Blake Postler had endured his share of heartbreak and disappointment while competing at UW-La Crosse.
Postler finished second and third in hurdling events there while running in the Wisconsin state track meet.
Those near misses during his prep career at D.C. Everest provided plenty of fuel and motivation when he returned to the same venue to compete at the NCAA Division III Championships last week.
Postler ran the race of his life, breaking 50 seconds for the first time and capturing a national title for UW-Eau Claire in the 400-meter hurdles last Saturday.
“It was great to finally win there. I was a state runner-up in high school at that same stadium, and now I was standing on top of the podium there in college,” Postler said. “It was very sweet that I came through at a place where I came up short so many times. It was pretty awesome.”
Postler, a sophomore from Weston, Wisconsin, started his collegiate career at the NCAA Division I level at Bradley.
He transferred to UW-Eau Claire last year and made an immediate impact as a freshman for the Blugolds.
Postler finished fifth at the NCAA meet in the 400 hurdles and was a member of the 4×400 team that qualified for the finals.
He came back even stronger this year. Postler entering last week’s national meet with the top qualifying time. He clocked 50.85 seconds at the Drake Relays.
“Going into nationals, I was the No. 1 seed,” he said. “The expectation was to finish on top. I had to stay mentally strong and not let any adverse conditions affect me. I trusted my coaches, my training and my ability to perform my best.”
Postler charged out strong in the finals of the 400 hurdles this past Saturday.
“Usually my first 200 is my strongest 200,” he said. “I just had to keep that same start and then finish strong in the last 200. I felt like through 300, I was moving the way I wanted to. I knew I was moving quicker than I ever had before. Everything came together. It was very clean over all 10 hurdles and everything clicked for me.”
Postler built a huge lead before powering through the finish line to earn his breakthrough victory.
“When I crossed the line, I looked up and I saw 49 on the board,” he said. “I was ecstatic about that. 49.88 seconds was just surreal.”
Postler became just the second DIII student athlete to finish the 400 hurdles under 50 seconds since 1979.
Postler not only had won a national title, but he had finished nearly two seconds ahead of the runner-up in the race.
“I was overcome with gratitude,” he said. “I try to glorify the Lord in everything I do. I was so thankful for all of my support. I was proud of myself for how I stayed focused and followed my game plan.”
Then came the realization of what he had just done.
“It hit me a minute afterwards that I was a national champion,” he said. “It was a feeling of excitement and also a relief. It was a day we prepared for and it finally happened.”
Postler had a busy Saturday on May 23. He competed in three finals that day.
The first was the 110 high hurdles. Postler ran a personal best time of 13.88 seconds to place third at nationals.
“Going into the race, I was shooting for a high finish and at least a PR,” he said. “It was an incredible race, it was so much fun. I put no pressure on myself and it was great running with such a talented field.”
Postler followed by winning the 400 hurdles Saturday before running the anchor leg on the Blugolds 4×400 relay.
UW-Eau Claire finished fourth in the 4×4 with a blazing season-best clocking of 3 minutes, 8.54 seconds.
“That was another incredible race,” Postler said. “Everyone on our relay ran some really fast splits. It was a good way to finish.
“I was pretty sore the next day after all those events, but it was definitely worth it.”
Postler also excels off the track. He is studying social work at UWEC. He is an outstanding student with a 3.85 grade point average.
“I really like it,” he said. “It feels like a really good fit. UW-Eau Claire is a great school. Academics is something I work hard at.”
Postler said he will continue to train while lifting weights in Eau Claire this summer. He also has a job working in the grocery section at a local Target store.
Postler is now a four-time NCAA All-American who has two years of college eligibility left.
One goal Postler would like to make a run at is the NCAA DIII record of 48.64 seconds in the 400 hurdles.
“The standard has been set and the foundation has been laid,” Postler said. “That record is something I definitely want to pursue.”
Postler said he has found a second home at UW-Eau Claire.
“I love it here. It’s been a really good fit for me,” he said. “Chip Schneider is a phenomenal coach, one of the best in the country.
“And I love our team. We are such a tight-knit group. We really are like a family. It’s been awesome being a part of this program.”