Smithvilles Lucas Clark dresses for success in securing a podium spot in the 800 meter
By Dave Mast
June 10, 2016
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Sometimes you have to dress the part if you want to succeed. Smithville sophomore Lucas Clark certainly was when he rolled to a seventh place finish in the boys Div. III 800 meter run at the state meet in Columbus Saturday, June 4.
Donning his trademark black and green knee-high diamond dress socks, Clark worked his way through a tough regional meet, where he placed fourth, qualifying him for state. Clark said coming into the meet that his ultimate goal was simply to make it to the state meet, so anything else was going to be icing on the cake. It turned out that the icing tasted very sweet.
Once at state Clark found himself in the secondary pack of runners, a group of five bolting out to a lead. Through the first lap he sat in 11th place and began reeling in runners one at a time until he found himself within striking distance of a podium spot. He moved into the front of the second pack and was able to remain there. As the group approached the homestretch for the big final kick he was where he needed to be, but could he hold on? The answer was yes, and he fended off Eastwoods Logan Baugher and a trio of other runners to secure seventh place. The winner of the event was Logan Baker of Columbus Academy, who ran a 1:54.77.
It feels amazing, said Clark of the finish. That first lap was really, really fast, too fast for my liking. I felt like I didnt have a lot left and couldnt kick that hard at the end, but it was enough.
Enough to allow him to experience the joy and honor of standing on the podium in front of a huge mass of fans, having an All-Ohio medal hung around his neck.
As for the dress socks attire, Clark said there is a history between him and the knee-highs.
When I started running track a long time ago, I wore dress socks, and it kind of stuck, so I still wear them, he said with a laugh.
He will continue to don the socks and work at his trade, hoping that next year will usher in another trek to Columbus, where he hopes to gain spots on the podium.
Its all about getting better and working my way up the podium, Clark said. My time was OK this year, about a second off my main time, but I am not going to complain. I am happy with my effort. Im going to keep working hard and hopefully I am back here again next year.
