XC Scouting Report: Pleasant Valley Girls


The Pleasant Valley HS girls return in 2016 with their entire top 7 from 2015 intact.  The same squad won the 3A State Championship last year.  (Photo Credit - Tim Loreman)


PLEASANT VALLEY HS	
EVENT	PLACE	ATHLETE	        RESULT	        POINTS
F 5000m	11	Juliana Ballew	20:52.03	8
F 5000m	12	Emma Hood	20:55.25	9
F 5000m	15	Trinity Roberts	21:03.83	11
F 5000m	24	Rachel Faucett	21:41.04	17
F 5000m	28	Bailey Dollar	21:55.77	21
F 5000m	55	Emma Dollar	23:03.15	41
F 5000m	89	Allison Vess	24:40.11	64
F 5000m	109	Kiana Simpson	27:19.48	--

Brad Hood -Head Coach
Melissa Hampton -Assistant 
Rex McAlister- Assistant

How many years have you been coaching high school cross country (and at your current school)?
12 years coaching xc.  6 years at Pleasant Valley

What do you attribute as the main reasons for the success of your program?
Having a course on campus that is very hilly and almost all grass.  We only run pavement 1 time a week.  

What would be the best way to describe your style and philosophy of coaching and working with high school runners?
Daily meetings and goal setting.  Logging workouts and meeting weekly about progress. 

How many runners do you return from your top 7 from a year ago?
All top 7 plus a few new ones who could be top 5. 

Who is your projected top 7 heading into the cross country season?
Same as last year. 

Who are your team captains or leaders and what stands out about them as examples for the rest of their teammates?
Rachel Faucett.  She is a junior with 4 state rings.  3 in track (high jump) and 1 in xc.  She is very dedicated and competitive.  

Who have you been most impressed or surprised with their improvement and/or fitness from their summer training?
Rachel Faucett.  She was our 3/4 runner last year.  Could be a sub 20 min runner. 

Any impactful freshmen or transfers to join the team this season?
Atleigh Brannon.  Ran for me in 8th grade.   A sub 22 min runner who is now a senior. She could be a sub 21. 

What are the top invitational meets that your team will be attending this season?
Scottsboro and Jesse Owens.  Disney WWOS High School race also. 

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

What will be the biggest reason why your team is successful this season?
They need to strive to be faster individually and a team than last year. 

What is a favorite annual or common pre-season workout or run for your team?
Running Jacksonville State campus before classes resume.

What is a favorite annual or common mid-season workout for your team?
Henry Farms trail in Jacksonville. 

What is a favorite annual or common championship season or end-of-season workout for your team?
The Raider Classic.

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

Be faster than last year.  Have more fun.  Encourage and support each other.