Got gold? Southeast's Miles Smith has his after being a part of U.S. 1,600-meter relay

Southeast Missouri State students occupy their summers in a variety of ways, but it's doubtful any of them had a more eventful summer than Miles Smith.

What has Smith done the last couple of months?

Only establish himself as a world-class athlete, capped by winning a gold medal at the World Track and Field Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

"It's been a long summer, a crazy summer," Smith said Tuesday as he relaxed in the lobby at Towers Dorm on the Southeast campus. "But it was a lot of fun."

Smith, about to enter his junior year at Southeast, and Redhawks track coach Joey Haines returned from Finland on Monday night.

On Saturday, Smith ran the leadoff leg as the United States 1,600-meter relay team eased to victory in its preliminary heat and qualified for the finals.

Then on Sunday, the U.S. 1,600 relay smoked the field to win the world title. Smith did not run in the finals, but nonetheless received a gold medal as part of the victorious unit.

"I wish I could have run in the finals, but it's a great feeling, winning a gold medal, and knowing I was a part of it," Smith said as he proudly displayed it around his neck.

There had been some local media reports that Smith did not actually receive his gold medal in Helsinki, and that it would be mailed to him, but he said that was a misunderstanding.

"I definitely got it," he said, flashing a big grin.

Smith turned in the fastest split time (44.81 seconds) during Saturday's preliminary round. The next day he was able to cheer on U.S. teammates Derrick Brew, Andrew Rock, Darold Williamson and Jeremy Wariner as they finished off the job.

"Even though Miles didn't get to run in the finals, he established himself as one of the world's top runners with his performance on Saturday," Haines said. "He came there to help them win the gold medal, and he did that. He ran the pressure leg [in the preliminary round].

"It was just a thrill to see him line up in a meet like this, and then to win the gold medal. There's really no way to describe what he's done. It was a great moment for him and Southeast Missouri State.

Smith, who finished fifth in the 400 meters to earn All-American honors at this year's NCAA Division I outdoor nationals, qualified for the World Championships by placing sixth in the 400 at the USA Championships in late June despite being a big underdog.

"After that, I felt like I could do anything," Smith said.

After arriving in Helsinki on July 31, Smith spent nearly two weeks training prior to his actual competition. He said it was a thrill living in the athletes' village and becoming friends with some of the world's elite runners, including Wariner, the 2004 Olympic 400 champion who captured the 400 world title on Friday.

"They're my friends now; they're my boys," Smith said.

Smith said it was eye-opening to experience the passion that Europeans have for the sport. Olympic Stadium in Helsinki was filled with about 40,000 rabid fans for each night of the World Championships.

"In the U.S., track and field isn't really appreciated," Smith said. "In Europe, they worship the athletes like gods. I signed so many autographs, it wasn't even funny."

With track and field being so big in Europe, there is also plenty of money to be made for professionals, which is what most of the athletes at the World Championships were. The winners in Helsinki were rewarded handsomely, although as an amateur Smith could not partake in the bounty.

"There's a lot of money to be made in this sport," Smith said.

For now, Smith said he is content with retaining his amateur status because he has his sights set on winning an NCAA 400 title. But he has not ruled out the possibility of turning professional before he completes his eligibility at Southeast.

"If I win the indoor and outdoor [400 titles] this year, I am going pro, and maybe even if I just win the outdoor," said Smith, who has his sights set on qualifying for the 2008 Olympics.

But for now, Smith is ready to again become a regular college student-athlete as he begins classes at Southeast on Monday.

"I'm ready for things to get back to normal," he said, smiling.

And he'll no doubt have plenty of stories to tell his classmates and teammates about how he spent his summer.