This year has been one for the record books! With so many great races, events, and of course performances, we had to take our time compiling this list. Check out all the moments here and let us know what you think about it both in our poll (to be listed when #1 is released) and via #MileStatTop25
#23: 4A North XC Showdown between Libby Davidson & Weini Kelati!
Nothing was more exciting, matchup wise then the 4A North Regional between Libby Davidson and Weini Kelati. Below is our recap right after the race and looking back at this race and knowing that both made it to FootLocker Nationals makes it that much better!
The race of the century was just that, the race of the century. Though Seufer ran a very impressive time, the real stars of the meet and the entire regional week were Weini Kelati and victorious Libby Davidson who showed just how good they are.
In what was billed to be the race of the decade, we got just that... the race of the decade. From the start it was clear that this was a two girl race. Up the first large hill we could see Weini Kelati use her speed to open a sizeable lead at the start. She made it up the hill and around the loop and then back down the hill to come through the Mile mark at 5:10!
After the Mile Weini actually opened up her lead from 10 seconds to closer to 15 or 20 seconds but seemingly at the half-way point Libby began to make sure she was still within contact of Weini. Though Libby made that move, Weini still remained 7 seconds ahead at the start of the hill. It wasn't until 2/3 of the way up the hill that the gap began to shrink and it shrank fast. If you watch the video, you can see the lead shrink step by step until Libby finally took the lead rounding the bend.
Before the meet when Libby saw the hill she said to her coach- "Hill? That's more of a mound" and if you saw her getting stronger up that hill you believe it too. Though let's be clear, that was a very large hill and nothing to play around with.
After the hill these two girls remained even through the 2 Mile mark at 11:10 adding a minute to their very fast first Mile. We were unable to see anything for the next half mile but we know after that that Libby opened a lead that got to 40 meters at the top of the downhill. Libby made sure though to not relinquish any of that precious ground and stormed all the way down that hill to sprint down the final stretch and finish in an impressive 17:43 to shatter the course record. Her performance was simply impressive.
Finishing 16 seconds later and suffering her first loss of the season was Weini Kelati. To put this in perspective, Weini has lost to only two Americans ever... Mary Cain and Libby Davidson. Everyone else that has tried has come up short. Though she lost today, she still has quite a few more shots at Libby at States, Foot Locker and potentially Foot Locker Nationals. On a flatter course this will definetly be a different race.