Lake Tapps resident Nick Smith captured top honors Memorial Day weekend when he won the 800-meter race during the Class 1A state track and field championships.

The event was staged on the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

Smith runs for Charles Wright Academy, a private school in Tacoma that he has attended since third grade.

“I was just hoping I would do well that day,” Smith said, noting that the Eastern Washington heat kept runners indoors until it was nearly time to compete. Smith responded with a personal-best time of 1 minute, 55.82 seconds to grab the 800 title.

The University of Washington-bound senior had also qualified for the state meet as part of the school’s 1,600-meter relay team. The relay crew had a medal-worthy performance, finishing fourth.

Smith had made a similar state appearance as a junior, claiming seventh place in the 800 meters and running on the 1,600-meter relay crew that placed fifth.

Smith was challenged early in the season, running in invitational meets against athletes from much larger schools. Once the regular season kicked in, he was clearly the cream of the crop, winning both the Nisqually League meet and the tri-district championships. Heading into the state meet, he had posted the best Class 1A time in the state.

Reach Kevin Hanson at khanson@courierherald.com or 360-802-8205. To comment on this story, view it online at www.courierherald.com.