In high school cross country, the No. 1 boys team belongs to the Herriman Mustangs. This isn’t just the best team in the state; the Mustangs are ranked No. 1 in the country.

Head coach Doug Soles, who has 24 years’ experience coaching cross country and who previously led one of California’s top teams, couldn’t be more thrilled with what the boys have accomplished. 

“One thing that really set this team apart is how smart they are,” he said. “They really understand the concepts and strategies I’m sharing with them and using it to get better.”

At press time, the Mustangs were undefeated on the boys side and were tops in all the major national polls. The Herriman boys have won the Premier Invite, the UIAAA Invite, Timpanogos Invite, The Woodbridge Classic in California and the Bob Firman Invite in Idaho. 

“We have faced and beaten many of the top-ranked teams in the nation,” Soles said. 

So what makes the Mustang boys such a strong force? Soles pointed out a few factors. 

“The boys have been able to win consistently because we have a very tight pack of guys all running near the front of races,” he said. “We are also the deepest team in the country, so we have lots of lineup options for each meet. The boys are tough and very consistent in their performances.”

On a team this good, there have been many standout showings and excellent runners. William Steadman is always at the front of the group in his races. He has finished in the top 10 each time out and won the Premier Invite. At the Bob Firman Invite, Tayshaun Ogomo finished 11th overall. At Woodbridge, Micah Tang was second with a time of 14:19 on the 3-mile course. Jack Beckstrom and Jonah Tang have also come up big for the team, helping lead the Mustangs past American Fork at the Timpanogos event. 

No team is prefect, and the Mustangs have things to overcome. But some of the biggest questions the team has is whether everyone is going to be happy with his place on the squad. 

“The biggest challenge for top-end teams like this is just making sure that everyone has a role,” Soles said. “It is hard to be a guy that is top two or three on any other team, and not make the varsity seven here. The guys understand they will have to race for positions in the postseason.”

Herriman is a big favorite to win the Class 6A state title in late October. The team also has a goal of winning the Nike Cross Nationals Championship on Dec. 2. 

Soles has loved watching the team grow and improve. He arrived in 2022 and coached the track and field team. The year before he came, the boys placed ninth in cross country at the state meet. Watching the team become the best in the nation has been a fulfilling experience. 

“Just watching them get good at all the little things to become great runners is really enjoyable to watch and be a part of,” he said. 

The girls team has also had a good year and is shooting for a top-three finish at state. Soles said the girls “have been great at getting a smaller and smaller time spread between our No. 1 girl and our No. 5 each meet.” 

Soles complimented the efforts of Rachel Crosby, Alayna Wardle and Breelyssa Leeper this season. Wardle won the Region Pre-Region Meet. 

“I’ve been blessed with a great coaching staff and hardworking kids,” he said. “The future is very bright for Herriman Cross Country! We feel like this is just the beginning.” λ