Thank you can go a long way.

When a young man by the name of Doug Fraley ended a track meet the way he always did — by thanking the officials — it jump started a relationship that is bringing a $1 million track to Fresno State.

The track will be laid down in the Save Mart Center for Monday̢۪s event, Run for the Dream, a track meet that will encompass high school, college and professional athletes.

Donated by Fred Arnold in memory of his late wife Madeleine, the track is built specifically for the Save Mart Center.

Arnold chose Fresno State for the generous contribution because of the relationship he established with the Fraley family after those words of appreciation spoken years ago.

The relationship goes both ways, too.

In 2005 after Mrs. Arnold developed breast cancer, the Fresno State track team members collected money at the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev.

“What we really had was our kids in an act of kindness,â€Â Fraley said. “Here it comes back to us.â€Â

With about 2,500 people at the conference, the track team took a few minutes and went through the crowd to collect money in Mrs. Arnold̢۪s name, Fraley said.

“We raised a little over $5,000 and I came back and donated it to California Cancer Center in Madeline Arnold’s name,â€Â he said.

During Monday̢۪s event, the new track will be dedicated in Mrs. Arnold̢۪s name.

In addition to the ceremony, there will be three different meets including a women̢۪s college meet, a high school meet and the Visa Series meet.

A four-way women̢۪s meet between Fresno State, Cal Poly, Hawaii and Cal State Stanislaus will start off the day.

Sarah Savage, a freshman pole vaulter is excited to participate in this event.

“It’s a lot of pressure from other teammates,â€Â she said. “It’ll be really interesting to see if first time records are going to be set on this track.â€Â

After the women̢۪s meet, high school athletes from around the state will compete in the California High School Dream Team Championships.

“The high school division brings in the best high school athletes in the state of California,â€Â Fraley said. “The best kids are coming to compete in a great opportunity.â€Â

The first and only other time this event took place was in 2005 when track and field was big in the San Joaquin Valley, Fraley said.

This year, as well as in 2005, the event is held on Martin Luther King Jr.̢۪s birthday. The name of the event was inspired by King̢۪s idea of dreaming and reaching to a new level, Fraley said.

Andrea Green, a sophomore pole vaulter, participated in the 2005 event as a high school student. This year she will participate at the college level.

“It’s a totally different level of competition, it’s pretty hardcore,â€Â she said. “[We’re] training all the time and it’s a lot of fun.â€Â

The million dollar track is an upgrade from the 43-year-old wooden track which was used in 2005 from the Los Angeles sports arena, Fraley said.

“It was very old, it was rickety,â€Â he said. “Man, it was a job to put together.â€Â

The new track will not only be easier to put together, but will bring positive things to Fresno State, Fraley said.

“[After] all the criticism [Fresno State] has endured in the last few months, here is a very positive story of where our kids reached out to somebody else and they come back and give us a million dollar track,â€Â he said.

The Visa Series event will be the last meet of the day and will include Olympic athletes from around the world.

USA vs. The World is part of the Visa Series which, Fraley said, is the highest level of track and there are only a few Visa Series meets.

The teams, which include Olympians, national champions and record-holding athletes, represent 13 countries.

Athletes will compete in seven individual events each for men and women, plus the 4x400m relay

“I want to see all the great Olympians that are coming, all these are amazing people,â€Â Savage said.

Former Bulldog Angela Daigle, along with Carmelita Jeter, will represent the USA against the World̢۪s Shandria Brown of the Bahamas and Natasha Myers in the 55m dash.

“There are a lot of pretty big competitors,â€Â Greenman said. “Elite vaulters are always fun to watch.â€Â

Doors are set to open at 8:30 a.m. with events going on throughout the day. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Save Mart Center box office.

“We need to get as many people out as possible,â€Â Fraley said. “USA track and field is the highest level of track and field in the United States.â€Â