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Donny Wasinger thinks of nothing; he just focuses.
Both have their own ways to prepare, yet both share one thing in common: they want to win.
Heath, a senior at Winona Senior High School, and Wasinger, a junior at Cotter, are the two best runners in Winona. In fact, they are two of the best runners in the state.
Both have been to state multiple times in cross country and track. And despite their experience, there’s no real way to prepare for a race of such magnitude.
They would like to pretend there is, but, in describing race strategy, all Heath and Wasinger seem to do is run in circles. Which is about the only strategy needed when it comes to running around the track multiple times.
Heath likes to envision the race. Think of all the scenarios. Picture what he would do in each and go out and do that.
Wasinger focuses before a race — there’s no telling what’s going through his mind. In the race, he likes to be in control and know when he’s going to make that push.
A race strategy in end-of-the-year meets is about as useful as what’s said about those races.
Every state race has the clichés:
The clichés are comical, maybe because they are always used.
Of course there are talented runners. It’s state.
Yes, the runners always go out fast. It’s state. They are fast.
Will it come down to the end? Hopefully, that’s where the finish line is.
The only cliché that really makes sense is the last one. Then again, everyone knows what’s going to happen: someone is going to win and others will follow.
“At big meets like state, there is a lot more improvising than an overall race strategy,” Heath said. “Eventually (the speed of the race) picks up and someone is going fast. You go through the scenarios in your head, but there are no specifics. You just feel it out.”
Eventually, everything is just thrown out the window and it’s the most primitive instinct that takes over. In other words, you just run.
“You kind of just go with the flow,” Wasinger said. “You can say you’re going to do this or that, but the race doesn’t normally go that way and you just find a way to get it done.”
This is Heath’s last run for a state championship.
He was the 3,200-meter Class 2A champion last year and has the same idea in mind again.
“It’s one of the goals at the start of the year,” Heath said. “I know there are quite a few guys out there with the same goal, but it’s one I’ve been focused on throughout the season and will continue to be.”
Wasinger has the same kind of plan, only he wants to win the 1,600. He took second at state last year in the 3,200.
Heath has the third-best time in the 3,200 (9:07.94) and is atop the Class 2A honor roll in the 1,600 (4:10.29). He took third at state last year in the 1,600.
Wasinger has the top time in Class 1A in the 1,600 (4:24.24), second in the 800 (1:58.99) and third in the 3,200 (9:38.48).
As of right now, he has no idea what other race he’s going to run. Athletes can only run in two events of 800 meters or more.
Wasinger’s bid to state will take place at the Section 1A meet on May 29 and 31 at Stewartville High School. Heath’s section meet is May 31 and June 2 at Carleton College.
The state championships are June 8-9 at Hamline University in St. Paul.
