The "Duel in the Dust"

You know it is catchy names and phrases that get people's attention...sensational headlines and the such. So I am calling this article the Duel in the Dust.

Kackley and Mann

To me, the most intriguing match up at tomorrow's CCAL championship meet will occur in the varsity girls' race. That race will include the third meeting between Pitman's senior Mavleen Mann and Gregori's soph Maddie Kackley. This "duel" includes two ladies with State Meet caliber talent. Mavleen won the first meeting but it wasn't easy. She had to produce the #3 (18:17) mark all-time over the Legion Park course to pull away from Kackley's #6 (18:25) mark. At their second meeting it was Kackley running 17:27 (the #3 mark ever on the Donnelly park course) to out pace Mann's 17:49 (the #5 mark).

This is what makes it all so exciting to me. We bear witness as history unfolds before us. These two hate to lose. So there will be no subtle strategy. No biding of time. Kackley goes from the gun. It is all gas. She runs as hard as she can for as long as she can. PERIOD. But if Mann can stay with her and fend off that initial blast, with her experience she may be able to mentally beat her down the stretch. The Duel in the Dust.

When I began this StanCo gig I inherited some all-time records lists. One of the most stunning records to me was/is the Legion Park (three-loop) course record by Monica Frailing of Downey from 2004. The story goes (as it was told to me) that Frailing won the Sierra Inv at the beginning of that season in course record time and then fractured her foot. She spent the entire season working out in the pool. Her next race was the MMC Championship where she ran an incredible 17:46. That time stands and the only sub-17 mark by a female and is still 23 seconds faster than the next best mark. For years this marks has seemed insurmountable to me...that is until now.

Frailing

1. Monica Frailing (Downey) 17:46  2004
2. Erin Lewis (Modesto) 18:09  2005
3. Mavleen Mann (Pitman) 18:17  2018
4. Maryssa McDuffy (Grace Davis) 2009
5. Crystal Esparza (Beyer) 18:24  2007
6. Madison Kackley (Gregori) 18:25  2018
7. Rachel VanNes (Modesto) 18:31  2009
8. Amanda Innes (Grace Davis) 18:40  2006
9. Faith Makau (Enochs) 18:42  2012
10. Katie Drueen (Modesto) 18:59  2005
11. Erica Cuellar (Modesto) 19:10  2004
12. Lauren Stanislaw (Beyer) 19:13  2011
13. Briseida Garcia (Gregori) 19:16  2016

Given tomorrow's cooler temps, records could crumble.  I think it is more than possible that both Kackley and Mann could break the 18:00 barrier tomorrow. And with just the right combination of fitness, talent, head-to-head competition, determination, and temps in the mid 70s, even Frailing's remarkable record could go down. And that would be well...historic.

One thing I do know is that I will be there to see it all go down from my usual spot in the dust at the far end of the Legion loop.