Size. Economy of Scale. Today I celebrate diminutive excellence!
Kaci Lickteig had, in your scribe’s opinion, one of the best races of her life at this past weekend’s Western States 100. Clare Gallagher (1st, 17:23:25,) and Brittany Peterson (2nd, 17:24:29) were the only females to finish in front of the “Pixie Ninja.” Kaci (3rd, 17:55:55)becomes only the 2nd woman ever to break 18 hours twice on the storied course. Everybody’s pre race favorite Jim Walmsley led all finishers in a course record 14:09:28. Local masters stud Todd Nott (55 years old) cracked the top 100 and the 24 hour mark finishing 97th in 23:17:25, pretty amazing stuff there fella!
Madison Scott trekked to Milwaukee for the AAU Regional Championships. She ran tough in the 8 & Under category bringing home a Silver on Saturday in the 800 (3:01). It was Sunday’s 1500 that showed me the Size of her Heart though. “The Waifenator” was in a tight lead pack (Rubbing’s Racing!) through the 400 before taking a solid nudge and tumbling to the track. Momentarily stunned she took inventory and watched the pack pull away. Bowled over and bloodied, but not bowed! Madison got up, chased down the pack, and ended up with her second Silver of the weekend in a hard earned 6:13. On to North Carolina for the AAU National Championships in a few weeks!
Kaci’s return from major surgery has been nothing less than inspiring to her legions of followers, and to me. Cementing her legacy as one of the greatest ultra females not only from Nebraska but anywhere!
Tough Enough! I could not be prouder of Madison, her experience on the oval in Milwaukee a necessary curriculum for any seriously competitive track athlete. Already the Nebraska 8 & under record holder for 400 (1:21), 800 (3:00) and 1500 (6:00). She is The Future of Distance Running in Nebraska. Heart, the one variable you can’t coach, both Kaci and Madison have that special something that surfaces just once in a generation.
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