Ward Melville's Julian Smith motors to comfortable 800 victory

The real test for Ward Melville’s Julian Smith was what happened after he won the 800 meters Saturday. Usually, Smith said he’s writhing in pain after a race, silently spent on the ground, the evidence of everything he had being left on the track.

Saturday, that wasn’t the case. Smith won the 800 in 1 minute, 56.31 seconds at the North Shore Invitational at North Shore High School, a blazing display of endurance in the classic outdoor middle-distance event.

“It’s probably the most surprising thing,” Smith said of how he felt, or didn’t feel, postrace. “Usually, I keel over and it’s just ... pain. But I feel great right now. I’m obviously sore, but I feel great.”

Smith went out with a spectacular burst of energy and never lost it. The field chased him adequately — Chaminade’s Patrick Mulryan and Freeport’s Danzil Monk Jr. both broke 2 minutes — but no one could match the speed of Smith.

“I wasn’t even thinking for the first 300 meters,” Smith said. “Then it was the bell lap. I got juiced up. I was excited.”

Despite the looks of it, this wasn’t the strategy.

“I kind of just wanted to sit and kick,” Smith said. “It was an aggressive first 50 meters. I had to get out there and I didn’t want to let up. Coming through the 400 [meters], I felt great. Then I was just like, ‘Let's see how long I can hold this.’ With 200 meters to go, I thought, ‘Let's finish this.’ ... I’ve never felt that good coming through the 400 before. I think it’s just strength and training.”

Even though the early pace surprised Smith, he didn’t have any time to dwell on it. He just had to go.

“I just had to stay as relaxed as possible,” he said. “I knew it was coming out fast, so I thought, ‘I have to save as much energy as I can to do this kick.' I think it worked out.”

Smith, who began his high school career as a 400/400-hurdle runner, will run the 800 at the University at Buffalo next school year.

“I’m trying to get as good as I can in the 800 before I go away,” Smith said. “My coach has been trying to bump me up distance, ever since I was a freshman. It was definitely the right move. I feel great. I think this will be my best event. I think it is.”

Elsewhere, Kellenberg’s Jaden Lyons won the 400 in 48.52 seconds, a school record, said Kellenberg’s girls coach Marty Brown.

“I called my dad [before the race] and he said ‘no more excuses, run a 48,’” Lyons said. “That’s what I came here to do. My dad’s always been there for me, so that was a big thing for me.”

Lyon committed to the University of Virginia last week.

“I’ve always wanted to be at a Power Five [school] and also didn’t want to be that far from home,” said Lyons, who lives in Freeport.      

In the field, Syosset’s Parker Kim won the discus (138 feet, 4 inches) and the shot put (42-9).