Jack Crull of Helias didn't reach his goal in his favorite race.
He more than made up for it in his next one.
Crull, a junior, won the title in the 800-meter run Saturday afternoon in the Class 4 state track and field championships at Washington High School.
"That was an awesome accomplishment for Jack," Helias coach Brad Hake said. "I know he was disappointed after the 1,600, he put everything into it and that's his favorite race.
"He showed a lot of character and grit to come back."
Crull was in second after the first of the two laps in the 800. He then took the lead late in the straightway to win with a time of 1:58.49. Reginald King of Grandview was second in 1:58.55.
Crull is the first boys individual state track and field champion for Helias since 2013, when Griff McCurren took first in the 400-meter dash and Will Fife won the shot put.
"He's a state champion and he'll always be a state champion," Hake said.
Crull opened his day with the 1,600-meter run, earning a medal by taking sixth in 4:27.54.
"He gave it his best effort, but he told me he was feeling it after the first couple of laps," Hake said.
Crull's day ended with the 3,200-meter run. He was the only one to compete in all three of the distance events Saturday.
Crull struggled early on the warm day and finished 16th. When he qualified for all three events, the state championship was scheduled for two days. The 800- and 1,600-meter runs were scheduled for Friday, with the 3,200-meter run set for Saturday.
But Wednesday's tornado in Jefferson City changed the state schedule and moved the championships to Washington.
"Everybody is going to face tough times, there are challenges for everybody," Hake said. "But he went out there and did his best, he met it head on.
"If he wouldn't have run, there might have been something in the back of his mind about whether he should have," Hake said.