Drew Bosley's patience paid off in 2019.
When the Homestead (WI) High School senior stepped to the line of the WIAA Division I 1,600m final on Day 2 of the state track and field championships a year ago in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he had already won the 3,200m the day prior by five seconds.
But the 1,600m wouldn't come as easy.
Kimberly's Rowen Ellenberg established control at 800 meters and held on to the lead through three laps of the race before Bosley and Middleton's Caleb Easton began to position themselves.
Then came major decisions.
Easton opted against a late kick and began to push at 250 meters, taking a narrow lead.
Then came Ellenberg, who responded at the 200 meter mark and overcame Easton as the curve enveloped the trio along the rail.
Finally, as Bosley was waiting for as long as he could, he went at 150 meters, racing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ellenberg before the duo legged down the final straightaway.
But it was Bosley who had more left, and he ultimately took the title in 4:12.14, earning his sixth state track and field championship across the outdoor and cross counry seasons.
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Boys 1,600m Division I Results
DIVISION 1 BOYS 1600 METER RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT WIND H# 1 Drew Bosley 12 Homestead 4:12.14 2 2 Rowen Ellenberg 12 Kimberly 4:12.28 2 3 Caleb Easton 12 Middleton 4:14.59 2 4 Jake Krause 11 Hortonville 4:19.70 2 5 Matthew Meinke 12 Neenah 4:20.47 2 6 Gavin Kuhlenbeck 11 Sussex Hamilton 4:20.72 2 7 Henry Wellenstein 12 Wauwatosa East 4:21.28 1 8 Max Loetscher 12 Madison East 4:21.43 2
* Bosley's win in the 3,200m
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Retrospective: Bosley's wide-ranging success in high school was only the beginning. In his first year at NAU for the three-time defending NCAA champion Lumberjacks, Bosley became an All-American in cross country and was the first runner to cross the line for the team at the NCAA Championships. While NAU's bid to win its fourth straight title came up short, the program was second overall and Bosley -- who showed immense progress in his first season -- was a major reason for that. He ran in just three meets and finished 22nd overall at NCAAs, scoring a time of 31:10.8 at the 10K. He redshirted the indoor season -- which ultimately was ended before the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships due to preventative measures surrounding the coronavirus.
