Dawson school students got a kick when Thomas Valles, one of the high school cross country runners who served as inspiration for the film, McFarland USA, came for a visit. The former high school athlete gave a motivational talk this past Wednesday to about 60 sixththrough 12th-grade students in the school gymnasium. “He just came and gave a really motivational speech to our kids,” said Dawson school superintendent Layne Sheets. “It was really good for those kids to hear his story and about the challenges he had to overcome. Kids loved him.” The film depicts the true story of how a coach taught ...