WICHITA — The Class 1A boys’ 1,600-meter run came down to the wire.
Stafford High School junior Derek McClure and Macksville’s Henry Penner were neck-and-neck.
McClure took a slight lead and Penner lunged forward as they crossed the line.
Penner fell, both at the finish line and on the official timer.
McClure won the 1,600 run state title with a time of 4:28.05. Penner turned in a time of 4:28.08.
“When he past me and started to get a lead on me, I wasn’t sure if I could catch him,” McClure said. “That last 100, I just put my head down and ran and caught him at the line.”
The two runners have competed several times over the years.
“We run against each other all the time,” McClure said. “He usually beats me during the season, so it feels good to get him here.”
Penner can’t complain about the second-place finish, he says.
“I’ve been here three years,” Penner said. “I got fifth last year, and 10th my freshman year, so second place is nothing to be down on.”
The day wasn’t over for McClure, who had already placed third in the 3,200 run on Friday at teh state meet with a time of 9:45.94.
McClure got a repeat trip to the podium, winning the 800 run with a time of 1:58.69.
“It feels great, I’ve been working all year for it,” McClure said. “I finished second last year.”