7:37.66: Iowa City High owns the all-time Iowa best in the boys’ 3,200-meter relay

DES MOINES — It’s not just talk any more.

It’s done. It’s in the record books.

Iowa City High and Johnston ran the fastest boys’ 3,200-meter relay race in state history Thursday morning. City’s Ammon Smith, Ayman Noreldaim, Ford Washburn and Truman Thompson zipped to an all-time Iowa best in 7 minutes, 37.66 seconds.

“I think this is the happiest I’ve ever been,” said Thompson, who anchored in 1:51.8.

“With 300 meters to go, it felt like I was already starting my kick. With 200 to go, I had to give everything.”

City High and Johnston (7:38.12) both eclipsed the former record of 7:41.43, set by Ames in 2015.

“All year, we’ve been talking about getting that record,” Thompson said. “It’s been in the back of our mind.”

Thursday marked only the second time all season that Smith, Noreldaim, Washburn and Thompson ran together in the 4x800. The other occasion was at the Drake Relays.

Both ended in gold.

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At Drake, Smith anchored. But in a “last-minute decision” (according to Smith), the order changed Thursday.

It worked out magnificently.

“My job was to open us a gap, go out from the gun,” Smith said. “I wanted to demoralize the competition.”

Johnston didn’t back down, and ran even with the Little Hawks until Thompson’s final surge.

“Once I started, I was in rhythm,” Thompson said. “I was starting to realize that I belong here.“

Washburn said, “It helped a lot that Johnston was on our tail the whole way. I know it really pushed me to go faster.”

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The 4x800 triumph, plus second-place finishes by Washburn (3,200) and Matt Schaeckenbach (high jump), staked City High to the lead in the 4A boys’ team race.

Through five events, City has 29 points. Linn-Mar is second with 22.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com