Jake Klister couldn’t help taking a peek.
The Shawano Community High School senior was looking for Oconto Falls senior Mike Friedman as the two ran the last stretch of the Bay Conference boys varsity cross-country race Thursday.
Friedman, who had led the first half of the race and was Klister’s primary competition for the Bay Conference championship, was far enough behind for Klister to realize he had it.
“I looked over my shoulder quick to get a peek and saw the distance,” Klister said. “I couldn’t believe what was happening.”
Continuing to run, Klister looked to the sky and did a sign of the cross before crossing the finish line in 16 minutes, 51 seconds. Friedman finished six seconds behind Klister for second place.
“Words can’t describe it,” Klister said. “I just went out comfortably after the first mile, saw that Friedman was pulling away, and some voice in my head said, ‘Not today, not after three years of him beating me.’”
Heading into the race at Mid Vallee Golf Course in De Pere, Shawano coach Steve Stomberg told Klister that if he stuck with Friedman, he’d have a chance to outkick him at the end.
“I caught up to him after the 700 (meter mark),” Klister said. “I challenged him for a little bit. I surged and he didn’t come with me. I took it from there.”
Klister is Shawano’s first cross-country conference champion since Chris Culhane in 2007.
“We’ve talked about what he has to do to be at the top,” Stomberg said. “He’s worked hard all four years of high school for me. He’s had the goal to be the best that he can be, and he’s wanted to prove it. When it comes to hard work, dedication and stuff like that, he’s done a fantastic job.”
Klister helped the boys team finish second at the meet with a team score of 60, behind Oconto Falls (47), which won its fourth consecutive Bay championship.
Rounding out the Shawano scoring were junior Austin Lhotka, who finished fourth with a time of 17:13, followed by Andrew Cardish (10th, 17:35), Chase Lhotka (20th, 18:08) and Chandlar Fairbairn (25th, 18:26).
“It was a good race today,” Stomberg said. “I’m very proud of all of our guys. We have to look at what Oconto Falls has. They’re senior loaded with some outstanding runners who have put a lot of time and dedication into their program.”
Junior Teagan Monfils finished 12th in 21:03 to lead the Shawano girls, who took eighth with a team score of 198.
“She had that little injury,” Stomberg said. “That set her back about three weeks. She wasn’t running very well. She knew what she wanted to do and tried to give it her all.
“I was proud of her for coming back, and how she finished for us today,” Stomberg said.
SCHS junior Kristy Kurtz was 23rd, finishing in 21:52. She was followed by Sophia Holstrum (50th, 23:16), Savannah Johnson (56th, 23:37) and Elena Bohm (57th, 23:39).
“Our girls are young,” Stomberg said. “We have some outstanding girls and some outstanding boys coming up.”
Luxemburg-Casco (34) won the girls race, followed by West De Pere (60) and Marinette (121).
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