XC National Powerhouses Scouting Report: Wayzata Boys (MN)

Aug 15, 2014

<p> MileSplit is going around the country talking to top coaches of the nation's best high school cross country programs for some inside info on their squad's success and what to look forward to this coming season from them.</p>

Wayzata after Lake Conference Championship Title last fall, all photos found at wayzata-xc.org unless otherwise noted

High school skiing and ice hockey pack in many fans in the state of Minnesota, but the cross country program at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota continues to show why the deserve some love. The girls' program took home the national crown this past fall with a win at NXN in Portland Meadows, OR. The boys side was victorious at their state meet and ran to a second place team finish at the NXN Heartland Regional Championship before placing 15th at NXN. What makes this season's boys team deadly is the fact that they return six of their top seven that competed at Nationals. The only other team that beat Wayzata guys at NXN to return all but one from their varsity squad is Fayetteville-Manlius of New York. Under the tutelage of Coach Bill Miles as he approaches his 40th year of coaching at Wayzata, look for these guys from the Gopher State to notch down their placing at NXN and potentially have one of their best seasons to date.

Guys and Girls programs after winning state championship titles last fall, seventh state title for guys team, photo by Kraig Lungstrom

Boys Top 7 Returnees Times : 5K XC - 3200m - 1500m

Q&A with Coach Miles

Top 7 Boys Returnees from 2013 XC Season (5K Times)

	1) Connor Olson		15:17.40
	2) Jaret Carpenter		15:57.30
	3) Ian Eklin		15:58.80
	4) Nicholas Shaleen		16:14.40
	5) Andrew Quirk		16:14.49
	Average Time: 15:56.48 Total Time: 1:19:42.39 1-5 Split: 57.09
	6) Jack Prazich		16:26.81
	7) Thomas Lerdall		16:58.80

Top 7 Boys Returning 3200m Times from 2014 Outdoor Season

	1) Connor Olson		9:13.87
	2) Jaret Carpenter		9:14.32
	3) Jack Prazich		9:41.83
	4) Ian Eklin		9:42.10
	5) Andrew Quirk		9:49.66
	Average Time: 9:32.36 Total Time: 47:41.78 1-5 Split: 35.79
	6) Nicholas Shaleen		9:50.74
	7) Wes Heal		10:04.86

Top 7 Boys Returning 1600m Times from 2014 Outdoor Season

	1) Connor Olson		4:19.59
	2) Jaret Carpenter		4:22.63
	3) Ian Eklin		4:25.42
	4) Andrew Quirk		4:26.66
	5) Jack Prazich		4:29.34
	Average Time: 4:24.73 Total Time: 22:03.64 1-5 Split: 9.75
	6) Nicholas Shaleen		4:34.44
	7) Paul Epland		4:42.46

Q&A with Wayzata (MN) XC head coach Bill Miles

How many years have you been coaching high school cross country (and at your current school)?

45th year, 39th at Wayzata

Coach Miles (top left) and team accepting state championship medals last XC season

What do you attribute as the main reasons for the success of your program?

Hardworking athletes, supportive parents, great assistant coaches, supportive administration, loyal alumni, and an exceptional middle school program.

What would be the best way to describe your style and philosophy of coaching and working with high school runners?

Working hard for a common purpose is fun.

What are your core beliefs in your training plan and workouts for your cross country squads?

Moderation, hard-easy, consistency, aerobic fitness, and staying healthy.

How many runners do you return from your top 7 from a year ago?

Six

Who is your projected top 7 heading into the cross country season?


Senior Connor Olson, Wayzata's top returner, photo: sailor.mnsun.com

Our returnees are seniors Connor Olson, Ian Eklin, Jack Prazich, & Andrew Quirk and juniors Jaret Carpenter & Nick Shaleen. We have a wide-open competition for our varsity amongst these six and another half dozen or so who are looking good in practice this fall.

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

We have 13 team leaders with a boys' team of over 200 runners in grades 7-12. They all are working hard to use their strengths as leaders to make a positive difference for their teammates and their team.

Who have you been most impressed or surprised with their improvement and/or fitness from their summer training?

We have a number of JV runners who have improved dramatically and are running much faster than a year ago. At the varsity level they all look fit, but it's early and we're trying to control our intensity. It's a long season, if things go right.

Any impactful freshmen or transfers to join the team this season?

I don't anticipate any freshmen cracking our top ten this fall. We have no transfers.

What are the top invitational meets that your team will be attending this season?

We'll see Stillwater at our first two invitationals (Marshfield Columbus & Rochester Mayo). The Griak Invitational is our biggest invitational with many excellent teams from the upper midwest and occasionally a national power.

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

Staying healthy and staying focused on the end.

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

Hardworking, snotty-nosed tough kids.

After NXN Heartland Regional 2nd place finish with Chris Solinsky (top left)

What is a staple workout or run for your team?

In almost every two week cycle from Labor Day on we will do at least one long run, one 400 workout, one long repeat workout, one threshold workout (cruise 1000s or tempo or progressive), and one race.

What are your top 3 goals for this year's squad?

Work hard. Live in the moment. Care about each other.

Team at Summit of Mount Harvard (14,421 feet) >