CHARLESTON — Nathan Swaniger’s bid for a state championship in the 100 meters came up shy by one-hundredth of a second.
In a stride-for-stride Class A final, Clay-Battelle’s senior sprinter held a slight lead entering the final 10 meters only to be edged at the finish line by Webster County’s Cole Deel.
Deel’s official winning time was 11.25 seconds, with Swaniger crossing at 11.26.
“People came up to me saying it was super-close and saying I might have won, so at that point I really didn’t know,” Swaniger said. “I was pretty sure once I crossed the finish line that he got me. He is a great runner and I am happy for him.”
The top qualifier in both the 100 meters and 200 meters after Friday’s trials, Swaniger had another shot in the longer sprint two hours later. Again Deel was his nemesis.
Swaniger posted a time of 22.68 seconds in the 200, where Deel was a step faster at 22.47.
“I felt pretty good with all my races so I am pretty happy. I just wish I had gotten first,” Swaniger said. “I wish they were better times because if I ran my best meet, I am sure I definitely would have been first in one of my two events.”
Swaniger qualified for the finals in the 100 meters each of the past three seasons, finishing fourth as a sophomore and seventh as a junior. He also placed fourth in the 200 meters in 2017.
“I put four hard-working years into Clay-Battelle track and trying to become a state champion, but fell just short,” he said.
