Some athletes who compete in the 400- and 800-meter runs will say the 800 is the easier event because the shorter race often is a long, all-out sprint.

Rancho Bernardo’s Alex Grigoriev disagrees.

“They both are the worst pain ever, but it’s worth it in the end,” said the senior who captured the 800 in 1 minute, 54.41 seconds Saturday in the Bronco Invitational at Rancho Bernardo High.