BLOOMINGTON — Rhett Myers found himself one subpar discus toss from a state championship Saturday afternoon.
Only it wasn’t the Columbus East senior doing the throwing.
Leading for the majority of the competition with a best of 180 feet, 2 inches, Myers watched anxiously as defending champion Cameron Tidd of Center Grove prepared for his final toss.
Tidd uncorked a 181-11, assuring Myers the runner-up medal at the State Finals at Indiana University’s Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Myers, after breaking his own school record, wasn’t surprised to see Tidd step up when it most counted.
“Honestly, I was expecting that to happen,” said Myers, who soon will begin his college football career at the Air Force Academy. “I was waiting for him to get a big throw off. He’s been a great competitor every time I’ve thrown against him.
“I knew that all I could do was throw my best, and that’s what I did. He did what he had to do.”
Myers’ runner-up toss came on his second of six throws.
Tidd’s best effort prior to his sixth and final toss was a 173-7.
“Rhett was happy with his throw. Second place is still pretty darned good,” Olympians coach David Miller said. “It’s disappointing to him, I’m sure, but it was a great way to end his senior track season.”
Myers wasn’t through, though.
He later returned to the awards podium to occupy the fifth level following the shot put. Myers’ best distance was 53-7¾.
Overall, he was happy with his day.
“I think it went well. I met both my goals of coming here and medaling in both events,” Myers said. “
Columbus North junior Mitchell Burton, a 13th-place finisher in the long jump at last season’s State Finals, took fifth this time around by covering 22-6¾.
Burton fell short of the personal-best 23-2 that he jumped at the sectional meet, but he was still pleased with his effort.
“It was my goal at the beginning of the year to get on the podium, so I accomplished that goal,” he said. “I could’ve had a few better jumps, but I ended up having a pretty decent jump, so that’s pretty nice.”
Bull Dogs senior Alex Algee produced a best of 20-5½ on Saturday to take 22nd in the long jump. Algee and Burton ran the first and second legs, respectively, of Columbus North’s 400-meter relay team that placed 21st.
Sophomores Jaylen Flemmons and Cortez Bandy also took part. The Bull Dogs’ time was 43.65 seconds.
Also for Columbus North, senior Chandler Steward came in 16th in the 800-meter run in 1:58.56, senior Bryce Ables 20th in the 300 intermediate hurdles (40.52) and junior Triston Perry 23rd in the 110 high hurdles (15.33).
Local representation in the 200-meter dash came in the form of Columbus East senior Steven O’Neal. He placed 25th in 23.26 seconds.
Brown County nearly reached the awards podium in the 3,200-meter relay, but fell just short in 11th. Seniors Collin Hoskins and Cole Chudy teamed with junior Job Lawson and sophomore Wyatt Wyman for a time of 8:00.80.
Chudy also finished 17th in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:24.78.
