Watch out!
Mound City's August Meadows (right) has to change lanes to avoid another runner who fell to the track after hitting a hurdle in the Class 1 300-hurdles prelims.
Disbelief and DisappointmentA disappointed Green City junior Asher Buggs-Tipton (right) lays on the track after taking a spill across the finish line in the Class 1 Boys 300-meter hurdles final. Newtown-Harris junior Zackary Cross (left) collapsed to the track a few strides past the finish. Cross and his big smile appear to be in disbelief after winning the state title and defeating Buggs-Tipton.
Cross came from behind to beat Buggs-Tipton by just 5-100ths of a second, 39.96 to 40.01.
The finish ended Buggs-Tipton's attempt at three-straight state titles in the event and a 10th overall state titles in his three seasons. A leg injury also slowed down Buggs-Tipton during the second half of the season, keeping from being in peak form for another undefeated state meet.
Buggs-Tipton won four individual state titles in each of his first two years. He won the 110 and 300-hurdles, and long jump and triple jump.
This year, Buggs-Tipton dropped the triple jump in favor of the 100-meter dash. He won the 110-hurdles for a third straight year, moving his total to 9 titles, before having his streak end with a 7th-place finish in the 100-meter dash just 30-minutes after the 110-hurdles.
Buggs-Tipton placed 3rd in the long jump, just 0.08m/3-inches behind the winner, keeping him at 9 state titles but boosting his top-3 state finishes to 11 out of the maximum possible 12 in three years of competition.