Pulled hamstring keeps Smith from another eventful summer

The Southeast Missouri State sprinter likely will be back for his senior season rather than turning professional.

It's truly a shame that an injury kept Miles Smith from competing in the 400-meter finals at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships and will also prevent him from participating in major meets the rest of the summer.

But Smith's misfortune likely means that area track and field fans will get to watch the Southeast Missouri State standout compete locally for another year.

Prior to last weekend's NCAA meet in Sacramento, Calif., there had been some speculation that an impressive showing by Smith -- coupled with another strong summer -- might lead to him turning professional.

Now, however, all indications are that Smith will return to Southeast for his senior season, after which he will no doubt have an opportunity to make plenty of money in his sport.

Smith appeared primed to challenge for a spot among the top two or three finishers in Sacramento after his first-round time of 45.41 seconds was his fastest of the season and the second-fastest among the 26 competitors at the national meet.

But he suffered a pulled hamstring about midway through the semifinal round of the 400 meters. Somewhat amazingly, he was able to finish and placed ninth, although only the top eight advanced to the finals -- not that it mattered, since Smith wouldn't have been able to race in the finals anyway.

While it's doubtful Smith could have challenged LSU's amazing Xavier Carter for the title, you never know how high he could have finished because he really seemed to be rounding into form following a hamstring injury suffered earlier in the season. And Smith always seems to thrive under pressure.

The fifth-place finisher in the finals clocked 45.41 seconds -- which Smith ran in the first round -- so you've got to think Smith could have at least improved on that mark and bettered his fifth-place showing from his sophomore season. Maybe he could have snuck into the top three.

But that's all speculation. What is fact is that Smith won't be able to compete this week at the U.S. championships in Indianapolis and in July at the under-23 world championships in Brazil.

Smith burst onto the national scene at last year's U.S. championships, as he finished sixth to earn a spot on his country's team for the world championships in Finland, where he won a gold medal in the 1,600 relay as the U.S. team blitzed the field, with Smith serving as the opening runner in the preliminary round.

Smith won't have an opportunity to continue turning heads on a national level this summer, but Southeast coach Joey Haines said his star athlete should fully recover and be ready to go for his senior season.

Here's hoping Smith -- about as personable and likable a young man as I've come across in all my years covering area sports -- bounces back strong from this setback.

I have no reason to think he won't.

n

Here's wishing all the best to Southeast assistant sports information director Patrick Clark, who is leaving his post to soon begin a 14-month tour of duty in Iraq.

Clark, a former football player at Southern Illinois-Carbondale, has been a member of the Illinois Army National Guard for nearly 12 years. He's only 29 but joined the National Guard as a junior in high school.

As a squad leader, Patrick sure won't have it cushy in Iraq. He told me his specialty is driving trucks, which is among the most dangerous positions to be in.

Patrick told me he's proud to serve his country and plans to resume his position at Southeast -- which he's held for about two years -- when he returns from Iraq.

Patrick may be proud, but as a U.S. citizen I'm more proud of him -- along with everybody else who serves our great country.

By the way, Patrick does a super job assisting the media in the Southeast sports information department, and I'll personally be looking forward to his return.

n

My thoughts and prayers are with the Bolen family as Mary -- the wife of longtime Capahas manager Jess Bolen -- continues to battle serious health problems.

While Jess has done so much for the Capahas' organization over the years, the same goes for Mary, who has handled much of the behind-the-scenes work. It's doubtful the Capahas could have continued to thrive this long without either of them.

It would be hard to find a better person than Mary, who seems to have never met a person she didn't consider her friend.

Get well soon!

n

Heather Diebold, a walk-on freshman guard for the Southeast women's basketball team this past season, has a younger sister who is apparently quite an athlete.

Tara Diebold, who recently completed her junior season at Branson High School, set the state's pole vault record for all classes during last month's track and field championships in Jefferson City.

Tara Diebold cleared 12 feet, 4 inches to capture her second consecutive Class 3 title. She figures to be a big-time college recruit.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.