Great Oak senior runner Haley Dorris won this past Monday's CA state indoor 2 mile run with a stunning time of 10:21.52. Her previous personal record (PR) was 10:54.89 at the CIF SS Prelims last track season. It was discovered shortly after the race that an official had incorrectly counted the laps and Dorris, Kimberly Coscia of South Torrance (10:22.13) and the rest of the field had run one lap short. Despite the error, Dorris would have easily dipped under the previous meet record of 11:06.75 by Carlmont's Jessie Petersen had she continued one more lap. Her time would have also been around her PR which is quite impressive during February on an 145 meter track. She is also coming off an impressive XC season as she helped lead her Great Oak teammates to another CA XC state Division I championship with her 7th place finish (17:34 at Woodward Park). Their team time was the 2nd fastest time ever run on the state meet course (89:28) trailing only the 2010 Saugus team with their 89:25.
1) Tell us a little about this past Cross Country season. Highlights for you and the team?
The past cross country season definitely had the expected ups and downs that come with any season, but it was my favorite season from all four years by far. It was difficult losing some of our top girls to injury at the beginning but I loved that a lot of our underclassmen had the opportunity the step up and have some great racing experiences. I also felt like it was a season of personal growth for me because I had to develop my leadership and build confidence in myself as a runner, which are two things I am immensely grateful for looking back. I was overjoyed to conclude my high school cross country career with a Mt. SAC team course record, a second consecutive team state title in Division 1, achieving my goal of top 10 individually at the State meet, and an 8th place finish with my team at Nike Cross Nationals. Our 2013 season made me very confident in the continuing success of the program at Great Oak.
2) Did you do anything different as far as winter training in comparison to other seasons? Mileage? Workouts?
My winter training this year was not very different from anything I have done in past seasons, however, I think this is the most focused and dialed in I've been in all four of my years. I took about a week of complete rest after NXN then started back up with some short easy runs and eventually began my speed work with fartleks and some hill sprints. Once the mileage started to level out I started pushing the paces more on my longer runs and ran a lot of repeat workouts with my team. My winter training gave me a solid foundation and a great starting point for the Spring!
3) What was the race plan going into today's race? Tell us a little about the race itself and how if unfolded for you. What was the biggest adjustment for you racing indoors compared to the outdoor tracks?
My racing strategy for the 2 mile was to go out fast and push the pace the whole way through, which I felt confident in because of my fitness at this point in the season. Going into the event, I knew I was racing to win and so getting a good position from the start helped me maintain my focus as the race progressed. When I hit one mile and I heard the announcer call off 5:22, I was feeling great so I just tried to keep the same pace for the last 11 laps as best as I could. The biggest adjustment between outdoor and indoor track for me is learning to manage the pace for a 22 lap race. It is a bit overwhelming at first but the laps go by quick. The banked track is also an adjustment because it takes more energy to move around people during the race.
4) What did you think when you saw or heard about the time you ran? What was your previous PR in the 3200m. before today?
When I first saw my time, I was definitely confused because I was not yet aware of the lap counting mishap and so of course, the time seemed unusually fast. Once I talked with my coach after the race, we found that I averaged approximately 30 seconds per lap which would translate to about a 10:46 3200. This was really exciting for me because my current 3200 PR is 10:54 from the end of my track season last year and the 145 meter track in Fresno is not somewhere I expected a time anywhere near that. I enjoyed the race and it really got me pumped up for outdoor!
5) Looking ahead to the outdoor Track and Field season, what are the invitationals you are most looking forward to racing?
Looking ahead to outdoor season, the invitationals I look forward to the most are Mt. SAC and Arcadia because I love having so many people from our team there to compete and support and it is also a great experience getting to race under the lights with such a competitive field. Ultimately, this season I hope to be racing in the 3200 at the State meet in June.
6) Tell us a little about your coaches and how they have helped you get to where you are today.
Coach Soles is one of my biggest supporters, along with our assistant coach (Coach Noble), and I really cannot even begin to describe how much he has developed me as an athlete and helped me grow as a person. He is so driven and has a tremendous passion for the sport, which I admire because it keeps me excited about what I do everyday. I also have a lot of respect for how much he has done with our program in only ten years. Both coaches are extremely dedicated to making sure we stay focused to meet the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of each season. Coach Soles and Coach Noble are like family to me and have supported me through it all in my four years. I already know that I am going to miss them a lot next year!
| 1,600 Meter Run (Graph) | 5:08.92 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:11.10 | 2014-02-01 | Great Oak All Comers Meet #2 | » |
| 5:12.80 | 2014-01-25 | Great Oak All Comers #1 | » |
| 5:08.92 | 2013-04-25 | Murrieta Mesa vs Great Oak | » |
| 5:39.32 | 2013-03-21 | Great Oak vs. Murrieta Valley | » |
| 5:20.35 | 2013-03-16 | Great Oak Distance Invitational | » |
| 5:15.42 | 2012-05-02 | Southwestern League Finals | » |
| 5:22.14 | 2012-04-11 | Greak Oak vs Vista Murrietta | » |
| 5:25.81 | 2012-04-02 | Great Oak vs Murrieta Valley | » |
| 5:17.80 | 2012-03-24 | Distance Meet of Champions | » |
| 5:37.73 | 2012-03-17 | Great Oak Distance Invitational | » |
| 5:36.39 | 2012-03-03 | Bishop Amat Relays | » |
| 5:42.55 | 2011-05-05 | Southwestern League Finals | » |
| 5:34.89 | 2011-04-23 | Inland Empire County Championships | » |
| 5:32.40 | 2011-03-25 | adidas Meet of Champions | » |
| 5:35.56 | 2011-03-19 | Great Oak Distance Invitational | » |
| 5:46.30 | 2011-03-05 | Mt. Carmel Field & Distance Carnival | » |
| 2.x Mile Run (CC Short Course) (Graph) | 17:19.00 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:19.00 | 2013-11-23 | CIF Southern Section Finals | » |
| 17:57.00 | 2013-11-16 | CIF Southern Section Cross Country Prelims | » |
| 17:49.00 | 2011-11-12 | CIF Southern Section Cross Country Prelims | » |
| Two Mile Run (Graph) | 10:21.52 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:21.52 | 2014-02-17 | California High School Indoor Invitational | » |
| 11:33.68 | 2013-02-18 | California High School Indoor Invitational | » |
| 3,200 Meter Run (Graph) | 10:54.89 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:56.13 | 2014-02-01 | Great Oak All Comers Meet #2 | » |
| 11:10.20 | 2013-05-18 | CIF Southern Section Finals | » |
| 10:54.89 | 2013-05-11 | CIF Southern Section Prelims | » |
| 11:09.13 | 2013-05-01 | Southwestern League Finals | » |
| 11:04.95 | 2013-04-18 | Mt. SAC Relays | » |
| 11:13.07 | 2013-03-28 | Vista Murrieta vs. Great Oak | » |
| 11:00.17 | 2013-03-23 | adidas Meet of Champions | » |
| 11:13.51 | 2013-03-16 | Great Oak Distance Invitational | » |
| 11:28.21 | 2012-05-02 | Southwestern League Finals | » |
| 11:32.02 | 2012-04-19 | Mt. SAC Relays | » |
| 11:29.59 | 2012-04-11 | Greak Oak vs Vista Murrietta | » |
| 11:17.50 | 2012-03-24 | Distance Meet of Champions | » |
| 11:39.96 | 2012-03-17 | Great Oak Distance Invitational | » |
| 12:18.81 | 2011-05-05 | Southwestern League Finals | » |
| 12:06.92 | 2011-04-23 | Inland Empire County Championships | » |
| 11:53.00 | 2011-03-25 | adidas Meet of Champions | » |
| Three Mile Run (Graph) | 16:35.00 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:19.00 | 2013-10-25 | Mt SAC Invitational | » |
| 17:30.10 | 2013-10-12 | Inland Empire Challenge | » |
| 16:46.00 | 2013-09-21 | Woodbridge Cross Country Classic | » |
| 18:38.34 | 2013-09-07 | Saugus Showdown CC Meet | » |
| 16:35.00 | 2012-11-17 | CIF Southern Section Division Finals | » |
| 17:28.00 | 2012-10-19 | Mt SAC Invitational | » |
| 17:43.60 | 2012-10-06 | Inland Empire Challenge | » |
| 17:17.00 | 2012-09-14 | Woodbridge Cross Country Classic | » |
| 19:10.50 | 2011-11-03 | Southwestern League Finals | » |
| 18:05.57 | 2011-10-29 | Apache Invitational | » |
| 19:08.00 | 2011-10-21 | Mt SAC Invitational | » |
| 19:17.00 | 2011-10-08 | Inland Empire Challenge | » |
| 19:23.30 | 2011-09-28 | Southwestern League Cross Country | » |
| 18:07.00 | 2011-09-16 | Woodbridge Cross Country Classic | » |
| 19:00.00 | 2010-10-29 | Apache Cross Country Invitational | » |
| 19:48.80 | 2010-10-09 | Inland Empire Challenge | » |
| 19:15.30 | 2010-09-25 | Dana Hills Invitational | » |
| 5,000 Meter Run (Graph) | 17:34.00 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:47.20 | 2013-12-06 | Nike Cross Nationals | » |
| 17:34.00 | 2013-11-30 | CIF California State Cross Country Championships | » |
| 18:48.40 | 2013-10-04 | Nike South Invitational | » |
| 22:49.00 | 2012-12-01 | Nike Cross Nationals | » |
| 18:12.00 | 2012-11-24 | CIF California State Cross Country Championships | » |
| 18:06.60 | 2012-10-26 | Apache Invitational | » |
| 18:28.49 | 2012-09-28 | Desert Twilight XC Festival | » |
| 19:32.00 | 2011-09-24 | Stanford Invitational | » |
| 800 Meter Run (Graph) | 2:36.56 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:36.56 | 2011-03-19 | Great Oak Distance Invitational | » |
| 2:39.77 | 2011-03-05 | Mt. Carmel Field & Distance Carnival | » |
| One Mile Run (Graph) | 5:15.20 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:15.20 | 2014-02-17 | California High School Indoor Invitational | » |
| 5:23.26 | 2013-02-18 | California High School Indoor Invitational | » |