When enough people believed in Freedom High School distance runner Will Neusidl, the Patriot sophomore made them proud last Thursday.

Neusidl ran the 1600 meter run in 5:59, one second ahead of his goal, at the Freedom versus William Allen track and field meet at Liberty High School.

"Coach Bob [Thear] said I could break 6:00, but I just needed a little help. I predicted I would do it today," Neusidl said.

Because Neusidl has Asperger Syndrome, his internal clock is lacking, so Thear, Freedom's distance coach for track and field, had another Patriot distance runner, Will Alpaugh, run alongside Neusidl to pace him.

"He [Neusidl] ran a 6:18 earlier this year after running 7:00 last year, so I thought, well, it's going to be a nice day. Let's try it," Thear said.

Neusidl couldn't wait.

Neither could his mother Ann, or Thear, or Alpaugh, or his other teammates, or anyone in the stands who happened to know what Neusidl could possibly do that day.

The day before, Ann Neusidl told her son to empty the tank and give it all he's got. She said it would be an honor to do it with Will Alpaugh, and to just make Coach Bob proud.

"I told him I know you can break six," Alpaugh said. "I was hoping to be able to help him out. He would pace off me because I knew what times to run."

The duo was aiming for approximately 88 seconds per lap. There were four laps.

"Yeah, I was definitely nervous," said Neusidl. "I thought Will was really going to help me. He was my guideline; someone I could keep up with."

Neusidl and Alpaugh went out fast, slowing down around the third lap. Thear followed them as best he could from inside the track.

"I was giving them splits and letting them know where they were, especially at the third lap," Thear said. "I knew it was going to be close, so I was yelling to give it everything he had."

Neusidl heard Thear ... and listened.

"I knew I had to push," said Neusidl.

Right after crossing the finish line, Neusidl asked the official for his time, and shot his arm up in the air in celebration. Alpaugh celebrated with him. Ann Neusidl cried. Thear stood back, waiting for confirmation of a 5:59, and Neusidl's teammates, Shaina Palmer for one, were in awe.

"Excitement. Sheer excitement. This is a wonderful moment. I am very, extremely proud," said Ann Neusidl as she hugged Coach Thear. "The kids rally behind Will, and it's nice. He wanted to do something in high school to be part of something. He is an honor student, but he was behind in motor skills, so we tried to see where he could fit in. God bless Mike LaPorta. He started it all off."

When Neusidl was a freshman, LaPorta, the son of Freedom High School's principal, was an assistant cross country coach to Thear.

"Mike took Will under his wing and made him feel good about himself. I told Will to think of Mike when you're out there," Ann Neusidl said.

Coach Thear doesn't doubt that once Neusidl puts his mind to it, he can accomplish anything.

As for Neusidl's time of 5:59 being just one second ahead of his goal, Alpaugh, who graciously finished in 5:59.2, said, "It's kinda' cool."

As a team, the Patriot boys defeated Allen 81-68, and the Patriot girls also defeated Allen 88-52.