While some stars burst onto scene as freshman or sophomores, others emerge through years of hard work and dedication.  Haley Dorris of Great Oak is an example of the latter.  As a freshman Haley showed promise, running 19:00 for 3 miles and 11:53 in the 3200. Two year later, she has gone 17:28 at Mt. Sac and 10:54 in the 3200. Now the senior finds herself as a leader of one of the top teams in California, poised to vie for another state championship and a ticket to Nike Cross Nationals. I got the chance to catch up with Haley and learn a little bit about her journey to the front of one of the deepest teams in the state, and what she has learned along the way.

Scott Joerger (SJ): Congratulations on a great track season! What do you think was the biggest highlight of your season, and why?

Haley Dorris (HD): Thanks so much! I would have to say my biggest highlight was my 3200 race at CIF Prelims because I finally broke the 11-minute barrier with a 10:54 and qualified on to Finals which was a first-time accomplishment for me.

SJ: When did you start running competitively?  How did you get into it?

HD:  I first got into the sport going in to my freshman year, thanks to Coach Soles and his persistent recruiting. I had a decent mile time in middle school, but did not run competitively. I was on a competitive champion Irish dance team for many years before high school.  In the beginning, he asked me to try out the program with an open mind for just two weeks and then decide whether cross-country was for me. For the entire summer before high school, I had my mind set that I was not interested in becoming a runner. I was encouraged by my family and some of the older girls on the XC team to give it a chance. Right after school started my freshman year, I had a change of heart and was surprised that it was not as difficult as I had envisioned and it kind of came naturally to me after all the cardio training I already had from dancing. I was kind of hooked after that and began to develop a passion for racing and being a part of such a large, yet very connected team.

SJ: Who has had the most influence your running career?

HD:  My coaches as well as our State Champion Girls Team during my freshman season in 2010 have influenced my running career tremendously.  Coach Soles, Coach Noble, and Coach Espinoza have all provided so much support and are extremely dedicated to our team year round. The top seven girls from 2010 XC, led by seniors Katie Johnson and Jessie Hilton, set the standards for our team today through their driven work ethic and the commitment to unity and teamwork they displayed that year. The girls on that team were amazing role models for me and being a part of that my freshman year inspired me to want to be on the line at State someday running for my teammates.  

SJ: You have had great success in both Cross Country and Track.  What is your favorite season, and why?

HD:  My favorite season is definitely Cross Country because it is such a team-oriented sport. There is no better feeling for me than stepping on the line at a race surrounded by my teammates and knowing we are always giving our all for one another, which is a concept we thrived on during the past season and I feel confident we will continue to do so this upcoming season.

SJ: What's it like coming up through the Great Oak program?  What makes your team special and why do you think you've had so much success?

HD:  Even though our school is not that old, our team has become known as one of the top programs around. We have a culture that is committed to success and self-discipline. Our coaches work us pretty hard but they are also like an extended family to us and care about us as people and want to help us reach our full potential.

SJ: What does it mean to you to be one of the leaders coming into your senior year?

HD:  It is an honor to be recognized as a leader on this team. Our team has faced some adversity in this past year as well as some great success.  I have learned a lot, so I really look forward to using my past experiences to help be a role model and encourage our underclassmen.

SJ: Heading into summer, can you tell us what your summer training is like?  When did you start back training and when will you reach your peak mileage?

HD:  Our summer training involves a gradual buildup in mileage and helps us get into shape for our XC camp, which will be held in Mammoth this year. I recently started back a few weeks ago after having my wisdom teeth removed so it is good to be back up again and getting myself prepared for this season! Our milege usually peaks just before school begins in August.

SJ: You won the team title in division 1 at the state championships in cross country last fall.  Tell me about that experience. What did you learn most from it?

HD:  Winning the state title was a goal for us starting from the beginning of last summer and our coaches always made sure this goal was the focus of every practice we had, morning and afternoon. The season was a roller coaster of a journey that became exhausting at certain points, but coming out of each struggle only helped remind ourselves of why we were working so hard. For me, winning state was such a thrill because it represented everything we worked so hard for. It was even more special to learn that our team set the new Division 1 course record at Woodward Park.

SJ: What are your goals for your team this season?        

HD:  Every year our team comes together at the end of the track season in our top 16 meeting where we spend a few hours discussing our team goals. For the 2013 season, we are aiming to win our third state title in four years. We will continue to strive to be a strong team and be the best teammates we can be for each other.

SJ: What are your individual goals for the coming cross country season? 

HD: Personally, I would like to finish in the top 10 at the State Meet.

SJ: What do you like to do outside of track & cross country?

HD:  Outside of running, I enjoy spending time with my teammates because they are some of my closest friends. Also, I recently started Irish dance again over the summer to cross-train and keep up my cardio work.

Quick Stats  

Nickname:   Dorris

Performance you are most proud of:   Mt. SAC XC 2012 17:28

Last thing you read:   Mind Gym by Mack Casstevens

Favorite subject in school:  Math

What you'd like to study in college:  Business and Sports Marketing

Favorite food:   Pasta and Swedish fish (but not together!)

Favorite movie:   Breakfast Club

Pet peeve:  Negativity

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Want to learn more about the Great Oak program?  Check out Albert Caruana's interview with Great Oak coach Doug Soles from last year.