The Greak Oak (CA) boys and girls are loaded on both sides of their team in distance depth. Part of the reason for their success is ability to find and develop young talent in their underclassmen years. Solomon Fountain is a prime example of the youthful pipeline that replenishes the Great Oak program to remain competitive in a ultra competitive state of California. Last spring as a freshmen, Fountain ran 4:21 in the 1600 and already this cross country season has posted a very quick 3 mile time of 15:05 at the Seaside Invitational. Read our Q&A interview with Fountain below as part of our Future Stars spotlight series presented by Hoka One One.
Interview with Great Oak (CA) High School sophomore Solomon Fountain
How did you first get started and why?
Ever since I was little, I've always loved to run. Before high school, I was to be one of those kids that were known for being pretty fast, but in the shorter types of races and games that kids would have, becoming good at mile races in middle school. I first got into serious running and training my freshman year. I got into cross country because I wanted to try it out, because it was what the fast people did, along with Coach Soles' recruiting. I've loved it and haven't regretted a thing.
Talk about your first season of cross country and how you thought it went?
I think my first season of cross country went pretty well for my first year training. I didn't really focus on setting specific goals, or my future years, as much as me and my class just running races well, hoping to win them if I could.
It seemed during the outdoor season that you really started to improve. What do you think are the reasons that you started to really run well in the spring?
In the words of Coach Soles,"In cross country we teach you how to run; In track we teach you how to run fast." In track, my coaches started to get me to believe that I was competition for the other varsity athletes on the team, and set goals and expectations. In track also was where I first learned how to truly push myself through tire and pain in races. Another huge reason for this improvement was because of the success of Isaac Cortes as a freshman a year before, 1:59/4:23/9:32. He set our school's freshman standards at lofty goals by all means.
The Great Oak boys have run a bit in the shadows of the girls team over recent years, but it appears this year's group has the guys to compete nationally. How excited and motivated is the guys team to prove themselves after being preseason ranked top 10 in the country?
Being highly ranked has definitely encouraged us, and the guys are super excited and motivated to perform at the caliber that we are able to this year.
How pleased are you with your first race of the season with the 15:05 three mile PR and winning the sophomore race at the Seaside Invitational? Was that race win a big confidence boost for you to start the season?
Seaside was a great race, with a very pleasing PR and confidence-boosting win. I had originally wanted to break 15, but given the windiness of the area during the races, 15:05 wasn't bad.
After running 4:21 in the 1600 in the spring, how fast do you think or hope you can run in the event in your sophomore year?
I want to run sub-4:15 this year in the 1600, and I hope to try to give my teammate, Spencer Dodds, who also ran 4:21, a run for his money.
Would you consider that 4:21 1600 race as your best race to date? What went right on that day for you run the big PR time?
I'd consider my best race to be my 4:29 through the heat and alone at the Mt. Carmel Field and Distance Carnival, with the 4:21 at a close second. At CIF-SS Prelims, when I ran the 4:21, while the hot weather didn't go "right," the atmosphere of the meet, being the best competition around, coupled with the idea that "this is my last race this year" was perfect to push me from the gun to the finish line.
What is special about Coach Soles and the Great Oak coaching staff that seems to annually produce great teams and runners?
I'm not sure where exactly we differ from other teams, but Coach Soles, shortly put, knows what he is doing. He knows how to coach and raise his team. He makes sure the workout and race are done well, without excuses. Now, all the glory can't go to just the coaches and staff, we have a great talent pool as well.
What are the areas as a runner that you would like to most improve upon in your last 3 years of high school?
I would like to improve most on my mental strength as a runner; that is, not giving up and letting go when I feel I'm tired, and killing EVERY workout EVERY day. I'd also like to improve my kick.
What motivates you the most to run?
My teammates, my coaches, the goal of improvement of my running, and success in any form are the key motivations for me to run.
What are your goals for this cross country season?
My goals for this cross country season are individually to break 14:40 at Woodbridge, and 15:14 at Mt. SAC. As a team, our goals are to win State, and get to NXN.
