One last run

Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 state boys cross-country race will be an end of an era for the Bonduel High School cross-country program.

It’ll be the last race for senior Sam Falck, a three-time state qualifier. It will also be the last cross-country race coached by Jim Watry, who decided before the season started that this will be his last year coaching both cross-country and track and field.

Watry has coached cross-country at Bonduel for the last seven years. He had conference championship teams in 2008 and 2013, and had state-qualifying teams in 2012 and 2013. Bonduel has had at least one state qualifier every year under Watry.

Watry wasn’t getting nostalgic yet with Falck still preparing for the last race.

“I don’t really think that kind of stuff sinks in until after it’s over,” Watry said. “Probably next fall, when things would start to kick back up, that’s when you notice you miss things.”

Falck and his coach, as they have the prior two seasons, are focused on a race that will pit Falck against the state’s best high school runners at Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

“We kind of know what to expect,” Watry said. “We’ve been there three years in a row. We’re kind of in a routine. We’re trying to stick to our routine and hopefully it pays off.”

The two will leave Bonduel at 10:30 a.m. Friday, stop for lunch in Stevens Point, get set up at their hotel, then go for a run. They’ll pick up shirts for the meet at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School, where there will also be a dinner held.

“We’ll try to get a good night’s sleep, and then we’re up and at ‘em early in the morning,” Watry said.

The Division 3 boys race is the first of the day at 11:30 a.m.

“Conditions are going to be cold, which he tends to like colder weather,” Watry said. “We’re hoping things work out in our favor there.”

Falck finished 69th overall in the race his sophomore year. He improved to 21st last year, finishing with a personal best time of 17:05.

Watry hopes Falck can make another jump this year.