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Meet Preview by Patrick Kleinow, Dublin High School Distance Coach
It’s finally here! The 2015 Dublin Distance Fiesta is just around the corner, and just like the Fiestas before, this one is going to
be a full of talent and excitement. Boasting a RECORD setting 66 high schools and 2200 entries, the Dublin Distance Fiesta is
now the LARGEST Distance Meet in the state of California, proving once again, if you are not here, then you are missing out
on the party. With 3 boys 3200 Meter Arcadia automatic qualifiers up for grabs and a girls 3200 meters spot as well, this meet
has quickly become the desired spot for all the midseason distance action. A track meet focused on the heart of running,
distance. Each heat is going to be a race, with some heats having 25 boys within a 2 second PR! With competition like that,
each student athlete is set up to run his or her BEST. Now let’s meet the people and races to watch!
Girls 1600
Meet Record – Kendall Derry – Bella Vista – 2014 – 5:06.04
Last year we had 4 girls make it to the top 5 in DDF history for the 1600m, including EVERY class record. The question is,
how many girls will make it this year. With an amazing group of runners, it should be an amazing race as Chloe Hansel (Las
Lomas - 5:13.20 #4 NCS; 11:11.41 #2 NCS & #21 State), Kathryn Loken (Del Campo - 5:10.07 #3 SJS; 11:15.30 #3 SJS) and
Rylee Bowen (Sonoma Academy - 5:03.48 #50 US; 10:37.13 #9 US) battle it out for the top spot and the first Sombrero of the
day. Will Bowen and Loken take it easy with the 3200m race coming up later in the day, or will the allure of the now famous
DDF sombrero and pinata t-shirt push the race to the next level. Belle Moran (Foothill - ‘14 t-Shirt winner) will also be in the
mix, hoping to improve her #5 all time DDF 1600 standing. Other notable entrants are Glennis Murphy from Redwood and
track & field newcomer Campolindo’s Toni Finnane (cross country Foot Locker nationalist).
Boys 1600
Meet Record – Erik Olson – Novato – 2009 – 4:17.28
With a large collection of boys that can run sub-2:00 in the 800, this 1600m final is sure to get out quick. Two t-shirts winners
from ‘14 have already run pretty fast in this early season - Carter Mackey (Castro Valley) has run a 4:22.92 (#4 NCS), which
is just behind Roc Johnson (De La Salle) who has run a 4:22.75 (#3 NCS & #25 State). But Casa Grande’s Nicholas Rauch’s
indoor 1:57.10 800 (which is #2 in the STATE) may leave the rest of the field gasping for breath even before the final lap. And
with the strength to run a 9:40.39 (#2 NCS) 3200, Los Lomas’s Tom Robey might have what it takes to mix it up with the front
runners.
Girls 800
Meet Record – Tamara Purpura – Lowell – 2:17.43
The next sombrero up for grabs will be the Girls 800m run. This field has some familiar faces from the 1600m final heat, and a
very familiar face in Bella Vista’s Kendall Derry (‘14 t-shirt winner), who is the current #1 all time DDF 1600m record holder.
Could she be a part of the VERY select few to hold two #1’s at the same time?! Not if Megan McCandless (‘14 1600 t-shirt
winner) of Granada has anything to say about it. Coming in with a #11 in the state ranked 1600m time of 5:04.30, she has the
speed to compete in the grueling 800m run. Could this be the 2nd year in a row a 400m specialist moves up in distance to win California’s freshman sensation Alyssa Brewer has already run 57.26 for 400m and brings great speed to this event. This is
sure to be a fast race, so don’t blink, you just might miss it.
Boys 800
Meet Record – Sebastian Sam – Oak Grove – 2008 – 1:54.21
The 800m race is often described as the most painful running race in high school track. The 800m boys final is sure to create
some fireworks this year, with stand out like Nicholas Rauch of Casa Grande having already run 1:57.10 indoors. But there is
a whole host of boys who have already broken two-minutes, and are looking to lower their time even further, including Travis
Flemming (1:59.66 - #2 NCS) of California and Braeden Kraft (1:59.52 #4 SJS) of Del Campo. Benjamin Micallef of
Bellarmine is looking to add his name to another top performers list after snagging the #1 Freshman all time DDF 800m record
last year.
Girls 3200
Meet Record – Diana George – Livermore – 2009 – 10:49.74
The 3200m race is an event that only a Distance Crowd can love, and do we love it here at the Dublin Distance Fiesta. The girls
in the race are competing for more than just a shirt and a sombrero, they are all gunning after the prize that comes with a win in
this race, an automatic qualifier to the biggest race in the entire nation… The Arcadia Invitational. With Rylee Bowen possibly
going for the Distance Trifecta (the 1600m, 800m, and 3200m) will her talent be able to pull her through for a win? Or, will
Brooke Starn (4:59.72 #1 NCS & #5 State; 11:03.96 #1 NCS & #17 State) of Monte Vista be able to add to her list of #1 all
times and with the coveted spot? With a DDF meet record of 10:49.74, the all time record spot is going to take some
determination to beat. Or perhaps this will become a tactical race, with no runner willing to risk their chance at Arcadia on an
early move? If so, the speed of Brighie Leach (Campolindo - ‘14 state 1600 finalist) and Christine Bayliss (San Ramon
Valley) may become a crucial factor in the last few laps. Could Campolindo’s Toni Finnane make her 3200 deput with a
surprising win, much like her bursting on the cross country scene? With a race like this, it is not just about pure talent, but
tactical know-how and a keen understanding of the rest of the field.
Boys 3200
Meet Record – Fred Huxham – Redwood – 2014 – 9:10.73
The boys 3200m is sure to be the signature race at this years DDF. To give some perspective, the young men who toed this
very line in 2014 took 1st, 4th, 11th and 16th at the State Championships, highlighted by Redwood’s Fred Huxham’s victory.
The student athletes will all be focusing on one goal, getting top 3. The top THREE, that’s right, THREE, in this race are
automatically qualified for The Arcadia Invitational. This prize will make the race a very tactical spectacle, with races most
likely feeling out the competition and playing to their strengths. In this ONE race alone, we have runners ranked in the top 15
in the STATE. If you want to see California’s star Distance runners, this race is going to be your best bet. The young man who
took 16th in that state meet is Steven Sum (Saratoga), who is coming into the race with the #12 in the STATE 1600m time
(4:19.07), and he currently holds the #1 Junior All time DDF 3200m time. Sean Kurdy of Jesuit is coming into the meet with a
4:20.6 (#2 SJS & #16 State) 1600m time and will be looking to secure one of those coveted top 3 spots. Meanwhile, College
Prep’s Alex Glavin has a 9:39.49 indoor 2 mile this year, a time that places him #6 in the entire state of California. The real
question is going to be, who is going to decide to lead this high-stakes race? Could it be Salem Bouhassoun of Mission? His
4:20.88 1600m places him #19 in the state. Will his race strategy include an early lead? There are a few other notables from
the ‘14 historic race - De La Salle’s Matthew Schumann (2:01.20 #10 NCS) and Bishop O’Dowd’s Colin Burke (4:21.60 #2
NCS & #22 State; Foot Locker national finalist). The 3200m last year saw EVERY SINGLE top 5 DDF All Time 3200m
record get set, could that same magic happen again? Could THIS be the year with a sub 9:10 3200m??!! You will have to stay
and watch to find out.
Girls Distance Medley Relay
Meet Record – Las Lomas – 2014 – 12:31.29
The DMR is a fine chance to see the depth that a team is bringing to the field. This year, every team has student athletes who
are AT LEAST doubling with the DMR as their second race, so there will be no fresh legs here. Monte Vista has a #13 in the
state time already of 12:47.80, will the excitement of running under the lights and the thrill of the DDF propel them to an even
higher ranking and a new meet record? San Joaquin Section is bringing their best DMR team with Belle Vista, a team that
boasts a very impressive 13:06.89, and this is a school that boasts a school record of 12:08 back in 2013. St. Joseph Notre
Dame (13:12.48 - #8 NCS) and Half Moon Bay (13:27.37 - #2 CCS) also should be teams in the mix.
Boys Distance Medley Relay
Meet Record – Bellarmine – 2011 – 10:29.89
The boys DMR is going to be giant, so make sure you watch the exchange zones, especially after the 400m, and who says Track
isn’t a contact sport? St. Joseph Notre Dame is coming in the the current #25 time in the state with a sub 11 minute 10:53.85.
Gregoria (10:59.54 #2 SJS) and Armijo (11:03.45 #3 SJS) are going to be going at it head to head with a little San Joaquin
Section action taking place. And how can we not mention Bellarmine, who always has a large arsenal of talent to choose from.
Rumor has it that not only is there “A” trying to break the DDF record, but their “B” team is gunning for 2nd!
Bellarmine
Monte Vista
Bellarmine
Granite Bay
Petaluma
Boys – Distance Medley Relay – Girls
All-Time
10:29.89
‘11
Las Lomas
10:30.69
‘08
Los Altos
10:31.07
‘10
Livermore
10:32.71
‘14
Campolindo
10:32.89
‘08
Monte Vista
12:31.29
12:33.62
12:35.87
12:39.66
12:43.17
‘14
‘14
‘09
‘12
‘13