4 for 4 for Smock (video)

Lisbon's Conner Smock (left) battles North Mahaska's Tanner Wanders down the home stretch of the class 1A 3200 meter run during the 2012 Iowa High School State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium on Thursday, May 17, 2012, in Des Moines, Iowa. Smock won by .02 of a second at 9:37:06. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette-KCRG)

By Rob Gray

Correspondent

DES MOINES - A drained Conner Smock crossed the finish line, staggered to a stop, bent forward and squinted at the scoreboard.

Had the Lisbon star distance runner won his record-tying fourth Class 1A state track and field title in the 3,200-meter run?

His eyes confirmed it - after a thrilling, kick-filled frontstretch duel with North Mahaska's Tanner Wanders Thursday that produced a brief “who won?” moment.

“When I crossed I kind of had an idea,” said Smock, who circled the eight laps at Drake Stadium in 9:37.06 - two-hundredths of a second faster than Wanders. “But I wasn't 100 percent sure until I looked up.”

Smock, a Bradley recruit, shadowed Wanders most of the race, kicking in the final two turns to edge in front.

Wanders didn't fade, however, creating the tense, split-second finish.

“I think he's amazing,” Smock said of Wanders, who beat him at last month's Drake Relays with a late surge. “Last year he was running high nines. All of a sudden this year he's running nine-thirties. I would give anything for a drop like that. But good for him, You can tell he's definitely doing something right in training.”

Smock's been doing plenty right for four years.

His four titles in the 3,200 is matched by just one athlete in the meet's 107-year history.

Rob Brock of Dubuque Hempstead achieved a four-peat in the event from 1994-97.

Smock, as always, offered hugs and hand shakes to every runner after they finished - some nearly two-minutes off his winning pace.

“When I first finished I was like, ‘Oh cool, I won,'” he said. “But I didn't want to celebrate too much - go right to congratulating the kids who finished behind. They were putting the same amount of effort into the races as we are. We're just running a little bit faster than they are.”

Smock proved just swift enough to clip Wanders.

His strategy of lurking just behind his rival, then trying to furiously outkick him paid off, but not entirely as expected.

“It played out the right way, but my body didn't feel the way I thought it should,” Smock said. “I still finished strong.”

No other area boys' 1A athlete attained a championship Thursday, but Jake Hulett of Springville came awfully close in the shot put.

His top throw of 51-09 fell short of Grant Greenfield of Sibley-Ocheyedan's best effort of 52-07 1/2.

Smock said his individual efforts prove noteworthy inasmuch as they impact the team race.

After Thursday, the Lions stood sixth with 10 points. Manson-Northwest Webster leads with 20.

“I think the most important thing right now is that we're going for the team title at this meet,” Smock said. “That would mean more than anything.”