Coach Doug Soles touches on potential fear of Great Oak guys not being selected for NXN
After the interview that fear became a reality as they were not selected for Portland and 3rd place Jurupa Hills was
The Great Oak guys were ranked in the top 10 for most of the season and sitting at US #4 for a while, but have not been selected as an at large team to compete at NXN. Venture, Brea Olinda and Jurupa Hills (at large selection) will be representing California in Portland. Great Oak's race was in the afternoon when the sun was blazing down and much hotter than the division 2 and 3 races that occupy the fastest team total times.
Ventura (1st in Division 2) - 1:17:43
Jurupa Hills (2nd in Division 2) - 1:18:10
Brea Olinda (1st in Division 3) - 1:18:13
Madera South (3rd in Division 1) - 1:18:35
Dana Hills (2nd in Division 1) - 1:18:39
Great Oak (1st in Division 1) - 1:18:48
Notice how Great Oak has the 6th fastest total team time, despite beating two of those teams head to head in the Division 1 race (Dana Hills and Madera South). Although that is the case, team total time does not come in to play to determine what teams are eligible to be chosen for NXN. First, all the divisions are merged and then scored. Then, only the top 18 teams are put into a new pool that is scored. Once that is score, the top 2 teams qualify automatically (Ventura and Brea Olinda) and the 3rd (Jurupa Hills) and 4th place (Great Oak) teams are eligible for an at large bid. The deciding committee has chosen to select Jurupa Hills, the 3rd place team, in the top 18 teams merged scoring, and not Great Oak. Click here for the other at large teams that have been selected nation wide.
Great Oak boys excited about winning State but unsettled with the thought of not making it to NXN.
Great Oak girls after their third XC State title win in a row