Smoody captures top honors at Top Times

BLOOMINGTON - Even a defending state champion isn't immune to learning new things that can help him in the very race he won a state title in.

Such was the case for Palatine senior Mat Smoody.

At Saturday's Illinois Prep Top Times Invitational at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University, Smoody took his first step toward defending his state title in the 800-meter run.

The race was expected to be a coronation of sorts for the Wisconsin-bound senior, but it didn't play according to script. Waubonsie Valley senior Sean Wiggan was determined to race with Smoody and he did just that.

In the final lap of the race, Wiggan surprisingly caught and passed Smoody and built up a lead into the final straight. But Smoody caught and passed Wiggan over the final 50 meters to win in a near-record effort of 1:53.94.

Smoody's effort was the fastest in the state this year and the fastest in the country on a flat-track.

But even with the win, Smoody was anything but thrilled with his performance.

"I warmed up and felt I was ready, but I just didn't feel like I had it today," he said. "(Wiggan) is a real good runner, but I just didn't feel like I had the best race today."

Whether or not it was Smoody's best, it was good enough to earn him co-male athlete of the meet with Bartonville Limestone's Nick Holmes, making it the first time in the 18-year history of the meet that the award was shared. Holmes ran away from a crowded field to win the 1,600 in a meet-record 4:13.72.

"I don't think any of this has hit me yet," Smoody said. "Even watching the tape of the 800 at state last year -- it still hasn't hit me yet. I think this is the biggest thing to ever happen in my family."

While Smoody wasn't thrilled with his effort, Rolling Meadows senior Ty Kirk was downright ticked off by his effort through five jumps in the triple jump finals.

Trailing KJ Franklin of Crete-Monee into his final jump, Kirk got a few choice words of advice from his coach Jim Voyles.

"He just told me that we had worked too hard to not get after at now," Kirk said. "He told me it was time to pick it up and go after it."

Kirk took the pep talk from Voyles to heart. All three phases of the triple jump were near perfect as Kirk popped off a meet-winning 47 feet, 6 inches.

"I just got out and started better (in the last jump)," the New Mexico-bound Kirk said. "We really worked on the last phase a lot the last couple weeks in practice and I think it paid off."

Kirk started his day by finishing fourth in the long jump. His teammate Mick Viken didn't enjoy the same type of success in defending his indoor title.

After clearing 16 feet on his second attempt, Viken landed awkwardly on his left ankle -- the same one he sprained badly at the outdoor state meet last season. The injury limited Viken's explosiveness and resulted in defending outdoor champion Mitchell Erickson of Marian Catholic winning the title by clearing 16-8.

It didn't take any type of special motivational chat to get the Geneva 3,200 relay going. Instead, all it took was the first heat of the race to fire up Andrew Nelson and the Vikings.

"We saw what Hersey did in the 8:07.1 that they ran, and that really got us fired up," Nelson said. "I think to see that out of the first heat made us realize we had to be ready."

Nelson, Storm Obuchowski, Drew Isbell and Drew Hickey held off hard charges from Evanston and Lyons Township to win the indoor state title in an impressive 7:58.91. The anchor leg by Nelson proved to be the difference.

"Things got a little scary at the end because I knew the Lyons guy was right there," Nelson said. "But I just kept pushing my legs and pushed to the end. Now it's on to the outdoors. Should be exciting."

Hersey finished fifth and Conant fourth in the 3,200 relay.

Lake Park junior Dan Block established himself as the one to catch in the shot put at the state meet in May by winning his first indoor title. Though he didn't hit his personal best indoors or bring down the meet record that was set a year ago, his throw of 60 feet was better than the duo of Brett Einbecker and Dwight Harris of Waubonsie Valley.

"I worked real hard on my technique in the off-season," Block said. "I wanted my PR, but I am happy with the win."