John Karsten wasn't able to pick up the big prize he wanted Friday afternoon, settling for second place in the discus competition at the Class 3 state meet for the second straight year.
But he was still able to pick up some parting gifts in his last action as a Blair Oaks Falcon.
The senior, long a standout for the Blair Oaks wrestling and track programs, capped off his athletic career at the school by recording both a personal record and a school record with his mark of 164 feet in the event.
So while he finished just 3 feet, 11 inches behind the winner, Logan-Rogersville's Gunnar Allison, there was still plenty to smile about.
"I threw pretty good - I got a PR and set a school record," Karsten said. "But I'm a little disappointed I didn't get first, I was kind of hoping I'd do that. Second is all right, though. Gunnar is a good thrower."
After a foul on his opening attempt, Karsten unleashed what would be his best throw of the day on the second of his three throws in opening round.
"My plan is to, on the first throw, try to get a nice, measurable one and then build off it," he said.
But it wasn't to be. His final throw in the opening round covered 157-6, then his three attempts in the final round were 160-6, 159-4 and 161-2.
Allison was also good early, as his winning mark came on his first attempt of the day.
Karsten said Friday's warm temperatures didn't bother him during the competition, even going so far as to say it wasn't as bad as last year's state meet.
"The heat was good," he said. "Last year it was just stagnant out here, and the air didn't move. This year there was a nice breeze, so it was a good competition."
Also competing in the discus was Versailles' Dodge Anderson, and he finished 14th with a mark of 128-11.
The discus was one of three finals-only events for Blair Oaks on the day. The Falcons' 4x800-meter relay team of Brad Thomas, C.J. Closser, Sam LePage and Kole Rackers started the day by finishing 15th and then ended it with Jason Otto finishing 15th in the 3,200-meter run.
Karsten was one of just two area boys to place in an event Friday. Southern Boone's Landon Bartel was the other, as he placed fifth.
Karsten's efforts helped Blair Oaks into a tie for ninth place in the team standings with eight points, while Southern Boone is tied for 17th with four. Festus, thanks in large part to finishing first, second and seventh the 3,200-meter run, leads the way with 32 points. Warrensburg is second with 14 and Liberty North is third with 12.
Just one area girl scored points in Class 3, as Eldon's Sara Rhine finished third in the long jump for the second straight year. Soldan's Traci Mills won it with a leap of 17-101/2, Lutheran South's Leketor Meneh was next at 17-81/4, and Rhine was third at 17-41/4.
"I jumped better than I did last year, so that's a plus," Rhine said. "The competition was a lot more advanced this year. You definitely had to jump to get up there."
The top four competitors were separated by less than 7 inches, and there was a span of 1 foot, 1 inch among those eight finishers who earned medals.
While the competition was stiff, there was something else that was more stressful for Rhine.
"It was my first time having running events as well at state, so that was new," said the junior, who also competed in the prelims of the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. "I was probably the most nervous about the bullpen and having that be overwhelming, but it went all right."
She also said Friday's heat didn't bother her.
"My personal preference is I like colder weather, but you can't expect that at the end of May," she said with a laugh. "My freshman year, it was close to 100, so this isn't too bad overall."