Wayzata's Bill Miles: "No Mulligans in XC"

Down the Backstretch traded e-mails last night with Wayzata boys coach Bill Miles. The Trojans finished 20th at Nike Team Nationals, suffering their only defeat of the season. We asked Miles about his State and NTN Regional champion squad, post-season racing, and Wayzata teams of the past.

DtB: How did you feel the team ran at NTN?

Miles: Every team at NTN is talented and I'm sure that every team there has a sense that they could have run better if...but there are no mulligans in XC. It is one of the things that we like about our sport. Our club coach, Kraig Lungstrom, said he was proud of the kids' races and I know that as a fan I was proud to be wearing a Wayzata sweatshirt.

DtB: Did you get a sense afterward of what they might have been able to do there on a "perfect" day?

Miles: I figured that with a "normal gap" for us we finish about 15th, but I'm sure that every team in the meet figures that they could have finished 15th... or better.

DtB: What do you think about post-season meets like NTN and Foot Locker?

Miles: In some ways it was a long season for our kids. They only ran about six races for their high school team and two for their club team, but they were trying to hold their edge for six or seven weeks and that is a long time. So even if they were not over-raced, they were probably ready for the season to be over. However, the Wayzata students that ran in Portland had a great time talking with elite athletes like the Gouchers and Lauren Fleshman and motivated high school athletes from other regions. I have not spoken to all of them since they got back from Portland, but those I have spoken to were positive about the experience. Over the years many Wayzata students have opted to run at Footlocker Regionals year after year. I would bet that our seniors are thankful that they got to go to a NTN meet and that the underclassmen would love to get a second shot at the kids from Illinois, New Mexico, and Washington! Personally, I wish that I had been talented enough to be a runner on an NTN qualifier and fortunate enough to be on a team gifted enough to run in the NTN.

DtB: Are they generally a good thing for the sport?

Miles: I think that they are a great thing for the sport. We're still talking about Cross Country in December in Wayzata. High school kids got to eat dinner with Olympians who told them to chase their dreams and believe in themselves. In my opinion these are good things.

DtB: How does the Wayzata 2007 team stack up, do you think, against the other four state-title-winning teams you've had?

Miles: This team is very different from the 2000, 1993, & 1992 Wayzata state champions and the 1975 Cretin state championship team that I coached. All of the other teams had at least one low scorer who was capable of finishing in the top three at the state meet or running 9:20ish in track. This squad won with strength, balance, and a tight pack. Perhaps this spring, I'll look foolish as Jeremy Drenckhan and Danny Ducharme run 9:20ish, but today they are 9:39 two milers.

I think in talent the 1975 team was the most gifted. It averaged under 9:25 for five runners for two miles (not 3200) and had a 9:39/1:56 runner as its eighth man. It finished the season ranked #2 in the country behind York of Illinois. All three of the previous Wayzata championship teams were ranked nationally by the Harrier, but none of them (with the possible exception of 1992) had the depth through seven runners of this year's squad. The beautiful thing about sports is that there is always next year. Maybe we can get the front running and the depth together to have Wayzata in 2008 be the most talented group I have ever coached.

DtB: When you look back on the 2007 season, say in 10 years, what do you think will stand out in your memory?

Miles: The leadership of our seniors.The transformation of Anders Bowman and Andrew Wasz from middle of the pack JV runners to sub-ten minute 3200 runners. The camaraderie of the tempo runs on Saturdays and the 1k (or mile) repeat workouts on Tuesdays.The surprise of winning Griak after getting trapped behind the masses.The composure of our athletes in pressure races. And most importantly beating our girls' team in the Great Cake Bake Off. We have now won six of the seven titles.