N. Fayette’s Smith adds to family discus lore

Dad and big brother now have nothing on Lauren Smith.

North Fayette's Smith became the third member of her immediate family to win a state discus title, claiming the Class 2A crown on her final throw of the day Friday at Drake Stadium.

Smith's toss of 129 feet, 7 inches topped the mark of 127-06 by Iowa City Regina's Kristen Gaffey.

Gaffey had one more crack at it, but couldn't best Smith.

“I've been gunning for her all year,” Smith, a junior, said. “I came here and saw her throw and it made me so nervous. My last throw everything clicked. She's a great athlete and really good competition.”

Smith's dad, Mark, won his title in the late 1970s. Brother, Jesse, won his in 2005 and went on to compete at Northern Iowa.

Mark Smith is his daughter's coach now and let out a huge yell when the distance of her winning throw was posted.

Lauren wanted to make her father proud.

“I thought of him right before I threw,” she said. “I popped one out and it was the best feeling in the world.”

After Gaffey's final toss landed short, they celebrated with a big hug and posed for pictures in the discus ring.

“It was so cool,” Lauren said. “I saw his face. He was the happiest person here. I've been throwing since fifth grade. It's really nice to come out here and do it.”

Gaffey, a senior, was throwing discus for the first time at the state meet.

“I tried my best, she tried her best,” Gaffey said. “She was amazing. It was fun.”

Mid-Prairie's Candice Henrichson finished fourth with a throw of 120-02.

Solon's 800-meter relay team realized its dream of a state title in convincing fashion, winning in a time of 1 minute, 43.79 seconds.

The Lady Spartans improved in last year's surprising fourth-place finish from a year ago.

“We've worked so hard. It's what we've always wanted,” said Courtney Holub.

The group of Holub, Kirsten Anderson, Malinda Noska and Taylor Van Scoyoc came in with the top qualifying time after a great district race.

They ended up beating second-place Hudson by nearly a second.

“We've been watching Hudson's times all year,” Anderson said. “We knew we were going to come out and do it.”

Lauren Benzing joined Anderson, Noska and Van Scoyoc on Solon's third-place winning distance medley team later Friday. The Lady Spartans' 400 relay team qualified for Saturday's finals with the top qualifying time in the field.

Solon sits in third place in the team standings with 26 points entering the day. Gilbert is in first with 28,  just ahead of second-place Hudson's 27.

Mid-Prairie is in fifth (19) and Regina (15) sits in ninth.