Morgan Smith, PHD CSCS
Stanford University
American Fork, Utah
Dr. Smith is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Genetics at Stanford University and a member of the Stanford Female Athlete Science and Translational Research (FASTR) Program. She specializes in human performance, movement science, and sports training, with a focus on optimizing athletic performance through scientific principles. Her research includes the impact of resistance training, neuromuscular fatigue, and the role of the menstrual cycle in sports performance. Dr. Smith is committed to closing the gender gap in sports science through her work in the FASTR Program, led by Dr. Emily Kraus, and contributes her expertise to advancing both research and practical applications for female athletes. Additionally, she is passionate about integrating research with coaching to enhance training strategies for athletes.
Justin Loftus
Crater High School
Central Point, OR
Coach Loftus has been doing truly remarkable things at Crater high school in Oregon for 24 years and this year he made history by becoming the first high school in history to have two boys break four minutes in the mile in the same season! Josiah Tostenson and Tayvon Kitchen have been standout athletes for Crater and have taken them to places no other high school has done before.
Last summer, Crater set the national record in the boys distance medley relay, running 9:44.30 to break a 23 year old record.
This fall, Tayvon Kitchen, participated in the boys championship race at NXN and finished 11th place.
Greg Coplen
Chaparral High School
Parker, Colorado
Greg Coplen is an experienced cross country and track coach with 14 years in the field, including 13 as a head cross country coach. Currently at Chaparral High School in Parker, CO, he previously coached at Valor Christian, where his teams achieved national rankings and top state finishes. Notably, his Valor Christian girls' team ranked #8 nationally in 2019. At Chaparral, his girls' team improved from #27 nationally in 2023 to #11 in 2024, with strong state meet performances. Greg has coached elite athletes, including state champions and All-Americans like Cole Sprout, Taylor Whitfield, and Drew Costelow. He also guided Brennan Draper to the 2023 XC state championship and helped Chaparral qualify for the state meet for the first time since 2010. His greatest joy comes from mentoring and celebrating the successes of his athletes.
John O'Malley
Carl Sandburg High School
Orland Park, Illinois
John O'Malley has created one of our the greatest programs in the country at Sandburg high school in Illinois. Arguably the greatest depth of boys 4x800m teams in the last two decades, he has also guided two individual Footlocker Cross Country national champions. A very cerebral coach who preaches love and emphasizes stress over mileage, his accomplishments are unprecedented and can guide any coach to new heights.
Speakers
#HDS22
@SummitDistance