Smock helps Lisbon capture relay gold

 DES MOINES - Lisbon runners John Noll, Nathan Budde and Ben Knake served as the ultimate set-up men.

 Their job: Run hard and pass the baton to Conner Smock.

 And they did it well Friday, turning a time of 3:35.48 into Class 1A boys' state track and field gold.

 “Last year we put him in too much of a hole,” said senior Nathan Budde, who ran the second leg of the medley relay. “So we knew we had to pick it up to give him a chance because you knew he'd take care of business if you gave him a chance.”

 Smock took the baton in seventh, powered to third on the backstretch and surged in front by turn three of his first lap.

 One day after becoming just the second runner in state history to win four 3,200-meter titles, he didn't let up, winning the event by three and a half seconds.

 His 800-meter leg seemed to unfold like a long kick - even though he “locked up” late in the race.

 “I tried,” said Smock, who seeks his third championship in the 1,600 today. “I really wanted to get in the lead and then just have to try to fight it off. I feel like I run a lot better like that.”

 Two words echoed in Smock's head as he churned up the impressive performance: Ten points.

 He collapsed on the infield after congratulating competitors, but said the pain would be momentary.

“This is probably the greatest feeling I've ever had,” Smock added. “The only thing that I think might be a little bit better is if we can get that actual team title overall.”

 Lisbon seeks its first state title and enters today second with 23 points - 10 behind leader Manson-Northwest Webster.

 The Lions took sixth in the distance medley last year, despite a strong anchor leg from Smock.

 “You can't really put it into words after the race,” Knake said about the breakthrough triumph. “It will hit us a couple days after, but right now I can tell you it's a sweet feeling to get this win and help get the 10 points.”

 Springville's Jake Hulett earned eight points for the second day in a row, taking second in the discus.

 His throw of 163-01 shattered the previous school record by more than 10 feet.

 “I couldn't be happier,” said Hulett, a junior who used YouTube videos to supplement his discus technique training. “I'm just excited.”

 Hulett also took second in Thursday's shot put event and proved to be a fluid learner.

 He picked up a technique Friday that paid huge dividends.

 “I had an epiphany today, I guess,” said Hulett, also the school record holder in the shot. “I was watching the 4A guys warm up and I saw that their hips were turned before they landed. So I tried to mimic that and somehow it works.”