Pollard edges Evans in 3,200 duel

 DES MOINES -- Josh Evans gave his all."I gave 100 percent," Evans said. "But he gave 110 percent."Gilbert's Thomas Pollard outdueled Evans in a back-and-forth final lap of the boys' 3,200-meter run Thursday at the Drake Relays. Pollard passed Evans with about 150 meters to go and posted a time of 9 minutes, 10.97 seconds.A junior at Linn-Mar, Evans was clocked in 9:11.49."I don't think I've ever been this tired after a race," Evans said. "I thought in my head, 'I'm not going to let this guy beat me.' "But he did, in a tremendous duel."I was just trying to hold on," said Pollard, a sophomore and the son of Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard. "The thoughts started coming. I knew he was right there."Evans ran an admirable race, the best of his life by 6 seconds. It took a remarkable run by Pollard -- a career-best by 22 seconds -- to beat him."I can't complain," Evans said. "I ran to the full extent of my ability."Evans ran near the front the whole way, and built a 3-meter lead on Pollard with 800 meters to go. Pollard took a slight lead with a lap remaining, and the cat-and-mouse game was on.At the head of the backstretch, about 300 meters to go, Evans raced to the front. Pollard countered with 150 left, then held off Evans in the final sprint."Maybe it wasn't the wisest tactical move, (surging when I did) -- but I'm still glad I did it," said Evans, who will run the 800, the 1,600 and a relay before the weekend is through.Brook Price of Iowa City High was fourth in 9:21.92.Jeff Giannettino of West Burlington-Notre Dame was the high jump champion, clearing 6 feet, 8 inches.Urbandale's Shaquille Wells claimed the shot put crown at 59-7 1/2. Dalton Ferguson of Solon was seventh.