It was the race of the night as two seniors, Sherod Hardt (Queen Creek) and Brian Shrader (Sinagua) stepped to the line for the 1600 meter run Friday evening at the Desert Classic Invitational.
Shrader took the lead immediately and passed the 400 in 60 seconds with Hardt on his heals a second behind. When Hardt heard the time at the 400 he decided it was too fast for him and backed off.
Shrader started separating from the group and it looked as though the gap between the two was widening when Hardt realized he felt pretty good and decided, "maybe I can do this."
At the 200 mark of the third lap Hardt moved into the lead until Shrader took it back just passed the 3rd lap.
But Hardt would not give up and with 150 meters to go he surged back into the lead finishing the race in 4:11.49 and moving into the US#1 spot. Shrader took second in 4:14.80 for a US #3.
More highlights coming!!