WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Onalaska High School senior Manny Putz won his third straight WIAA Division 1 individual cross country championship on Saturday.
The University of Wisconsin commit held off the challenge of De Pere’s Grady Lenn and crossed the finish line in 15 minutes, 7.5 seconds to win the race at The Ridges Golf Course for the third consecutive time.
Lenn was second in 15:09.2.
Putz also helped the Hilltoppers win a Division 1 team championship as a freshman, meaning this is the fourth time he has walked away from the meet with a title.
“Initially, I wanted to start off with the goal of that course record, but my coach (Darin Shepardson) changed my perspective a little bit,” Putz said in reference to Chris Solinsky’s 14:54 in 2002. “Finishing first was the most important thing. If the course record came with that great, but I had to run to win instead of going after the record.”
Lenn made sure Putz did that as the two exchanged the lead several times throughout the race. Putz said they were never more than a few feet apart until he made his final kick with about 800 meters remaining.
“This was no easy win,” Putz said. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel any pain.
“But once I got up that big hill, I knew Grady wasn’t going to catch me.”
Putz and Lenn have enjoyed a long and friendly rivalry through high school and offseason races. They know each other well, and Putz knew exactly what he needed to do to post another victory over his rival.
“I knew he’d probably want to go out fast in the first mile to tire me out, but I knew that staying with him and running second would show him I’m still there would help me in the last mile,” Putz said.
The next focus comes quickly for Putz, who will run in the Nike Cross Country Heartland Regional in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Nov. 10. That gives him a week to train and be ready to qualify for the national meet Dec. 7 in Portland, Oregon.
