Scouting report interview with American Fork boys head cross country coach Timo Mostert. The last few years, American Fork has relied on an incredible trio of national class runners from their class of 2017 in Casey Clinger, McKay Johns, and Patrick Parker who teamed up to set the national 4x1600 record this past spring.
In order for American Fork to make it to Nike Cross Nationals for a 9th straight year, they will have to do it without those since graduated names. Should be an exciting challenge for Coach Mostert to build up a young and inexperienced varsity lineup to carry on the tradition and high bar of success at American Fork.
Top 7 Returnees
| 8 | American Fork (UT) | 331 | ||
| 1) Carson Clinger | 15:40.80 | 22 | ||
| 2) Dalton Brems | 15:56.20 | 35 | ||
| 3) Cole Phillippi | 16:06.50 | 53 | ||
| 4) Luke Grundvig | 16:30.00 | 104 | ||
| 5) Andrew Baird | 16:35.50 | 117 | ||
| Average Time: 16:09.80 Total Time: 1:20:49.00 1-5 Split: 54.70 | ||||
| 6) Alex Garces | 16:41.50 | 131 | ||
| 7) Casey Chamberlain | 16:49.00 | 140 | ||
Interview with Coach Mostert (American Fork)
1. How many years have you been coaching high school cross country (and at your current school)?
This will be my 30th year (20th at AFHS).
2. What do you attribute as the main reasons for the success of your program?
Hard work and a solid training plan.
3. What would be the best way to describe your style and philosophy of coaching and working with high school runners?
I guess my coaching style would be Explanation, Modeling, Execution. My training philosophy is Lydiard based.
4. What are your core beliefs in your training plan and workouts for your cross country squads?
Sensible mileage and a lot of pace work. Our motto is "You race how you train".
5. How many runners do you return from your top 7 from a year ago?
We lost 4 Seniors including 3 NXN All-Americans, so 3 are back (numbers 4,5,6).
We haven't had a competition, yet, so I don't know. Carson Clinger, Dalton Brems, and Cole Phillippi are the returners from last year's Varsity squad.
7. Who are your team captains or leaders and what stands out about them as examples for the rest of their teammates?
Cole Phillippi, Casey Chamberlain, Alex Garces, Robert Richards, and Kyle Livingston are this year's Senior Captains. They've worked hard in previous years to merit this stewardship.
8. Who have you been most impressed or surprised with their improvement and/or fitness from their summer training?
We had a good group of distance runners in track who have continued improving, besides the returners, including Luke Grundvig and Aaron Steed (both sub-10:00 in track).
9. Any impactful freshmen or transfers to join the team this season?
Nathan Hess is an incoming Freshman that has had a great Summer. Our other Freshmen continue to progress rapidly, as well.
10. What are the top invitational meets that your team will be attending this season?
Westlake Grass Relays, Wasatch Invitational, Viking Invitational, and Nebo Invitational.
11. What will be the biggest obstacle or challenge facing your team this season?
Inexperience at the Varsity level; we might have 5 or 6 underclassmen on the Varsity this year.
12. What will be the biggest reason why your team is successful this season?
June, July, and August.
13. What is a favorite annual or common pre-season workout or run for your team?
Ashenafe's African Adventure Run (between 10-12 miles).
14. What is a favorite annual or common mid-season workout for your team?
3X1 mile @ 3 mile race pace with 5 min, rest. going negative on each repeat.
15. What is a favorite annual or common championship season or end-of-season workout for your team?
4X400 @75 with 2:30 rest 2 days before a championship race.
16. What are your top 3 goals for this year's squad?
1.Win the Utah 6A State Championship
2.Qualify for NXN for the 9th straight year.
3.Get some of those "STOP AF" t-shirts that Wasatch High School has made.