This Kiel boys cross country runner is the fastest freshman in the state

Mishicot, Wisconsin – Kiel freshman boys cross country runner Austin Helms has quickly made an impact in his first year of high school athletics. Helms set a new school record of 16 minutes and 6.7 seconds in his very first varsity race, followed by shaving off six-tenths of a second at the Smiley Invitational in Wausau. He is not only breaking school records, but also holds the title of the fastest freshman boy runner in the state by nearly 40 seconds.

Kiel coach Tony Grybush is not surprised by Helms' success, as he has already shown great promise in middle school. Coach Grybush attributes Helms' talent to both his genes and his mental approach, as he knows how to challenge himself. Helms' biggest strength is his consistency, maintaining a hard and steady pace during races. Grybush believes that Helms understands the importance of proper training, as his father was a talented runner himself.

Helms' early accomplishments make it difficult to predict the full extent of his potential, but Grybush is confident in his abilities and looks forward to seeing what the future holds.