Week of October 1st-6th,
2007
Ray Elliott (El Rancho, Pico Rivera) SS
Ray Elliott - El Rancho HS
Coach Elliott and troops - El Rancho CC Site
The state of the sport in California has become very,
very competitive. It has been a very impressive Fall of strong
teams, decent weather that has greeted folks at some huge meets,
with clockings individually and as teams that compare very good
historically with some of the best ever. The top teams that
had a majority of their squads returning have filled the rankings
lists. However, there have been a couple of teams who have
rocketed up the team scoring and comparison lists in amazing style,
with the El Rancho HS Boys' squad leading that group recently. This
past weekend they emerged from the carnage or another huge Swepstakes
event, this one at the Clovis Invitational on the State Meet course,
finishing second, and rolling past a number of other highly ranked
squads on the way to their 185 points and 80:38 team time that
trailed only Buchanan of Clovis who won with 152 points. The
16:08 team average is very impressive on the Woodward Park layout,
as they returned only one team member from their 2006 Varsity squad,
with the 2007 crew a "pull them up by the boot-straps" effort. DyeStatCal
Co-Editor Rich Gonzalez indicated that he ran into the running
Don's squad an inordinate number of times this summer while out
driving around, and had a sense that they were putting in some
very solid work. It looks we are seeing the results currently,
with this week's DyeStatCal Coach of the Week Coach Ray Elliott
of El Rancho HS in Pico Rivera.
DyeStatCal - What has been
your general feelings about your Varsity Boys' team
performances so far this Fall?
Coach Elliott - The boys have done an outstanding job. I have been very happy
with
their
performances
this far.
DSC - Second at Clovis against many of the State's best in the
Boys Championship division seemed to cap a super first month of racing--describe
how
you
planned the contest for your team and how they executed--
CE - They knew that going into the meet that there were some outstanding schools
in
their race (Davis, Royal, Arcadia, Crescenta Valley, Jesuit, Skyline, Buchanan,
etc), they just wanted to see if they could compete with these schools.
DSC - With just one Varsity athlete from the group who competed in CIF
competition last Fall you have appeared to have had a number of athletes who
were at
lower levels last year step up to the Varsity level in fine style--what are
some of the special characteristics of this year's varsity squad?
CE - The El Rancho program has always been based on "family". This
squad is no different. They are a very close knit group. Our captains this year
have
provided the team with outstanding leadership.
DSC - Describe the summer program your squad had this past few months and how
they responded to the challenges of the work you asked of them?
CE - The kids responded well to the challenges that we presented them with. They
know that during the summer in order to get better they must work hard. We go
to Big
Bear every year for 7 to 10 days. This is always a nice trip for us training
and bonding wise.
DSC - Where do you go from here as far as big meets in the near future?
CE - Mt. SAC is the next big meet for us and then it's time to start gearing
up for the post season. The boys really understand that post season is where
it
matters
DSC - What do you teach and coach at El Rancho HS and how long have you been
there?
CE -
Mathematics -
10 years -
Head Boys and Girls Cross Country Coach -
Head Boys Basketball Coach
DSC - What is your background and who has influenced you and your coaching
style in the distances events?
CE - I didn't run cross country in high school, but I ran in college for New
Mexico
Highlands University.
As far as coaching influences, I have listened
to some great coaches speak (Steve Chavez, Joe Vigil, Dan Green,
etc.).
I have read a
lot of books on coaching the distance events. It's also helped
that I've been around some outstanding coaches, but the biggest
influence on my coaching career has been Jim Danner from Belen,
New Mexico.
DSC - What is a favorite workout that you use with the group you currently
have?
CE - I really enjoy the long easy runs at the tanks (In Whittier).
DSC - What advice would you have for a beginning coach in the sport of
cross-country?
CE - Create a family type atmosphere. Make the sport fun. Hold athletes accountable
for practice and in the classroom. Most of all work hard.
I would like to thank you (Doug Speck) and Rich Gonzales for the incredible
job that you guys do at Dyestatcal.com. I am also very grateful for being named
coach of the week, especially when there are so many outstanding cross country
coaches out there. Thank you.
Thank You Ray - Best of Luck
Doug Speck
DyeStatCal.com
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