MENLO SCHOOL Since 1915
About the Team
The trailblazing cross-country team continues to raise the bar. Not only have the Knights set school and league records in recent years, they have had more athletes participating than ever.
In 2024, the Menlo girls’ team had an outstanding finish, taking seventh at the state meet.
Both the girls’ and boys’ teams raced in the 2023 CCS Championships and came away with a team state bid, and an individual CCS champion.
In 2018, the girls’ team brought home the first section championship and the first one in program history since the boys won in 1997 and 1998.
John Dagata (first season)
Dagata brings an exceptional range of experience, having coached and directed programs at the highest levels of collegiate and international athletics, including the Olympic stage.
Dagata held a seven-year tenure at the USA Track & Field Olympic Training Center, where he served as the Resident Head Coach for Field Events (Throws) and Director of Operations from 2016 to 2023. During this time, he directly contributed to the success of elite athletes, including coaching an Olympic gold medalist and a World Champion.
Dagata had a strong presence in collegiate athletics—holding key coaching and operations roles at UC Berkeley, Iowa State University, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Oklahoma. His influence extended across multiple disciplines, from throws and jumps to combined events, where he guided more than 100 NCAA All-Americans and helped set over 100 school records.
On the international stage, Dagata served as Head of Coaching for UK Athletics and Welsh Athletics at the 2012 London Olympics, Team Leader for Great Britain at the Commonwealth Games and World University Games, and Assistant Coach for the Great Britain World Junior Team. He also led the Republic of China, overseeing discus and shot put athletes.
