PLATTEVILLE - Patrick Klein is a three-time collegiate All-American and is the reigning male athlete of the year at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, but you'd be hard-pressed to get that information from him.

Just ask his co-workers at the university's information center, who were a bit taken aback upon learning last week that the Monroe High School alumnus had been named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference male track and field athlete of the week.

"I don't know how they found out, I just tell them I run," Klein said. "I'm not in it for the glory."

He might not be able to avoid it if all goes according to plan in the next six weeks.

Klein returned to UW-Platteville for a fifth year with one goal in mind: To make an all-out run at an national championship in the indoor mile. He's on the short list of favorites approaching the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships slated for March 9-10 at Grinnell College in Iowa.

Klein's time of 4 minutes, 9.91 seconds at the Wisconsin Invitational on Jan. 21 was good for third place behind two NCAA Division I runners. More importantly, it was the second-fastest time this season in Division III.

It was an impressive outing and a good sign for Klein, who exhausted his cross country and outdoor track eligibility in 2010, meaning the Wisconsin invite was only his second collegiate event since last spring's outdoor track season.

"I had to remind him he didn't have a cross country season, so he's really not sharp yet," Pioneers distance coach Tom Antczak said. "Still, 4:09 is a pretty good time. Given it was only his second race, that's not too bad."

Klein ran a 4:06 in the same event a year ago, when he went on to finish eighth at nationals to earn his third All-American honor. He was ill the week of the NCAA finals, which didn't help, but Klein said that wasn't the only reason he dropped four places from his fourth-place finish at nationals as a sophomore in 2010.

"Analyzing the results and statistics from last season, there was speculation that I peaked too early," Klein said. "The 4:09 (at Wisconsin) was certainly an indicator that I have not peaked yet. I have much more room to improve."

Klein enjoyed a strong prep career at MHS; the biggest moment coming as a senior in 2007 when he teamed up with Brandon Miles, Brett DeNure and Aron Kehoe to win the WIAA Division 1 championship in the 3,200 meter relay in a state-record time of 7:42.91 - a mark that still stands.

Klein said it was an easy decision to follow his brother Cameron, a two-time track and field All-American in the steeplechase and distance medley relay, to Platteville. Kyle Klein, the youngest of Paul and Bonita Klein's five boys, is a distance runner for the Pioneers but is not competing this season due to a job internship.

Klein said his favorite collegiate moment to date was finishing 24th to help the Pioneers to a program-best fourth-place NCAA cross country finish in 2010.

"I ran my guts out," Klein said. "For about half an hour after (the race), I tried not to throw up - and I never throw up. It was so rewarding to see eight other guys just ecstatic and knowing that for some of those guys, that was going to be the pinnacle of their athletic careers. I have no problem sacrificing. I've always been about team and helping other guys do cool things."

Antczak said that's more than just lip service.

"Patrick is always willing to help out and go the extra mile," Antczak said. "If I have a project that needs to be done, he seems to be one of the first to volunteer. He's certainly one of the athletes the younger guys look up to. There's no doubt he's going to leave a hole in the fabric of the team when he leaves."

Klein is extremely proud he and his brother Cameron have five All-American honors between them.

"At Platteville, there might be one other brother pair that has those honors," Klein said.

Klein is finishing up a biology degree, and added minors in chemistry and psychology when he decided to return for the fifth year - an opportunity created when he missed his sophomore indoor track season because of injury.

"Got to make it look like I'm trying hard," Klein quipped about the double minors.

He plans to pursue graduate school and a career in the medical field. But first, there is some unfinished business on the track.

"I am in the best shape of my life," said Klein, who added he wouldn't spend much time sizing up his competition heading into nationals.

"I don't go online and really stalk other runners' statistics," Klein said. "Oftentimes, I don't know anything about who I'm running against. It's much more of a focus on myself and what I can do.

"You have to go into it thinking, 'This is my year.' I want to make it my year. If the opportunity presents itself, I'm going to take it."