Koebel cracks the top five

The fastest cross country runner in the history of Port Washington High School ran the best race of his career at his final meet, and he has a new accessory to go with it.

Senior Jameson Koebel finished fifth and earned a medal in the Division 2 state meet at Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, completing the 5-kilometer course in 16 minutes, 2.6 seconds, which is 45 seconds quicker and 23 places better than last season.

“Getting top five at state was quite the excitement, for sure. I am still shocked as of now, but I know I had more than what it took to get top 10,” Koebel said.

He was a second from Winneconne’s Grant Wenzelow, who was fourth. The top three finishers beat the 16-minute mark. Rice Lake’s Carter Kucko won in 15:45.6. Berlin’s Thoms McCarthy was second in 15:53.2, and Stoughton’s Elijah Wood was third in 15:57.9. All top five finishers are seniors.

“The race went perfectly to plan. I opened up the first mile at 5:00 flat and passed plenty of guys that went out too quick, and I took advantage of every downhill,” Koebel said.

“My strategy was to keep my head clear of anything negative and really focus on visualizing how my race goes. Coach Mark Pasten does an amazing job of coaching me on how to remain calm and realize my true potential.”

“Jameson had an incredible state race. I don’t think he could have hoped for a much higher place,” Pasten said.

“Going in, I thought top 10 would be a great accomplishment. His placement throughout the race was excellent. He was in 16th place at the mile, seventh place at the two-mile and then able to move up two places in the third mile. He was locked in and performed his best when the stakes were the highest.”

Koebel started running in fifth grade and fell in love with the sport at the starting line.

“Running pushes me to be the best version of myself, and it allows me to take any stress away from any given thing. It’s a sport that has truly grown on me,” he said.

Koebel, who broke the school record at the Port Invite at Tendick Park in the Town of Saukville this season, leaves a legacy for future Pirates to shoot for. He was a four-time letterwinner, a team captain and was named to the all-state second team.

“To hold the title of the fastest distance runner in Port’s history is mind boggling, absolutely crazy to think, but it truly just goes to show that hard work really does pay off,” Koebel said. “Especially because running is something that takes years and years of consistent hard work and dedication to get remotely good at it. And to be up with the best of the best is a feeling I can’t explain.”

Koebel continued the Pirates’ excellence at state. Alex Anewenter was sixth last year when the entire team qualified and seventh as an individual before that.

The Pirates have a rich running history under their longtime coach.

Port won the Division 2 title in 2007 and got a second-place finish from Jack Hackett, now the Marquette University cross country coach. In 2008, Mark Allen won, Evan Ross was second, and the Pirates finished third.

Knepfel pushes through

Port’s girl qualifier, junior Ellie Knepfel, who also broke the school record this season and competes on the swim team as well, ran in her third state race and finished 30th in 19:58.3, 25 places and nearly 30 seconds better than last year.

“I was definitely a bit disappointed with how the meet went. I got sick a couple days out so that obviously sucked,” she said.

“I felt like the season could’ve gone a little better, but I’m OK with how it went overall. I’m very excited to see what I’ll do with track.”

Coach Joe Adamak said Knepfel “had an outstanding season and ran a strong race at the state meet. Her performance was consistent with her other races.”