DES MOINES - Nick Corbett came to the Class 4A state track meet Thursday to win the 400 meter dash, but he couldn't be too disappointed with second place.

He lost to Superman, aka James Harrington of Cedar Falls, one of the top high school track athletes of all time in Iowa.

Harrington normally torments sprinters in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, but he added the 400 to his bag of tricks Thursday to score more points for his team. The victim was Corbett, a rapidly improving junior from Cedar Rapids Washington.

Harrington won the Class 4A 400 in 48.27 seconds. Corbett took second in 49.46 and beat some good quarter-milers to claim the silver medal.

Harrington captured the sixth title of his record-setting career.

"He's got a full ride to Alabama. To finish second to him, you know it's a great race," said Corbett.

"I had the mindset that I could win this, because who wants to get second place? But it's James Harrington. It's tough to win."

If it's any consolation, Harrington had to lie down after exerting himself in the 400. Superman was sweating and still trying to catch his breath a full 10 minutes after the race.

It was only the third time all season that the Cedar Falls senior had run the open 400 in competition.

"I don't like the 400," he said. "You guys saw me on the ground over there. I couldn't move."

He moved swiftly during the race and beat Corbett by more than a second on a sunny, 80-degree day at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

It was a beautiful day for track, but not a particularly successful one for Metro athletes from Cedar Rapids and Marion. The 14 Metro boys and girls teams that are competing here did not produce a single winner on Day 1 of the three-day event.

Lukas Mees of Marion High School placed second in the 3200 meter run in Class 3A to score eight points for the Indians. Zach Buchheit of Pella won the race in 9:26.03, with Mees next in 9:31.34.

"I did everything I could," said Mees, who will run at Emory University in Atlanta next year.

Marion finished sixth in the 4x800 relay with Greg Sam, Brennen Kelly, Trevor Hardman and Jordan Garthwaite carrying the baton. The Indians, hoping to contend for the Class 3A state title, are in sixth place with 11 points. Decorah holds the 3A lead with 29 markers.

Alec Clasen of Xavier finished second in the Class 4A high jump for the second straight year by clearing 6-foot-6. Clasen was in position to win the state title at 6-6 on fewer misses, but Justin Randall of Burlington snatched the victory when he cleared 6-foot-8.

Randall, a long stringbean who stands 6-foot-7, surpassed his own height by an inch to keep Clasen out of the victory circle. "It kind of sucks to get second twice," said Clasen.

Clasen cleared 6-foot-8 last year as a junior, but couldn't get past 6-foot-6 this season while battling a sore ankle that needs to be surgically repaired now that the season is over. He has a bone spur in his left ankle, which is the ankle he uses to plant and jump.

"I had a rough year," he said, "but I'm not going to blame it on that."

Clasen plans to attend the University of Iowa and might join the Hawkeye track team as a walk-on.

The most surprising result Thursday came in the 3200 meter run in Class 4A. Linn-Mar sophomore Josh Evans challenged Dowling star Cole Decker during the first half of the race and stayed with him stride for stride, but Evans got worn out and Decker pulled away for a commanding victory in 9:17.65.

Jacob Aune of Prairie grabbed fourth place in 9:32.10 in the 3200. Evans, the top seed, faded all the way to seventh place in 9:36.88.

"I thought I could stick with him. Obviously I couldn't," said Evans. "It's really a bummer."

Craig Murtha of Xavier claimed fifth place in the Class 4A discus with a personal-best heave of 163 feet, 1 inch. He scored four points for Xavier, which combined with Clasen's eight points put the Saints in a fifth-place tie in the team standings.

Leslie Harder of Prairie finished fourth in the Class 4A high jump at 5 feet, 2 inches. Alex Bartz of Xavier and Sara Strauel of Linn-Mar tied for 10th by clearing 5 feet.

The Linn-Mar boys finished fourth in the 4x800 relay with Chase Grabau, Duggan Trenary, Jabez Walker and Matt Simon clocked in 7:56.52.

Shannon Gorman of Washington finished fifth in the 3000 meter run in 10:27.76. Alyssa Averhoff of Kennedy placed ninth in the 3000 in 10:55.98.

Rachel Perry of Linn-Mar placed fifth in the 400 meter dash in 58.45 seconds. Emma Edelen of Jefferson placed sixth in the discus at 124 feet, 6 inches.

The Xavier Saints rank the highest in the Class 4A boys standings among Metro teams with their 12 points, thanks to Clasen and Murtha. Washington is in ninth place, with Linn-Mar 11th and Prairie tied for 18th. The boys have completed five events, with 13 remaining. Dowling leads the pack with 22 points, followed by Bettendorf.

Waukee leads the Class 4A girls standings with 28 points, followed by Dowling. Prairie stands in 15th place, Linn-Mar and Washington are tied for 16th and Jefferson is 18th.