![]() Daniel Parker is all smiles after winning two conference championships. Photo by: Jason Byrne.
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"I am excited and anxious about it," Swope told me crouched in the hall at Showalter Field during the interim between the 1600 and 3200, "I feel good..but a little drained after the 1600."
Any signs of being drained were not apparent once the race started as the pace went out fast and stayed that way the entire race. The two were solo from the get-go and never looked back as Parker hustled to a 4:36 first mile, with Swope less than three steps behind. Parker proceeded to clock laps of :72, :71, :71 but still felt the breathe on his neck from Swope who refused to let him go. But going into the final lap the Boone High School junior looked surprisingly relaxed and proved he had something left to fend off Swope who had nothing but victory on his mind. Parker closed with a 65 second final lap, one second faster than Swope could convince his legs to move. Final times put the two fourth and fifth in the state this season with times of 9:15.70 and 9:16.70.
"He's a great runner," Swope said about his opponent, "he has really taken his running to a new level, and he deserves all the credit in the world...but I'm still hoping to get him next week!"
Metro Conference score: Parker 4, Swope 0. The two will once again face off in the 3200m race next week at the 4A District 4 Championships.