Miles Smith continues to blaze and amaze

Miles Smith ranks on the short list among my all-time favorite Southeast Missouri State athletes I have covered.

That's why I was excited when the former Southeast track and field standout recently made his second world team.

Smith was picked to represent Team USA as a member of the 1,600-meter relay pool at the World Championships from Aug. 27 through Sept. 4 in Daegu, South Korea. The selection came after he placed sixth in the 400 meters at the USA Championships in Eugene, Ore., late last month.

Smith takes a spot high on my list of favorites as much for his personality as for his incredible athletic feats. With his perpetual smile and fun-loving nature, he was simply a joy to be around.

I wrote in 2008 that Smith just might be the most accomplished athlete Southeast has ever produced. What he achieved late last month only solidifies that argument.

Smith, who completed his Southeast eligibility in 2008, was a five-time All-American who also finished sixth in the 2005 USA Championships and was picked for the Team USA 1,600 relay at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. He ran the lead leg in the qualifying and received a gold medal following Team USA's victory in the final.

Who else at the university has ever been deemed the sixth-best in America at his specialty, as Smith was in both 2005 and this year?

Track and field is not like most other sports. A basketball player from Southeast can average 25 points per game. A football player can rush for 200 yards per game. A pitcher can have an incredible ERA.

Those would be notable feats and would have a player ranked high in the nation statistically, but it would have been accomplished primarily against Ohio Valley Conference competition -- or the MIAA, before Southeast went Division I -- and would not mean they are among the best in the country.

But Smith achieved his rankings by competing head-to-head against the elite the U.S. has to offer.

To be the sixth-fastest 400-meter runner in the entire country means Smith also ranks among the world's best in his specialty since the U.S. annually produces most of the world's premier 400 performers.

As far as a national and world stage, Smith's feats arguably are unmatched by any other Southeast athlete.

And with the 2012 Olympics in his sights, he's not done yet.

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Former Southeast baseball standout Justin Christian still is playing professionally -- and doing well -- at age 31 after having a cup of coffee in the major leagues.

Christian was batting .263 through Saturday while splitting time between Class AA and Class AAA in the San Francisco Giants' organization. He had seven home runs, 14 doubles, three triples and 42 RBIs while stealing 27 bases in 30 attempts.

Christian played for Southeast in 2003 after transferring from Auburn. He made two All-American teams in his one season as Southeast's second baseman but primarily has been an outfielder in the pros.

Christian's MLB career consists of 40 at-bats for the New York Yankees in 2008. He batted .250 with three doubles, six RBIs and seven stolen bases in eight attempts.

The speedy Christian -- who was not drafted and originally began his pro career in the Independent Frontier League -- has put up solid minor league numbers in nine seasons.

Christian has a career batting average of .290 with 314 steals in 365 attempts, so you've got to figure he still has a decent shot to make it back to the majors.

Christian is one of two Southeast products currently with a major league organization, joining recent draftee Logan Mahon.

Mahon, a pitcher taken by the Colorado Rockies in the 22nd round, is beginning his pro career with the Casper (Wyo.) Ghosts of the rookie Pioneer League. He has not appeared in a game due to some minor arm issues but I've been told he should be cleared soon.

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Ex-Southeast baseball star Asif Shah has been selected as a reserve outfielder for Wednesday's Frontier League All-Star Game in Avon, Ohio.

Shah, whose last season at Southeast was 2007, is in his second season with the Normal (Ill.) CornBelters. He was hitting .327 with eight home runs, 12 doubles and 28 RBIs through Saturday. He ranked ninth in the league in both homers and batting average.

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Postseason play for several area summer baseball teams begins later this week.

Chaffee will host the Senior Babe Ruth state tournament, which also will feature defending champion Jackson.

Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons Post 63 and Jackson Post 158 will participate in the Senior American Legion District 14 tournament in Sikeston, Mo.

The District 14 event, whose winner qualifies for the Zone 4 tournament, should be interesting as Cape, Jackson and Dunklin County all have strong squads.

Cape, the two-time defending District 14 tournament champion, is assured a zone berth because it is hosting the event for the second straight summer. If Cape captures the district, then the runner-up also qualifies for zone play.

In addition, the Cape Girardeau Plaza Tire Junior American Legion team -- fresh off a district title -- is hosting the zone tournament at Central High School. Jackson also qualified for the event.

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The daughter of former Central High School basketball star and Missouri player Ron Jones will play professionally overseas.

Shakara Jones, a 2007 graduate of Francis Howell Central High School in the St. Louis area and a four-year starter at Missouri, recently signed a contract to play for a team in Athens, Greece.

Ron Jones led Central to the 1980 Class 4A state title and later was a key four-year player at Mizzou under coach Norm Stewart.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.