MileSplit50 Girls Team Rankings Countdown – MileSplit

Analysis: It’s harder to defend the throne than to chase after it. That’s something Summit might come to understand a lot clearer in 2019 as the squad tries to return as national champions in Portland. But there’s a lot of good here. Back this fall is every single varsity athlete that ran at NXN. The Storm also return with the top average among all teams in 2019 (17:51.12) based on PRs from 2018. And there are a few more athletes waiting in the wings that could make those 5-6-7 positions even stronger. More, there’s good leadership at the top — the team has five seniors. And lastly, this team seems willing to work together on courses near and far — that 40-second spread is a good example of that. And that’s important. That camaraderie may have gone underreported in 2018, but it was there. Sometimes the spoils get the better of teams who now see no chip on their shoulder, but Summit still has a lot to prove — mainly, that 2018 was no fluke.

Biggest question: Really, can Summit make the sequel better?

Loudoun Valley’s boys are a great test case for this. After winning Nike Cross Nationals in 2017, the Vikings returned last year and did one better — largely dominating the state and national competition en route to a meet record low in points at NXN. Summit, if we’re being honest, could be just as torrid on the big stage. With all seven returning, and a handful of really promising talents, all this team will need to combat is complacency.

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A preseason Q & A with co-head coaches Jim and Carol McLatchie

How long have you coached (overall/at your school)?

Jim: 55 YEARS TOTAL and the last 12 years at Summit (Jim head distance T&F, Carol assistant to Jim at T&F)

Carol: 40 years and last 12 at Summit (Carol head XC, Jim assistant)- We are ideally co-head XC coaches.

What was one important moment over the summer with your team and why? (Camp/Preseason Meeting/Etc.)

Carol: Spending three 1/2 days at Scout lake with the 60 plus athletes that signed up for Summit XC. The freshmen got to meet the upperclassmen and got a feel for the team dynamics. The upperclassmen got to spend lots of time together and get pumped for the race season.

What’s focus on training over the summer for the varsity squad?

Jim: TRAINING WILL BE MORE OR LESS BE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR WE MEETING THE KIDS 3 DAYS PER WEEK STARTED JULY 8. RIGHT NOW RUN HOW THEY FEEL AFTER TIME TRIAL ON AUG 24 THEN INTENSITY INCREASES

MONDAY – GRASS 400 LOOP – RELAYS/ 8X400 1MIN REST – FRESHMAN 6/ 3X800 3MR JOG 5 MIN REPEAT – FRESHMEN RUN 2 PER SET
WEDNESDAY – EASY RUN FRESHMEN START AT 30 MIN BUILD UP TO 45 MIN. VARSITY 1 HOUR VARIABLE PACE
FRIDAY – GRASS SIMILAR TO MONDAY – 300 METER LOOP

Which athletes do you see as a probable five/top seven this season?

Fiona Max
Teaghan Knox
Isabel Max
Jasper Fievet
Azza Borovicka
Stella Skovborg
Maggie Williams

Which athletes have taken a bigger role in terms of veteran leadership? How have they shown it/what will you expect from them in 2019?

Carol: The older they are the more confidence they have to be team leaders. The captains are sophomores through seniors. Expectations always include a commitment to the team. When they drift off of team commitment, which very few do, the coaches visit with the athlete.

Who are some new faces who will make an impact in 2019? (i.e. freshmen, transfers, runners who’ve improved)

Jim: Maggie Williams, Ashley Boone, Jorun Downing, Kaitlin Gripekoven – all sophomores

Six weeks before the state championships, what’s a staple workout that’s readying this team fro the postseason run?

Jim:

MONDAY – HILLS – I HAVE A 400 METER UPHILL COURSE MARKED OUT EVERY 100 METERS AND A ONE LOOPED COURSE WHICH CAN BE 450 ONE SIDE OR 350 ON THE OTHER SIDE; RUNNING LOOPS 800 METERS HILLS CAN BE ANYTHING FROM 20X100, 12X400, 1X800, 2X450, 2X350, 1X800
TUESDAY – WEIGHT ROOM IN THE MORNING/ 60 MIN RUN IN THE AFTERNOON 45 FRESHMEN
WEDNESDAY – ALL REPS ARE ON A 800 METER GRASS LOOP WHICH WILL VARY DEPENDING ON WHAT PHASE WE ARE IN THE SEASON.
I USE A TABLE WHERE TIMES ARE DECIDED ON LAST 5K RACE — LEAST LIKED WORKOUT 3X1000 30 SEC REST/ 3 MIN JOG/ 2X1000 30 SR/ 3MIN JOG/ 1000 EACH SET GETS 5 SECS FASTER. OTHER WORKOUTS 4X800 WITH 2 MIN REST/ JOG 5 MIN/ 4X800 WITH 1 MIN REST 1600/1200/800/400 WITH 3 MIN REST
THURSDAY – FRESHMEN 45 MINUTES OTHERS 60 MINUTES OF EASY RUNNING DON’T WORRY ABOUT DISTANCE

What will success look like in 2019 for this team?

Carol: For our girls we want to win the Oregon state meet for the 12th year in a row and defend our NXR and national title. (Side note: Boys are jazzed to finish in the top 3 at state)

What’s the biggest challenge facing this team this fall?

Jim: Staying healthy.

Is there a quote or a saying, or a purpose your team lives by? What is it and why?

Carol: “AS ONE”

What are three big goals for this team in 2019?

Jim: Stay healthy, compete as a team, defend the national title.

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Projected Top 5:

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MileSplit50 Girls Team National Rankings Countdown

25 — Link	Aug. 20 — East Grand Rapids (MI)
24 — Link	Aug. 20 — Farmington (MN)
23 — Link	Aug. 20 — North Allegheny (PA)
22 — Link	Aug. 20 — Zionsville Community (IN)
21 — Link	Aug. 20 — Flower Mound (TX)
20 — Link	Aug. 21 — Prosper (TX)
19 — Link	Aug. 22 — Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI)
18 — Link	Aug. 23 — Downers Grove South (IL)
17 — Link	Aug. 24 — STMA (MN)
16 — Link	Aug. 25 — Lone Peak (UT)
15 — Link	Aug. 26 — Mountain Vista (CO)
14 — Link	Aug. 27 — Saratoga Springs (NY)
13 — Link	Aug. 28 — Edina (MN)
12 — Link	Aug. 29 — Bozeman (MT)
11 — Link	Aug. 30 — Niwot (CO)
10 — Link	Aug. 31 — Desert Vista (AZ)
9 — Link	Sept. 1 — Yorkville (IL)
8 — Link	Sept. 2 — Saugus (CA)
7 — Link	Sept. 3 — Naperville North (IL)
6 — Link	Sept. 4 — Beavercreek (OH)
5 — Link	Sept. 6 — Great Oak (CA)
4 — Link	Sept. 6 — North Central (WA)
3 — Link	Sept. 6 — Fayetteville-Manlius (NY)
2 — Link	Sept. 6 — Wayzata (MN)
1 — Link	Sept. 6 — Summit (WA)