Drossin Can’t Forget Roots

Deena Drossin won the 10,000 meters in the World University Games in August, the USA Track & Field cross-country championships in December and placed 20th in the World cross-country meet in Marrakech, Morocco, in March, but she has not forgotten where she came from.

Just ask Agoura High cross-country Coach Bill Duley, who guided Drossin to a combined total of five state titles in cross-country and track during her career at Agoura from 1987-91.

Duley and former Simi Valley High standout John Spilman recently opened a running apparel and shoe store in Agoura Hills and prominently displayed in the store is a glassed-framed singlet that Drossin wore while winning her first national cross-country title in Portland last year.

Below the green, black and white singlet are the words:

“Bill Duley. Thank you for molding me in this sport that has given me so much in return.

“Signed, Deena M. Drossin.”

Drossin, who lives in Alamosa, Colo., gave the gift to Duley last month when she ran in the Mt. San Antonio College Relays.

“Bill has been such a wonderful coach,” said Drossin, 25. “Even when I was [at the University of Arkansas] and after I was out of college, he helped me a lot. So I wanted to do something to say thanks. . . . I just wanted to let him know how much he’s done for me.”

Duley, 41, said he was shocked when he unwrapped Drossin’s gift and calls it one of the nicest things anyone has ever given him.

“It makes you feel good to know that your work is appreciated,” he said.

Duley coached Drossin, his stepson Bryan Dameworth, Amy Skieresz and Ryan Wilson to a combined total of 12 individual state titles in cross-country and track at Agoura.

The Chargers won three consecutive state Division I girls’ cross-country titles from 1990-92, yet Drossin’s appreciation seems to rank right up there with those victories.

“She’s the type of person to do something like this,” Duley said. “She’s always been very good about letting people know that she cares about them.”