Someone had to win.
But midway through the AHSAA Class 7A 1,600m state championship final, or maybe only until the final meters, it was anyone's guess who would ultimately take the line and win on Thursday at the Gulf Shores.
Auburn's Maxwell Hardin led throughout.
Vestavia Hills' Alex Leath ran off his shoulders.
And then with 250 meters, Leath made a move, shouldering past Hardin.
The Auburn recruit, however, held on, even offering one final surge on Leath, the Virginia signee, until the final steps.
The race was ultimately separated by 11-tenths of a second.
Leath earned the win in 4:07.33, as two of his teammates -- Henry Strand and Mitchell Schaaf -- followed, finishing inside the top five. Vestavia Hills currently owns the nation's top 4x800 time.
Hardin was second in 4:07.44.
Huntsville's Jackson Harris was third in 4:11.74 and, paired with Eric Moore's sixth-place finish in 4:14.27, saw two Panthers' finishes inside the top eight.
WATCH LIVE: THE AHSAA CLASS 4A-7A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
AIRS THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY ON MILESPLIT
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