BOISE — Elijah Armstrong times his step to the top of the podium perfectly: Left leg up on “Elijah,” right foot down on “strong.”

It's like he's been there before.

He took his upward lunge to the top of the stand for the ninth and final time after the 800-meter run on Saturday. The Pocatello senior took home three 4A state championships to pick up his second triple crown, winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 for the second year in a row. Between track and cross country, Armstrong owns 13 state titles.

He helped the Indians win four cross country state championships and claims state meet records in the 1,600 and 3,200. The end of his high school career was bittersweet, but it's only the beginning.

Armstrong will run for Boise State this fall and has Olympic dreams.

Every race is a chance to break a record, and sometimes winning doesn't seem like enough. Armstrong didn't break any records or establish new personal bests this weekend. There were no fireworks. Just the best runner in the state going about his business.

“I can't be ashamed of anything this weekend,” he said.

Out of 17 finalists in the 800, Armstrong had the sixth-fastest seed time. He sat in third halfway through the race but made his move with 150 meters to go and strolled to the finish line in the pole position.

It was a dramatic victory for someone who won two state championships by a combined 18 seconds earlier in the meet.

“He has that beautiful kick,” said Pocatello coach Rick Call.

The legacy Armstrong leaves behind at Pocatello High School and the Gate City running community can't be measured yet. It's too early to tell whether he'll have trails named after him. Or tracks. Maybe awards or events.

His records may not last forever. But his gold medals are permanent.

“I hope that people in Idaho remember me as, Elijah Armstrong, one of the legends,” Armstrong said. “And (for) kids to know and understand that I started in podunk Pocatello. I kind of want to be an example for others and strive my best to be that example for them.”

Winning is a routine for Armstrong. It's become an expectation. How can you bet against a guy that never finished worse than second at a district or state championship?

“He just goes out and does,” Call said.

Left leg up on “Elijah,” right foot down on “strong.”