Abundant Life Christian's Jonathan Simon sweeps the D3 800, 1,600 and 3,200 — a sophomore's distance triple

LA CROSSE — Most champions this weekend ran one race. Jonathan Simon won three.

Jonathan Simon of Abundant Life Christian swept the Division 3 boys' distance events at the WIAA State Championships, winning the 800 in 1:54.30, the 1,600 in 4:20.02 and the 3,200 in 9:21.15. Assumption's Michael Dolan chased him to second in the two longer races — 4:24.58 in the 1,600 and 9:29.68 in the 3,200.

The distance triple is one of the most demanding feats in the sport. The 1,600 and 3,200 alone make a punishing double; adding the 800 means racing across the full range of distances, often within hours, against fresh legs each time. Simon's 1:54.30 was a personal best in the 800 — he ran his fastest half-mile of the year in the event that should have been the hardest, after two longer races already in his legs.

And he did it as a sophomore. Simon was a standout on the cross country course this past fall, covering 5,000 meters in the 15:30s; on the track he turned that engine into three state titles in a single weekend. With two years still ahead of him, Abundant Life Christian's Simon is one of the names to watch in Wisconsin distance running.