RUNNER'S WORLD: ATHENS DUO LOOKING FOR STRONG FINISHES AT DISTRICTS (2024-10-16)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Athens will have two runners looking to have big finishes to the season. Senior Sara Bronson will be looking to finish her career on a high note, while sophomore Graham Wanck is just finding out how high he can go.

“It’s been a really good year,” Bronson said. “I’ve been able to run fast times and stay healthy, and there are lots of good girls in the NTL, and on our team, who push me.”

Bronson will be looking to go 4-for-4 in qualifying for the state meet, having finished no worse than tenth at the District IV, Class AA Championships, and finished best eighth in last year’s race.

“It’s a little sad but I’m also really excited because it’s my last, so that’s fun,” said Bronson. “And I still have four more years after this.”

The field for the Class AA race will be one of the toughest in the state, featuring state power Danville, along with several NTL runners looking to be in the mix.

“I definitely want to run just a good, solid race because I know that should be able to qualify me for states,” said Bronson. “I really want to push at districts to get prepared to run hard at states.”

Bronson would like to finish on that elusive state podium this season, but knows she’ll need to run an almost perfect race to get there. She’s’ hoping running against several state medalists at districts will help.

“It’s really good to gage where I’m at,” Bronson said. “There are lots of good girls to work with in the district, Danville has a really strong team, so there are a lot girls to stick around with to be able to run successfully.”

Wanck is just starting to get into the meat of his high school career, coming off a come from behind win at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational Saturday.

“Being mentally stronger, and I definitely gained some fitness from it,” Wanck said about what he took away from the tough race with NEB’s Creed Dewing. “I’m just going to go into districts with the same mentality, and just have respect for those older guys, and give it everything I’ve got.”

Wanck was the top freshman in the race a year ago, taking 13th overall as a state qualifier.

“Our state’s full of good competition,” Wanck said. “I learned just how to pace yourself through hillier races, and just to scout out what district and state courses look like so I can prepare myself for this year.”

It was a tough start to the season for Wanck, who started the season with a knee injury that forced him to miss the first dual meet.

“I had kind of a big setback, but I kind of just told myself, it is what it is,” he said. “Just put in the work and get back as soon as you can to help the team, and just to give everything you’ve got with the rest of the season.”

He’s excited to improve upon that 13th place finish in districts a year ago, and how that’ll help him to improve on his 53rd place finish at states in 2023.

“It definitely helps to sort of see which guys you’re going to be around,” said Wanck. “Those faster times are nice, especially after an injury.”

Print Friendly Version