Tyler Rush thought he had it.
Another state title, and his first track title.
But the Linn senior was caught on the final lap of the 1,600-meter run by College Heights Christian's Ryan Beaver, instead taking second place in the Class 2 event at the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 1-2 Track and Field Championships on Friday at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
"Coming on to the straight stretch here (going) to the final lap, I knew they were coming up behind me, but I thought I had it," Rush said. "I kept pushing but Ryan Beaver ran a great last lap.
"That definitely surprised me. He's been running good times all season long, but I definitely did not see that coming from him today."
Rush took second in 4:22.09, which was nine seconds better than his qualifying time of 4:31.10, a time that topped the field heading into Friday. Beaver just made an unbelievable push on the final lap and finished in 4:20.19 to take the state title.
"It wasn't what I was wanting," Rush said of the second-place finish, "but it was still all-state, so I'll take it."
It was the second straight second-place finish in the 1,600-meter run, as Rush was the runner-up in 2012 with a time of 4:29.88. Barstow's Deko Ricketts won last season in 4:27.45.
Passing Barstow near the end of the second lap, it looked like Rush was on his way to a second state title this school year, as he won the Class 1 state cross country title in November. Beaver then pulled the surprise.
"I've been running the fastest times in the state of Missouri all season long," Rush said, "so I just felt like when I took over I had it, and then he made that last push. There is a little disappointment there, but I'm still happy overall."
Rush didn't qualify in the 800-meter dash Friday, finishing 12th. Still, he'll run in what may be his best event today - the 3,200-meter run. Rush enters with the best qualifying time (9:56.74), as the next-closest time comes from Crane's Thomas Chabrecek (10:01.68).
After his close call Friday, Rush is ready to use that for motivation today.
"Getting second place definitely lit a fire underneath me to push for that two-mile," he said.
III
Also on the boys side, Russellville's Austin Smith took third place in the Class 2 pole vault Friday with a vault of 13-0. Vienna's Justin Hollis finished seventh with a vault of 12-0. Principia's Austin Cooling won with a height of 13-9.
Fatima's Zach Woods took eighth in the Class 2 discus with a toss of 127-3. Lamar's Sam Bailey won the event with a throw of 170-2.
On the girls side, South Callaway's Hannah Oberdiek took third place in the Class 2 long jump with a leap of 17-2. Monroe City's Carly Spalding won the event with a distance of 18-11 1/4.
Russellville's Taylor Young took fourth in the Class 2 pole vault with a vault of 9-3. Brookfield's Alesa Frey won with a height of 11-0.
Fatima's 4x800-meter relay team, which consisted of Morgan Berhorst, Brianna Kempker, Alexis Peters and Michelle Barnhart, finished seventh with a time of 10:03.31. Lutheran: St. Peters won the event in 9:41.73.
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Additional:
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