By David Paulsen
Correspondent
With sheer determination, Whitewater High School junior Brett Harms overcame a major physical obstacle to place fifth at the WIAA State Cross Country Championships held Saturday at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
Harms completed the 5,000-meter boys course in 16 minutes 5.32 seconds. Ryan McCoy of New Glarus/Monticello, won the Division 2 race in 15:28.30.
“Never running outside of the top six all race, Brett was able to do something that very few athletes can do which was to take himself to the fine line of consciousness and unconsciousness,” head coach Chad Carstens said. “In the last 400 meters, with the podium in limbo, Brett dug down for one final push and committed mentally as he charged up the final hill to the finish banner.
“Closing in on fourth place and meters from the finish line, Brett collapsed to the ground, but was able to get back up and cross the line in fifth place.”
Harms is the first Whippet to medal at state since Ben Maas won the individual title in 1995, the same year Whitewater last won a team title.
Carstens spoke with admiration of Harms’ effort at state.
“After being around competitive runners for over 16 years, I can’t recall the last time I saw someone take themselves to that limit,” Carstens said. “It wasn’t his physical ability or even his mental determination that would keep him from reaching his goal, but the involuntary choice of his body shutting down nearly prevented him from doing it.
“What Brett did was nothing short of gutsy, heroic, fearless, and synonymous with the heart of a champion.”
This was Harms’ third trip to state in as many years. Last year, he finished 11th. Besides medaling at state, Harms repeated as both the sectional champion and the Rock Valley Conference champion
