders this year that will step up and ensure that our team is going the right direction.

Who are some new faces who will make an impact on your team this year? (i.e. freshmen, transfers, runners who have improved a lot)

We don't have a lot of Frosh girls this year, but Kiera DeBoard, Ainslee Robbins, and Divine Torza all look like they will be varsity level girls this season.

What are some staple workouts your team does during the season?

This season we will spend more time doing Plyos and strength work in anticipation of needed strength at the end of the season.

What will be the biggest reason why your team is successful this season?

We will be going for our 7^th state title in a row, and 8^th in the last 9 years this year. That would be an amazing feat to pull of with how good California is year in and year out! I believe we have the talent and leadership to not only win, but to break a lot of records along the way this season.

What will be the biggest obstacle or challenge facing your team this season?

The biggest obstacle we face is racing in a swamp in December. Outside of that, we feel like we have the team in place to compete with anyone.

How would you describe your team's culture?

The focus of our culture is winning. I think most coaches put that down the list, but that really is what we are built around. I ask the kids for 3 things every day; 1. Be at practice, 2. Have a positive attitude, 3. Do what you are asked to do.  The athletes that do those things help us build a culture of success.

What are your top three goals for the team this fall?

Our girls focus will be on winning state and NXN, with a third goal developing a deep team for the future.

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Returning 5K Times Based On The 2017 Season

Returning 1600m Times Based On The 2018 Season

Returning 3200m Times Based On The 3200m Season

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