Last spring, Ali won the Central League 100- and 200-meter dash races, won the Delaware County championship in the 400-meter dash and district championship in the 100. Ali was still unsure about the state championship, but Flanagan knew.
"There was no doubt Lydia was going to win, I knew it, and I remember telling Lydia before the state championship race that I knew she was nervous and all the other girls were nervous, too — they were nervous about her," Flanagan said. "Lydia is running well again. She has one of the top times in the state in the 100 and 200. She's working harder than she's ever worked. Being the defending state champion is always tough. The last few years Lydia's been a big-meet runner. She runs well when that pressure is on in big meets."
Ali made Radnor school history by becoming the first girl to win the state 100-meter dash. She's set, after committing to Penn on Dec. 10. The funny thing is that her friend that suggested track to her never went out herself.
It's led to a wonderland — Ali has to blink sometimes to realize where she is, which is among the best in the country. It comes with some pressure, but it's pressure Ali is ready for.
Being related to "The Greatest" presents its own built-in tension, though Lydia talks little about it. She's had little to no contact with the former heavyweight champion.
"I met Ali a few times and it was pretty special," Lydia said. "We're related through my mother and I think it is kind of special to carry the Ali name."
She feels a far greater weight carrying on the title of defending state champion.
"I definitely feel the pressure is there; it's motivated me even more to take that one extra step," Ali said. "It would really mean a lot to me to repeat — it's my one big goal. Even getting out of districts will feel great again."
This time, however, everyone will be targeting Ali.
Joseph Santoliquito can be contacted at JSantoliquito@yahoo.com.
