Manitowoc Lincoln senior Natalie Portmann has put herself among one of the school’s elite cross-country runners by qualifying for the WIAA State Cross Country Meet to be run on Saturday at Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
She ran the 5K (kilometer) course at Meadow Links Golf Course in Manitowoc last Saturday in a time of 18:43, the second fastest of her career, which was good for a fourth-place finish at last weekend’s WIAA Division One Sectional meet.
Ships Head Coach Michael Bubolz tells SeehaferNews.com that Natalie is indeed a very special student-athlete.
“What a unique opportunity to get to do this for four years, for an athlete to have that sustained success for one, but it really speaks to her drive to be the very best she can possibly be in everything she does,” he said with a smile. “It truly speaks of who she is as a person.”
Last Saturday’s field was loaded as last year’s state champion (Neenah) and runners-up (Slinger) were in the field, along with Kimberly, who’s sending three individuals to state.
Portmann says she loves competing against the best.
“I get really excited to compete against the very best,” she told SeehaferNews.com. “I try to get a feel for who is around me, then just deal with it as the race evolves.”
Coach Bubolz says that it’s a joy to coach Natalie and watch her grow from someone relying on just pure God-given talent as a freshman to becoming a top-notch, mentally mature competitor.
“Each of the years after that, she kept building on that experience to improve mentally on how to maintain her level of success,” he revealed. “I believe the turning point was her junior year when she realized that she had the ability to prepare both mentally and physically to become one of the best to run at Lincoln High School. “
Portmann says her time in high school has just flown by with the track and field season to look forward to in the spring.
We asked her how she’s approaching her final state cross country meet of her career.
“I just want to have fun, enjoy the day, and soak it all in,” she explained. “I’d like to finish in the top 20, but I just want to make sure that I truly understand what a great experience and blessing this is to run at the state meet.”
Natalie is scheduled to run with the rest of the Division One field at 3:05 on Saturday afternoon.
