Haines optimistic Smith can compete in regional

As recently as last week, Southeast Missouri State track and field coach Joey Haines was prepared to rule star senior Miles Smith out of the NCAA Mideast Regional.

But Smith's sore hamstring has improved dramatically since then, and Haines believes Smith should be able to give it a go during the competition May 30 and 31 in Fayetteville, Ark.

"We're really encouraged right now," Haines said Wednesday. "Right now things have been going so well the last week or so, we're real hopeful he'll be able to compete at the regional."

Smith, a four-time All-American in the 400 meters, pulled up lame while running the 200 on May 3 during the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor meet in Cape Girardeau.

At the time it was not known whether Smith had strained the hamstring or suffered from severe cramps.

Since then, Haines said medical personnel who have worked with Smith believe the incident was related to "some scar tissue breaking loose" from his previous hamstring injury that forced Smith to sit out all of last season and has bothered him at various times since then.

Smith has not run since the OVC meet, instead concentrating on receiving treatment on the hamstring.

Haines said there is a tricky dilemma regarding Smith, who earned a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships as a member of the U.S. 1,600 relay team.

The dilemma, Haines said, is that Smith easily could be at or close to 100 percent by the NCAA outdoor championships June 11 through 14, where he would rank among the favorites.

But in order to compete at the NCAA meet, he must finish among the top 12 at the regional. The top five regional finishers automatically qualify for nationals, but Smith already has reached a good enough time that he'll get in as long as he makes the top 12.

In a perfect world, Haines said, Smith could skip the regionals and nationals and concentrate on his real dream — making the U.S. squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The Olympic Trials are in late June and early July. Smith could be at full strength by then.

But since Smith has raced so little this outdoor season, Haines said if he doesn't lower his season-best time of 45.67 seconds, he risks not qualifying for the Olympic Trials. Smith's 45.67 mark ranks first in the region and ninth nationally.

Smith already has met the B qualifying standard for the Olympic Trials, which can take up to 32 runners in the 400 (the A standard is 45 seconds). But if Smith is shut down until the Olympic Trials, there is no guarantee he'll still be among the top 32.

"If he can't run any more, we'll have to sweat it out," Haines said. "We know he can go to regionals and finish in the top 12 without going all out, but then how much will that set him back for the NCAAs, and then for the Olympic Trials?

"It's a ticklish thing."

Another possible option would be for Smith to remain sidelined until closer to the Olympic Trials, and then compete in an invitational meet or two in order to try to lower his time.

With two weeks left until the regional, Haines said Smith will continue to receive treatment on his hamstring and a final determination on his regional status will be made closer to the meet.

Athletes at Georgia Tech

Four Southeast track athletes will compete at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta this weekend.

Long jumper John Berry, long and triple jumper Tyler Terry and javelin throwers Ben Stricklin and Samantha Espiricueta will participate.

It will be a warmup for Berry, Stricklin and Espiricueta — who already have qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional — while Central High School product Terry will attempt to qualify.

Berry is ranked seventh in the region and 19th nationally with a best jump of 25 feet, 5 1/2 inches.

Stricklin is ranked eighth in the region with a throw of 214-6 and Espiricueta is ranked 11th with a throw of 149-0.

Terry needs a mark of 24-1 in the long jump and 49-2 1/2 in the triple jump to qualify for the regional.

Two other regional qualifiers — Lindsey Hearne, who is ranked 12th in the javelin, and Bilal Hameed, who is ranked 13th in the triple jump — will not compete this weekend because of previous commitments.