The Great Oak High School Juggernaut

Great Oak's win was a solid one, but other teams are within striking distance of GO. Davis, FM, Elmira, and Saugus could all win this year's NXN event. All of them ran well this weekend.

I'm surprised Saugus's first place finish, 82 points ahead of last year's NXN champions, hasn't been mentioned. I have them edging Elmira and FM girls at McQuaid and second at Nike Pre Nationals, less than 30 points behind Great Oak. They were 40 points back at Woodbridge. Heard the course at Griak was 100 meters longer than 5000m, too. If so, Saugus is on par with GO.

A lot of NXN contenders on the girls side. As for the guys, CBA is my pick.

Texas HS Coach wrote:

I've talked to Soles before when we had a nationally ranked team. He was very helpful and honest.

I can tell that they have all the makings of a mega power - large numbers, affluent population, GREAT COACHING, parent support, etc.

They're willing to do more than the majority of schools across the nation and that is really what is happening here. I don't just mean more mileage (team averages of 50+ miles for girls will make a great team), but they're putting in more effort, too. Count on it.

Everyone is all in and that culture starts with the coach.

I agree. Great Oak has all the makings of a sustainable elite program. It's terrifying, and at the same time, it's going to challenge other programs in the state to be better, much like the Saugus girls had done for them. Take a look at what his frosh and soph boys were able to do at Woodbridge and Dana Hills... ridiculous.

And you're right, it starts at the top. Doug works tirelessly, is always striving to be better, and you'd be hard pressed to find any coaches more competitive. Always fun talking shop with him. Hope they continue to do well

honkforcookies wrote:

Take a look at what his frosh and soph boys were able to do at Woodbridge and Dana Hills... ridiculous.

I find it interesting that their 7th fastest sophomore, junior and senior are all about the same speed and their freshman really aren't far behind.

Woodbridge 3 Miles

Freshman Top 7

16:02

16:16

16:24

16:34

17:02

17:27

17:31

Sophomores Top 7

15:13

15:52

15:58

16:06

16:07

16:21

16:26

Juniors Top 7

14:17

14:33

14:56

15:10

15:55

16:07

16:08

Seniors Top 7

14:39

15:21

15:24

15:46

15:58

16:06

16:15

they became that good by getting transfer and getting lucky by recruiting a first time runner as a junior that happened to go on to be one of the best in the state

californiarunner wrote:

they became that good by getting transfer and getting lucky by recruiting a first time runner as a junior that happened to go on to be one of the best in the state

I can't speak to any transfers or recruiting that might have taken place. Perhaps that explains a few top performers. But that can't begin to explain the in in incredible depth of this program. That was built from within.

Spencer Dodds moved to Temecula and goes to Great Oak. I didn't recruit him, I didn't even know who he was. We have a lot of talented kids, we don't look outside of our feeder middle schools for talent. I don't think recruiting is a big issue in XC, track seems to be way worse for that...

The funny thing about pinning our success to a transfer is if you take him out of the results at Woodbridge and at NPN, what changes? The places stay the same.

As far as depth goes, I spend a lot of time each summer talking to families of my incoming 9th graders to try to talk them into giving XC a try as I'm sure most coaches do. We have been successful at getting some really good 9th graders each season and over time that adds up to some solid depth. We have some great people at the middle schools who foster a love of running with the kids before they get here and that helps a ton.

I think the results this weekend showed how many truly amazing programs there are in our country and I think NXN will be a great meet again this year. We are all just excited to have the opportunity to be a part of it.

Also, If you have a training question like Garmin's and what not, please feel free to email me that. My email is on the bottom of our XC Website. Thank you to the many people for your positive support of our program.

californiarunner wrote:

they became that good by getting transfer and getting lucky by recruiting a first time runner as a junior that happened to go on to be one of the best in the state

If you take out their big transfer, Dodds, they still win Woodbridge. Granted, it would have been very close had Madera not run one of their fastest kids in the non-sweeps race. Without Dodds, Madera and GO are just about dead even.

"Recruiting" kids already at your school to run is part of the game and in no way should be shamed. That's just ridiculous.

Coach Soles said something to the effect that the boys put in the race of their lives at Nike Pre-Nats. It's a little early in the season to be doing that, so it will be interesting to see if they can peak high enough mid-season and still hang on to win their state meet and run well at NXN if they get invited.

Their depth is hard for me to understand.

Wow, off base much?

1. Great Oaks is great, because of their Coach, his training systems and his support in getting buy-in from his team. This is no different, than Fayevitte Manlius, and Arcadia under Jim O'Brien. Top Programs are not winging it, they have a proven system and execute.

2. Spencer wasn't recruited. His family moved to the area for a new job. Spencer is an amazing young man, dedicated and has already endured much in his 16 years. He was also a triathlete, and has paid his dues.

3. If anyone ever even inquired to the top programs, you will find passion for running, and helping ordinary kids do the extra ordinary! This isn't an accident, and their programs will continue to dominate, because their system works, and the kids unite as a team. FM calls it Stotan, and each team has their variation.

4. Spencer was a nationally ranked runner at age 10. He was the highest ranked Freshman in SD. He also ran Club and also triathlons. He's been dedicated ever since.

I'm excited to see Spencer land at such an awesome. I know a few other kids that run there, and they all love it, and they all developed really well and love running and their team

2013. 12

2012. DNQ

2011. 4

2010. 14

2009. DNQ

2008. DNQ

2007. DNQ

2006. DNQ

Their boys squad is about 5 years behind their girls. The above states how the boys' team has done at the state champs since 2006. DNQ meaning did not qualify if I'm not mistaken. Is this the year they'll get the W?

Who the hell ranks 10 year olds?BTW, what LR want to know is what is this system? You just can't buy in emotionally and run fast.

Travel Ball wrote:

BTW, what LR want to know is what is this system? You just can't buy in emotionally and run fast.

People want to know both. Modern training methods aren't a secret - every coach has access to plans by Jack Daniels, etc. Are they different? Of course. But oftentimes the culture and belief created make all the difference.

I'm a former lowly Juco coach and I found Doug to be very nice, polite and respectful to me even though his girls team would have squished mine.

He provided me academic and athletic information on his kids and held the door wide open for their recruitment.

Given that, I'd believe anything he says, within reason.

What is it in us that makes people want to tear down those that do well?

Coach Soles wrote:

...My email is on the bottom of our XC Website. Thank you to the many people for your positive support of our program.

You go, Coach! There'll always be the haters and anonymous cowards like on LR.

I graduated high school in 2003 and used to read the old prep.caltrack.com message board frequently. I have never met Doug Soles but I do remember that he used to post on that board often. He was coaching at Desert Hot Springs back then. Never heard of it? That's because the team was nothing special. I remember Soles' postings because he was always making jokes with another coach. But it was also evident back then that Soles was very interested in how to build a team and develop HS athletes into competitive runners. When I first started reading about how good the Great Oak girls were getting, I was surprised to see Soles named as the coach. I thought it was so cool that years later he had developed a megapower. I believe GO was brand new when Soles started coaching, so he really built that program. It's amazing to see the bashing he is receiving because if you have been following CA XC closely you would know that the current success at GO is the result of years of dedication and hard work on Soles' part. Congrats Coach Soles, it's neat to see your hard work coming to fruition and I hope it inspires other programs to raise the bar as well!

The latest Div 1 girls state rankings on PreCalTrack website lists the Great Oak 'B' team as tied for second.

http://www.prepcaltrack.com/2014/11/17/cif-state-rankings-nov-17th/

DIVISION 1 GIRLS

1. Great Oak, Temecula (SS)

2. Buchanan, Clovis (CE)

*** Great Oak "B", Temecula (SS) *** [runners 8 to 12]

3. Bella Vista, Fair Oaks (SJ)

4. Davis (SJ)

5. Trabuco Hills, Mission Viejo, (SS)

6. Arcadia (SS)

7. Clovis North, Clovis (CE)

8. St. Francis, Sacramento (SJ)

9. Yucaipa (SS)

10. Poly, Long Beach (SS)

Why are the seniors slower than the juniors?

Graduationmania wrote:

Why are the seniors slower than the juniors?

Programs evolve. The juniors probably have gotten the benefit of the coaching getting better as they go, so basically had a head start vs the seniors

familiar with such things wrote:

Graduationmania wrote:

Why are the seniors slower than the juniors?

Programs evolve. The juniors probably have gotten the benefit of the coaching getting better as they go, so basically had a head start vs the seniors

Partially true, but I'd say the top couple of kids in the junior class are simply more talented and/or have been running longer.

It does appear the kids come close to peak form by sophomore or junior year and then they stall out.

I have heard that Soles has a Svengali personality and isn't so interested in anyone coming around to help.

A High Jumper had a connection to Dwight Stones and Soles refused to allow Stones to come on campus to assist this jumper.

When Joe Vigil was told that Soles said he was a "Vigil Disciple", Joe said that he coaches marathoners not high school kids who run 5000m.