We remember those Old Westerns. Out on the lonesome prairie, the cowboys sipping coffee while the herd quietly mills around munching food, drinking creek water, until something catches their attention. A cougar yell, ominous storm clouds or the rattle of a snake; something sets them on edge. They stand as if frozen, heads up, eyes wide open, nervous and poised to run. Someone drops a pan or accidentally discharges a gun, any sudden noise and the stampede is on. The earth reverberates with pounding hooves, cowboys yell, they run for their horses, the panicked herd disappears out of sight.

Today it's not panicky longhorns we witness but nervous guys at the State Cross Country Meet. One gunshot and 152 of the best D2 athletes sprint off the starting line. Less than five minutes later a pack of ten front runners passes the first mile. The herd is now sprinkled out into small groups with the last boys passing the marker in six minutes. Our New Glarus-Monticello Tom Nelson gallops past in 5:07 and 25th place. The fast pace is appropriate as the course at the Ridges Country Club in Wisconsin Rapids is flat and smooth in the beginning. Holding this pace is difficult and Tom slips to 38th as he turns over a 5:55 on the hilly second mile. The third mile is as challenging as the second, but most runners go a bit faster knowing that the finish will soon be in sight. Tom holds the same pace for the third, about 5:58, but in the last 200 meters his overall position slips to 59th as less tired competitors sprint past. Final time is a respectable, but not fastest of the season, 17:37.4.

Senior Joseph Stoddard of Mt. Horeb wins in 15:54.7, finishing 9 seconds ahead of the second runner. Joseph demonstrates the advantage the fastest athletes have as he easily won most of his races this year, including Conference and Sectionals. For our NGM star Tom Nelson, he raced at his maximum all season. His strong showing at Conference propelled us to the Conference Championship. At Sectionals he needed to finish as one of the top athletes in order to qualify for the spot at the State Meet. Many athletes find it difficult to turn over their fastest time at the end of a grueling season. Nonetheless the excitement of competing against the best with thousands of spectators and cheered on by a busload of parents and team members is a significant reward. This is Tom's fourth year racing at the State Meet. He helped get the boys team to State for the last three years as one of our top runners and qualified as an individual this, his senior, year. Thank you, Tom Nelson.