Bill Taylor's report to his Sir Francis Drake cross country team

This is an e-mail sent by Coach Bill Taylor (Sir Francis Drake HS, San Anselmo, NCS) to his cross country team on September 15, 2011. Reprinted with permission from Taylor.

special report

Later time schedule in effect for Lowell Invitational on Saturday

frosh/soph girls run at 9:50 a.m.

soph boys at 10:40 a.m.

JV girls 12:30 p.m.

varsity girls 1:00 p.m.

varsity boys 2:00 p.m.

Report to your coach one hour before race time. Bring water, warm clothing, food, blankets, race attitudes

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Drake runners to be tested by Bay area talent



Stinson Beach measured Marin runners over less than 2 miles in distance



Mental toughness and self confidence will be required in the park on Saturday



I have been the Drake coach for over thirty years and not once in that time has a boy’s team entered the cross country season with three runners having broken ten minutes in the two mile on a track. Based on the school record history in track since 1952, I can assure you that no team went into the season with such low marks. I know that one of my earliest teams ended up with three of the runners breaking “ten minutes”, but not in competitions before the actual season. Same per the Boulet led team won the NCS division four.




John Lawson (9:33), Will Baker-Robinson (9:47) and Clayton Hutchins (9:57) are the dudes bringing quick those sub-10:00 times into 2011 cross country. Going in, it is their season. Enormous mileage over the summer months tells us that lower times are ahead.





Two other lads will back up this talent. Sophomore Coe Schwartz is prepared, but leg trouble is slowing down his entry. And Tucker Watusa, a junior, figures to improve on his 2010 long distance running and be 4th or 5th man.



Freshman Cooper Sullivan showed good potential at Stinson, could figure into the top five sooner than later this season if his knees cooperate. Cooper has the stride flow, the athletic of mind.



The outstanding three front runners are coached day to day by Rod Berry, the fastest Marin high school 2 miler of “all-time”. I have enjoyed some pretty sweet assistant coaches at Drake (e.g., Rod Berry, second in California state high school finals in 1977 and 1978, Richie Boulet, the fastest ever post-high school times over 800 meters, 1500 meters, mile in 3:53, 2 mile, maybe 5000, of anyone ever from Marin soil, and Linda Broderick Gill, state girls mile champion in 1976 and the fastest “all time” league miler with a 4:55 ish type of time), WOW, WOW



Girls challenged by images of Glenn, Calvelli, Ryan




We have been use to having the goddess of the county leading our girls cross country teams over the past decade, but this year we will need to score our worth as a team. And we have the attitude and the depth to, pun intended, make a good run at it.




Over three miles I will expect senior MacKinzie Stanley to take the lead, with county half mile champion, Bianca Doerschlog, capable of some fast races when they fit her middle distance ability. Summer Lawson, a veteran of the Drake team that won the North Coast Section division 4 last season, is the likely third girl. Vastly improved is lanky Jahya Burke and she commands the forth spot going into the competition this weekend. Cali Gallardo would be a favorite for a berth in the top five if she wasn't sick this week.





Jahya had a tremendous workout yesterday.





Others with an eye on a top Drake position is sophomore Lizzi Doerschlog, and senior Lauren Silver. Silver had that sparkling run at Stinson last week. Don't be surprised if freshman Sophia Noto enters the picture. She ran very well with the fastest girls yesterday.





More are welcome.




May all of you who are running on Saturday experience good improvement and advance your 2011 cross country season.




Bill Taylor




Staff --- Steve Emery, Rod Berry, Mary Kitchens, Carolyn Hutchins, Nancy Rogers



Parking advice ???

Steve and I park on Fulton between 25th and 27th street. We hike up over a dirt mound drop down by a paved road within the park, follow it up to where most everyone is gathering at the team check-in headquarters. There is a finishing chute there, and there will be a Greek flag.