Athens senior racing toward his goals

ATHENS – Josh Langteau’s competitive running career began in the sixth grade. He initially didn’t think it would last long.

“I thought I was slow,” the Athens senior said.

How times have changed.

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Langteau owns the school record in the boys 1,600 meters — a time of 4 minutes, 35.63 seconds, which he set last month and eclipsed the program mark that he set as a sophomore by two seconds.

He is hoping to snap another record this spring before he graduates. Langteau is vying to break the program record in the 3,200 — a time of 10:02.98 set by Jeff Draper in 1981.  It is the third oldest record for the Athens boys track team, and one that Langteau is fast approaching.

“I want to break 10 minutes,” said Langteau, whose season best is a time of 10:28.44.

He also hopes to take down the program mark in the 800 — a time of 2:03.94 set by Adam Wassmann in 2013. Langteau’s fastest time is 2:04.

It’s not the only goal that Langteau hopes to hit this spring before he ends his prep career and heads to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to run cross county. He hopes to qualify for the WIAA state track meet for the third straight season. He also qualified for the state cross county meet for the third straight year last fall and finished 14th overall in the Division 3 boys race at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

He made his commitment to the Phoenix program official last last month. Langteau will be the second member of his family to run for the UW-Green Bay cross county program, following in the footsteps of his older sister, Heidi.

He recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about his senior season goals, his decision to run for UW-Green Bay and his love of fishing, among other topics.

You have mentioned that you felt you were a late bloomer as a runner. When did you feel that you were starting that transition to where you are now? In sixth grade I was kind of slow, but once I got into seventh-grade year, I started getting in the top five in most every race. In eighth grade, I starting winning most of the races. From there I just kept getting better and better.

What is the biggest enjoyment you get from running? I just like being in the outdoors. Sure, people think it’s a lot of work and training, but once you get into it, it’s a lot of fun. It also takes some stress off you.

Do you prefer cross county more than track? Yeah. I feel like a hamster going in circles (in track).  I like cross country and running in the woods, especially when the leaves are turning.

What was your offseason training like? It was Jan. 1 when I really started pushing the training up through the start of track. I also ran all summer (for cross county training). In July and August I was running about 70 miles a week. Right now I’m running about 55 to 60 miles (a week).

Were there some other colleges that you looked at, or was UW-Green Bay your top choice from the start? Green Bay kind of was. My family went there and they have a good biology program and that’s what I want to go into — marine biology. I am going there for that and cross country is a bonus.

What got you interested into marine biology? I have a strong passion for fishing and for fish and other species in the water. That’s where I want to be, in the ocean or wherever.

Where is your favorite place to fish? I go to different lakes. I like to trout fish, that’s my thing. There is a trout stream about five miles from the house so I will drive down there.

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or twjohnson@gannett.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11

JOSH LANGTEAU

School: Athens

Year: Senior

Sport: Track and cross county

Family: Father, Steve; mother, Kathy; sisters Heidi and Tiffany.

Favorite subject: Shop. I like woodworking and have a little bit of fun in that class.

Favorite movie: The “Never Back Down” movies because I’m in karate, too, and those are kind of nice. I’m a brown belt and hoping to get my black this summer. My favorite running (theme) movie is “Prefontaine”