SLIPPERY ROCK — For two laps, Ryan Thompson was running with the pack.

Then, as quickly as it takes the bang from a starter's gun to fade away, Thompson was left far behind.

“It was very humbling,” said Thompson, a Slippery Rock High junior of his experience in the 1,600-meter run at the PIAA Track and Field Championships last season. “It pushed me to work harder all season.”

Thompson vowed to not let that happen to him again. So, he ran longer. He ran harder — even on days reserved for lighter workouts — and now he is poised to see if all that work will pay off.

In a way, it already has.

Thompson won the 1,600 and the 800 at the Mercer County Athletic Conference meet Saturday at Hickory High.

Heading into the District 10 Class AAA Track and Field Championship at Harbor Creek Wednesday, Thompson is seeded third in the 1,600 and first in the 800.

He has a shot to get to the state meet in both.

But he doesn't want to stop there. He wants the school record in both events as well.

“He can run in the low 4:20s, if not under, if he wants to,” said Slippery Rock track and field coach Tony Consbruck. “It's up to him, really. He has the physical ability to do it. He just has to have the self confidence that he can do it. Sometimes a coach has to be a psychologist.”

Thompson said he believes he can do it.

He admits, the mental stress is sometimes more than the physical demands in a race, particularly in the 1,600.

“Mentally, the mile is one of the toughest races,” Thompson said. “It's a balance between speed and endurance and the biggest thing for me is to be confident and not feel tired in that final lap.”

That's what has hampered him in the past, but not so much this year. Thompson said he's been able to find the right balance.

His practice runs have been stellar.

“Workouts, not just races, are even more telling,” Consbruck said. “He's getting into rarified air now, and when you get there, you have to be able to push yourself to the next level. I think he can.”

Thompson will have plenty of competition at the district meet in the 1,600.

The Grove City tandem of Jacob Kildoo and Dan Jaskowak are seeded 1-2 in the event.

Thompson is friends with the Grove City duo and said they can do nothing but help him shave seconds off his time.

“We're pretty friendly and we all push each other,” Thompson said. “They're on my heels and then I'm on their heels — it really helps all of us.”

Thompson is hoping to get a strong push from the field to help lower his time. The state qualifying time is 4:24 — a mark he must reach to make it to the state meet should he not win the event.

Only the winner and those who meet the qualifying standard at the district meet advance to Shippensburg and the state meet over Memorial Day weekend.

Thompson also has his sights on another number: 4:17. That's the school record in the 1,600 that has stood for three decades.

Thompson also is nipping at the school record in the 800. His best time in that event this season is 2:00.21. The school record is 2:00.00.

School records or not, Thompson want another shot at the state meet.

And another chance to keep up with the pack.

“I'm hoping, with the competition I'm going to see, I can get into the low 4:20s and even below,” Thompson said. “(At the state meet last year) I was right with those guys and then they took off and were gone like they weren't even tired. I've been working all year to get to that level.”