Manny Putz clinched his inaugural WIAA individual cross country championship through a gutsy performance that saw him seal the race and secure victory by a mere fraction of a second.
In a remarkable second win, Onalaska High School’s head coach, Darin Shepardson, praised Manny’s strategic racing on that Saturday. Notably, Manny recorded the third-fastest Division 1 time in meet history.
Running as a junior, Manny maintained a tight formation with Stevens Point senior Aloysius Franzen and De Pere sophomore Grady Lenn for the initial two miles. He then broke away with around 1,000 meters left, achieving a swift separation and finishing in 15 minutes, 5.8 seconds. This assured him a comfortable win over second-placed Franzen, right at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids, a venue where he previously had to lunge at the finish line to secure a victory by a mere one-tenth of a second when he was a sophomore.
Reflecting on his performance, Manny humorously agreed with Shepardson’s assessment, saying, “I couldn’t agree more. I feel much better about this race. Last year, I ran a bit recklessly. I sprinted the first 800 meters in 2:04 and struggled for the rest of the race. This time, I approached the race with a more strategic mindset.”
Franzen crossed the finish line at 15:09.7, with Lenn following at 15:17. However, the trio spent most of the race running in close proximity. They were separated by two-tenths of a second after the first mile, with Manny in third place, and by three-tenths of a second, with Manny leading, after the two-mile mark.
Manny commented on the difference in this year’s race, “In past years, they’ve usually let me take the lead because no one else wants to be out front. This year was different as everyone started fast, and I allowed them to take the lead. I ran behind them, and it was a matter of taking the lead and maintaining it. Those who could stick with me did, and those who couldn’t, well, that’s how it goes.”
Franzen held on to Manny the longest, even when Manny increased the pace with around 1,000 meters remaining. Manny then surged ahead in the final 150 meters, leaving Franzen behind.
Despite some intimidation, Manny said, “I haven’t seen him too much, but I know his times, and I know he’s an incredible runner. I was a little intimidated, but I had a feeling my kick was a little better than his. I did my best to match his pacing, and I believe I had the best pacing I’ve ever had in a race. Pacing has been a challenge for me, but sticking with him until the last 150 meters of the race, I knew I had it.”
This win marked a unique season for Manny, who had missed the spring track and field season due to an injury and had to adapt his training accordingly. Despite the pressure as a defending champion, Manny mentioned that the target on his back did not affect his performance this season.
Coach Shepardson commended Manny, saying, “I’m so proud of him. When you come to these events, there’s a lot of hype and a big ‘X’ on your back as the defending champ. You have to be mentally strong to endure all of that and go out there and run your race. He did an outstanding job.”
Additionally, the Hilltoppers received strong performances from senior Blake Burnstad, who finished 13th, and junior Arlo White, who placed 43rd. Burnstad, a four-time qualifier and a key contributor to the championship team in 2021, recorded a time of 16:01.8. White, making his second state appearance, completed the race in 16:38.8.
