ShawneeDispatch.com

Photo by Chris Wristen

Maranatha Academy senior Zach Zarda accepts his gold medal after winning the 3,200-meter run at the Class 2A state track meet.

Wichita — Zach Zarda spent all day waiting for his first race at the Class 2A state track meet.

When he finally got to run Friday night, he made sure his patience paid off.

The Maranatha Academy senior dazzled the crowd at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium as he set a new 2A state record in the 3,200, cruising to victory in 9 minutes, 26.72 seconds. Runner-up Kaleb Humphreys of Sterling held the previous record of 9:29.63 which he set last year. This year Humphreys finished 19 seconds behind Zarda.

Zarda and Humphreys ran side by side for most of the first mile.

"The fifth lap he tried to surge on me, and I surged on him," Zarda said. "I think that took him off (of his race) a little bit. That's what my coaches told me to do, so I did it. It hurt really bad, but God gave me strength."

Zarda gradually began opening up a lead late in the fifth lap, and he continued to expand it during the final three laps.

He dug in down the home stretch while making his final assault on the record.

"This is what I wanted my whole high school career," he said of the state championship. "I came here as a freshman, and I didn't medal or anything but I was like 'this is awesome. I want to win this.' Ever since I've worked my butt off trying to get up there, and I did."

Zarda will compete Saturday in the 800 and 1,600.

Teammate Brant Asbell finished 10th in the 3,200 in 10:38.80.

Allison Bailey was Maranatha's only other medalist Friday. She finished seventh in the girls 3,200 in 12:47.27.

A few other Eagles competed in preliminary races but didn't advance to Saturday's finals.

Emily Smith was 11th in the 300 hurdles in 51.45. Sarah Showalter was 14th in the 200 in 28.39.

The girls 1,600 relay team of Ashley McConnell, Callie Stubblefield, Dani Wilson and Monica Holmes finished 14th in 4:31.28.

The boys 1,600 relay team of Taylor Wallace, Jacobs Kirkpatrick, Nathan Coleman and Scott McCracken finished 16th in 3:47.43.

Showalter also finished 16th in the long jump with a leap of 14-4 1/2.