Kyle Dawson waited over a year to race again.
It was worth the wait, especially for Penn State.
Kyle Dawson would probably trade exercise-induced anything for the form of exercise-enhanced condition he has known as Rhabdomyolysis.
All photos from Mid-Atlanice Regionals courtesy of Ryan Comstock
The condition cost him a red-shirt year in the 2007-08 season; not a bad thing as a freshman distance runner. Worse, it nearly cost him a real season of eligibility this cross country season.
But thanks to his own never-say-quit attitude, and the persistence of his parents, coaches and the medical and training staffs at Penn State University and other institutions they have consulted – the Penn State men's cross country team earned an automatic berth with their 2nd place at the Mid-Atlantic Regionals. The Lions will be competing in the NCAA Division I National Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana on Monday... their first trip to the big show since 1994.
Basically, in Dawson's type of Rhabdomyolysis, the breakdown of muscle is most evident after workouts and races. The muscle releases myoglobin into the bloodstream. The buildup can damage the kidneys. (See more below for details from Wikpedia, along with links).
The bottom line is, exercise doesn't help. But if you know Kyle, then you know there is no backing down in the man. Ever.
In high school, Dawson was the #1 guy on the 2006 PIAA State Champion Coatesville team that would go on to shock the cross country establishment with a team win at the 3rd Nike Team Nationals. The personality of that team – who many in PA consider the best in the history of the state – was one of no mercy in any race. It didn't matter if it was a dual meet or a huge invitational – the 'Men of Black' as they were tagged, simply ran over and through anything in their way, from the weather and terrain, to the competition.
Kyle Dawson was considered the heart of that team. If you gave anything less than your best, you had to face Kyle at the end of the race. The team was relentless.
Dawson was first diagnosed with the condition during cross country between the state meet and Nike Team Nationals in 2006. He was seen at a hospital in Philadelphia, and advised against continued running.
Kyle chose to run.
But when he arrived at Penn State University, the medical staff has to sign off on every athlete. Because the condition was exacerbated by exercise, Dawson was shut down for cross country. And indoor track. And outdoor track.
But Dawson was determined, and during each of those lost seasons during his freshman year, he continued to train on his own.
And according to Penn State head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan, Dawson upped his mileage during that year from the 50's and 60's, to the 70's and 80's. "Being on my own kind of made the training easier," says Dawson, "because all I had to do was train."
But as his freshman year turned into his sophomore year, the pressure mounted to find an answer, and to get Dawson the medical clearance necessary to compete. But the fact that there were no symptoms after normal distance runs – only following workouts – kept the medical staff wary of giving the OK.
Dawson says they visited both Hershey Medical Center and two of the top enzyme specialists in the US at Columbia University, and that everyone was a bit stumped. "They said that with the muscle burning, I should not be in the shape I'm in or run as fast as I can," Dawson says. They also told him that he should be experiencing severe cramping and pain after such exertion.
He doesn't.
Dawson thought he might be cleared in time for the team's trip to Oregon to the Bill Dellinger Invitational on October 4th. It didn't work out. Dawson says the docs were trying to let him run in a race situation to use as a test, and had been doing blood tests after workouts. Failing to get cleared for the Oregon meet was just another frustration for Dawson. And kinda a low point.
"We were getting a little worried coming into this year that he would not make it back," shares Coach Sullivan. "But our own staff and the specialists worked it out, and he's back."
Dawson's first official race was two weeks later at the home Penn State National Invitational on October 17th. His coach says he has a race confidence about him that most freshmen don't possess – a trait he shares with true freshman, and teammate Vince McNally (Conestoga Valley) (Left nearing end of race) . So Sullivan was not surprised when Dawson led the team to a 2nd place finish behind Georgetown, and ahead of Vlllanova. Dawson's 5th place finish of 25:24 was a spectacular debut on the 5.2 mile course.
The stage was set for the Big 10 Championships on November 2nd in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Coach Sullivan didn't entirely know what to expect in such a high pressure meet, but was only mildly surprised by Dawson's 5th place finish. He hoped to finish in the top 10, and was clearly happy with his place. He was first on the team for the 2nd meet in a row, and Penn State finished 4th behind three nationally ranked teams, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. They also beat Indiana, who was ranked one spot ahead of them.
And for his efforts, Dawson was named the Big 10 Freshman of the Year.
Following the Big 10 race, Sullivan says they began to focus on not just getting an at-large invitation to NC's, but getting one of the two automatic bids. With US#8 Georgtown a clear favorite in the Mid-Atlantic Region, that meant capturing 2nd ahead of previously ranked Villanova.
Race day produced a course at Princeton University that was at best, a slog-fest through the mud. Dawson got out well. At two miles, he was near the front of a very large pack. But by four miles, Dawson says his legs started to tighten up. And fellow frosh McNally had just moved past him. Both were still in the front pack. "Vince took over the first spot, which we needed," Dawson says. "I got caught in no-man's land. There was a Georgetown guy ahead of me who kept surging trying to catch the front pack. And there was a Princeton guy behind me, and I didn't want to let anyone else pass."
Coach Sullivan keeps Dawson focused on offence, rather than defense.
Coach Sullivan says that seeing that scenario unfold, and knowing Dawson was having a little bit of trouble, she had to make a choice between helping him focus in front, or run not to get passed. She chose the former. "That helped me focus on trying to catch the Georgetown guy," Dawson shared. "That was what kept me in it."
Added Sullivan, "that was one of the most impressive races I have seen. Both Vince and Kyle. And especially from freshmen."
With the solid 2nd place in hand, Sullivan says the team has again refocused on a new goal. "I told them, we're not going to be happy with just making it there, and if they all race like they've been doing for the past three meets, we could get in the top 20."
And both Sullivan and Dawson are quick to point out that this team is dominated by home-grown PA talent. In addition to McNally and Dawson, the varsity includes three walk-ons: Tyler McCandless, a senior (Northampton, '05); John Mahoney, a senior, (Council Rock South, '05); and Dennis O'Connor, a senior, (Archbishop Ryan, '05). Recruited red-shirt senior Brian Fuller; (Cumberland Valley, '04); ran 5th for the team at their big home meet, and 3rd for the team at the Big 10 Championships. And Teddy Quinn of New York's Rush-Henrietta HS? "They call him 'the foreigner,' says Sullivan.
"This proves that PA kids don't have to go out of state to get in a good XC program," says Dawson.
And Sullivan says that even though they are losing some top seniors, the current roster has the talent to step in next year to complement the two front-runners, and hopefully, duplicate the success of this year's squad.
But first there's the matter of taking care of business at an NCAA Division I Championships.
After what Dawson endured just for the right to race, the best competition of his life will surely seem like a welcome relief.
Rhabdomyolysis is the rapid breakdown (lysis) of skeletal muscle tissue (rhabdomyo) due to injury to muscle tissue. The muscle damage may be caused by physical (e.g. crush injury), chemical, or biological factors. The destruction of the muscle leads to the release of the breakdown products of damaged muscle cells into the bloodstream; some of these, such as myoglobin, are harmful to the kidney and may lead to acute kidney failure. Treatment is with intravenous fluids, and dialysis or hemofiltration if necessary. MORE FROM WIKPEDIA...
Myoglobinuria is the presence of myoglobin in the urine, usually associated with rhabdomyolysis or muscle destruction. Myoglobin is present in muscle cells as a reserve of oxygen. MORE FROM WIKPEDIA...