Nate Bilben, a 2022 WKHS graduate, competed for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Cross Country meet in Prescott, WI on Satur-day, October 28th.Â
Nate is in his second season with the Blugolds, but this is the first season he earned a varsity spot for the conference meet. The Blugolds have a long tradition of outstanding runners, including multi-All-Americans. The men’s team races 24 runners all season, but only the top 12 runners make the varsity lineup for conference. The roster will get shortened even more for the Regional competition in a few weeks. UWEC competes D-III where the men race an 8k (4.97 miles).
The WIAC is one of the toughest D-III conferences in the nation.
Nate, who has been battling multiple injuries since last year’s outdoor track season, worked hard in the off-season to overcome those injuries. Last week he had a time trial 5k race to qualify for the last varsity spot. His previous 5k PR with the Blugolds was 17:01, but this time he skipped right over the 16:00s to run a 15:57 at the time trial to earn his conference roster spot.
This performance earned Nate his second Athlete of the Week award for the Blugolds. His first one came last year during the indoor track season. Nate’s 8k PR is 27:46
Nate and the Blugolds have one more race at Luther College in Decorah, IA before heading into Regional competition. He will have time trials in late November to qualify for the indoor track season. The depth on the Blugolds Cross Country and Track teams is so deep that runners have to try out for a roster spot every season, regardless if they were on the team the previous year or not. Nate is looking to earn a roster spot for the 800m, 1500m, and the 3000m. Nate Bilben is a Kinesiology major at UWEC.
