No. 17: Great Oak (CA)
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Analysis: Great Oak finds itself in a position of question marks.
Just two athletes return from the team that finished sixth a year ago at Nike Cross Nationals and won the CIF Division I championship under first-year coach Tammy Draughon, including the likes of Gabriel Rodriguez and Jeffrey Keeney, both seniors.
There is an obvious re-tooling that needs to take place in 2023.
But this is Great Oak we're talking about.
This is not a team without depth. Beyond Rodriguez and Keeney, at least five capable runners are going to bump up on the roster, including seniors Michael Rodriguez and Kai Marotta and juniors Jack Paradise and Jacob Brown.
Biggest Question: What can we expect out of the Wolfpack?
Just how good this Great Oak team becomes will depend on the adjustments and development the program has made over the interim. The work was done over the last year.
Great Oak isn't like most teams. The talent is there. It's just a matter of putting it together.
MileSplit50 Boys Team National Rankings Countdown
RANK | DATE-TEAM |
|---|---|
| 25 | Aug. 21 -- Ridgefield (CT) |
| 24 | Aug. 21 -- Bentonville (AR) |
| 23 | Aug. 21 -- Ventura (CA) |
| 22 | Aug. 21 -- McCallie School (TN) |
| 21 | Aug. 21 -- Rocky Mountain (ID) |
| 20 | Aug. 22 -- Portland Jesuit (OR) |
| 19 | Aug. 23 -- Downers Grove North (IL) |
| 18 | Aug. 24 -- Riverton (UT) |
| 17 | Aug. 25 -- Great Oak (CA) |
| 16 | Aug. 26 -- Valor Christian (CO) |
| 15 | Aug. 27 -- Carmel (IN) |
| 14 | Aug. 28 -- Wichita Trinity Academy (KS) |
| 13 | Aug. 29 -- Union Catholic (NJ) |
| 12 | Aug. 30 -- Farragut (TN) |
| 11 | Aug. 31 -- University (WV) |
| 10 | Sept. 1 -- CBA (NJ) |
| 9 | Sept. 2 -- Stevens Point (WI) |
| 8 | Sept. 3 -- Herriman (UT) |
| 7 | Sept. 4 -- Wayzata (MN) |
| 6 | Sept. 5 |
| 5 | Sept. 6 |
| 4 | Sept. 6 |
| 3 | Sept. 6 |
| 2 | Sept. 6 |
| 1 | Sept. 6 |