GRINNELL, Iowa - When Patrick Klein answered his phone Saturday morning prior to his last collegiate races, he heard the voice of his father, Paul Klein.
"He told me win or lose, that he and my mother (Bonita) were proud of me and that when I get on the track for the last time, just to take a minute and look around and take it all in," Patrick Klein said.
"He said to take a minute and realize how hard I worked to get to that point."
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville athlete and Monroe High School alumnus did just that. Then he went out and had a race to remember at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at Grinnell College.
Klein followed his strategy and ran nearly a perfect race in finishing second in the 1,500-meter championship, earning his fourth Indoor All-American honor in a standout career for the Pioneers.
Wabash College's Kevin McCarthy won with a time of 4 minutes, 8.93 seconds while Klein was next in 4:10.36.
UW-Oshkosh's Reid Zanoya, a freshman from Monticello, also earned All-American honors by running the anchor leg for the Titans' 1,600 relay team that finished fifth in 3:19.82. Monroe graduate Stephanie Wyss, a sophomore at UW-Platteville, competed in her second straight NCAA Indoors and ran the third leg on the Pioneers' 1,600 relay squad that placed ninth in 3:55.42.
Klein said he led for much of the mile final before McCarthy passed him with about 200 meters left and outkicked him to the finish.
"I gave it the beans, but he had some speed I was hoping he didn't have," said Klein, whose previous best NCAA finish was fourth in the mile in 2010.
"He came up to me afterward and said it was a classic race. He said he was glad I (set the pace) and that we really got after it."
Just 90 minutes later, Klein finished 13th in the 5,000 meters in 15:17.20.
Klein's focus was on the mile, and he said his finishing kick has never been his strength. He and Pioneers distance coach Tom Antczak decided his best option in the final was pushing the pace early.
When the runner who led the opening lap slowed down, Klein was ready.
"I realized it was time to go," he said. "I passed him and just took off. Historically, nobody takes off that early in the mile. It felt like they were hesitant to go with me, that maybe they thought I didn't know what I was doing."
Klein's plan almost worked, as only McCarthy had the stamina to run him down.
"I didn't win, but knowing that I'm national championship-caliber is pretty cool," he said.
Having exhausted his outdoor eligibility in 2011, Klein opted to return to school this year largely due to his desire to add an NCAA championship to his decorated collegiate career.
While he fell just short, he is thrilled with his final indoor season.
"I have no regrets, really. Maybe I could have got out faster the first couple of laps, but if you play the 'What if' game, you're going to go crazy. I gave it all I had and walked away proud from that performance."
Klein said Monroe High athletic director and cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner and Antczak each had a profound impact on his success and said he met a lot of great people in the sport.
He said he enjoyed a bit of star treatment at nationals, too.
"I was sitting there on Saturday and guys came up from colleges across the nation - I have no idea who they are - and they're saying, 'Patrick, that was a great final you ran. Good job.' I don't think there's any other activity I could have picked where something like that might happen.
"I'm very satisfied," Klein added. "I'm just satisfied knowing I put so much effort into something and it just turned out so well."
"He told me win or lose, that he and my mother (Bonita) were proud of me and that when I get on the track for the last time, just to take a minute and look around and take it all in," Patrick Klein said.
"He said to take a minute and realize how hard I worked to get to that point."
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville athlete and Monroe High School alumnus did just that. Then he went out and had a race to remember at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at Grinnell College.
Klein followed his strategy and ran nearly a perfect race in finishing second in the 1,500-meter championship, earning his fourth Indoor All-American honor in a standout career for the Pioneers.
Wabash College's Kevin McCarthy won with a time of 4 minutes, 8.93 seconds while Klein was next in 4:10.36.
UW-Oshkosh's Reid Zanoya, a freshman from Monticello, also earned All-American honors by running the anchor leg for the Titans' 1,600 relay team that finished fifth in 3:19.82. Monroe graduate Stephanie Wyss, a sophomore at UW-Platteville, competed in her second straight NCAA Indoors and ran the third leg on the Pioneers' 1,600 relay squad that placed ninth in 3:55.42.
Klein said he led for much of the mile final before McCarthy passed him with about 200 meters left and outkicked him to the finish.
"I gave it the beans, but he had some speed I was hoping he didn't have," said Klein, whose previous best NCAA finish was fourth in the mile in 2010.
"He came up to me afterward and said it was a classic race. He said he was glad I (set the pace) and that we really got after it."
Just 90 minutes later, Klein finished 13th in the 5,000 meters in 15:17.20.
Klein's focus was on the mile, and he said his finishing kick has never been his strength. He and Pioneers distance coach Tom Antczak decided his best option in the final was pushing the pace early.
When the runner who led the opening lap slowed down, Klein was ready.
"I realized it was time to go," he said. "I passed him and just took off. Historically, nobody takes off that early in the mile. It felt like they were hesitant to go with me, that maybe they thought I didn't know what I was doing."
Klein's plan almost worked, as only McCarthy had the stamina to run him down.
"I didn't win, but knowing that I'm national championship-caliber is pretty cool," he said.
Having exhausted his outdoor eligibility in 2011, Klein opted to return to school this year largely due to his desire to add an NCAA championship to his decorated collegiate career.
While he fell just short, he is thrilled with his final indoor season.
"I have no regrets, really. Maybe I could have got out faster the first couple of laps, but if you play the 'What if' game, you're going to go crazy. I gave it all I had and walked away proud from that performance."
Klein said Monroe High athletic director and cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner and Antczak each had a profound impact on his success and said he met a lot of great people in the sport.
He said he enjoyed a bit of star treatment at nationals, too.
"I was sitting there on Saturday and guys came up from colleges across the nation - I have no idea who they are - and they're saying, 'Patrick, that was a great final you ran. Good job.' I don't think there's any other activity I could have picked where something like that might happen.
"I'm very satisfied," Klein added. "I'm just satisfied knowing I put so much effort into something and it just turned out so well."
