SPORTS WRAP

If you’re waiting for Nicholas Steel to finish a run, it might be a while. A better bet is to put on your shoes and join him. He loves running with and encouraging others.

The 2020 Owatonna High School graduate ran cross-country and track and is now an ultramarathoner who completes – and sometimes wins – 100-plus mile events. A few years ago, he learned, “Your body, it can handle so much more than you mind will allow.”

Running changed his life. “Depression led me into this. It led me into it like, ‘I just want to see how far I can go. I don’t care.’ Through time it switched perspectives from that to, ‘Man, I love this thing.’”

Steel set up his own 50- and 100-mile self-supported courses. The first time he attempted a 100-miler he didn’t finish. “That failure brought me to success.”

He later accomplished it with some help. “I called up my dad. I was like, ‘Dad, I need you out here. I’m really lonely.’ So, he came out from Owatonna. Him and my mom and my two younger siblings. They were there for me for the last 20 miles. It was so beautiful,” he said. His family frequently crews for him.

“You’ve just got to let yourself free. Accept all of the knowledge that’s coming in. ‘Oh, wow, a tree. Oh, wow, a bush.’ Eventually with that Golden Retriever mindset you’ll be 12 miles down the road in no time.”

Steel is dedicating 2025 to becoming the youngest runner to complete 16 100-mile events in a calendar year. The third of those is the Zumbro Endurance Run in southeast Minnesota on April 12.

The effort is off to a strong start thanks to banking hundreds of miles in training. “We need to get used to being uncomfortable… Bulking that much mileage and getting into the first race, we completed 124.9 miles in 24 hours, and I could walk the next day,” he said.

Five days later he completed another 100-miler in 17:17:44 and says he felt “great.”

He is happy to motivate people while tackling his own miles. “Whenever I’m out on the course and I see people that are struggling… I’m just going to talk to them and open up their perspective. We are out here, and we are doing what humans are supposed to do. We are running. We don’t have to worry about life. We don’t have to worry about work,” said Steel.

Upper Midwest running can bring many terrain and weather variables. “I love all the ups, all the downs. I love flat courses because you don’t have to deal with elevation. I love elevation courses because, well, it’s not flat and it’s more interesting.”

He claims to love the rain, wind and sleet as well.

Steel is sharing his story through social media. “I love creating content. I post all over my Instagram and Facebook. I will be posting for every single 100 this year.”

He has a Go Fund Me page and appreciates any donations. He’s running the first five events in memory of Matthew Watts, an elite ultramarathoner who passed away in 2019.

“I’m just a chill guy who likes running,” said Steel.

See the full interview on OwatonnaLive.com starting on April 12.

Look who’s back

Rochester Mayo returns to Section 1AAAAA for football this fall, pending finalization by the Minnesota State High School League. The Spartans compiled a 7-13 record the last two seasons in Class 6A and won a playoff game each year. In 2022 they beat the Huskies in the section final. Owatonna has gone to state the last two seasons.

“Mayo will be good, and they have been battle-tested in AAAAAA football,” stated Owatonna Head Coach Jeff Williams. “They will be a formidable obstacle to a section championship.”

The section will include Century, John Marshall, Northfield and New Prague.

Back up to AA

Blooming Prairie continues their recent rollercoaster ride. After the last two seasons back in their traditional Class A, the Awesome Blossoms go up to AA in numerous sports, including football.

Blooming goes to Section 2AA this fall, joining Medford, Blue Earth Area, JWP, Maple River, St. Clair/Loyola and WEM. BP spent the last two seasons in 1A. Defending Section 2AA champ Triton moves to Section 1AA.

BP basketball moves to Section 2AA, as does softball. Volleyball becomes a Section 1AA team. Baseball, wrestling (Westfield), cross-country, and track all stay in Class A.

Papa’s first pitch

102-year-old Papa Jake Larson threw out the first pitch at a recent San Francisco Giants game. The Owatonna-born World War II veteran made a patriotic appearance at the Steele County Fair in 2023. He is a social media sensation with over a million followers on TikTok.

Larson lied about his age when he was 15 in 1938 to join the National Guard. He fought in several battles including Omaha Beach. He’s made numerous trips to Europe in recent years to recognize the anniversary of D-Day.

The video of his ceremonial pitch to Mike Yastrzemski is worth a search.

OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule

Thursday, April 10
Owatonna baseball vs. Rochester Mayo, 5 p.m.
OHS boys lacrosse vs. Rosemount, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 11
Medford baseball vs. Houston, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 12
OHS girls lacrosse vs. Southwest Christian, 12 p.m.