Smith dominates his 400 preliminary

Southeast Missouri State senior Miles Smith might not be at peak form.

But you couldn't tell it by the way he ran Friday during the 400-meter preliminaries at the NCAA Mideast Regional track and field meet.

Smith, competing for the first time in nearly a month due to a hamstring injury, had the fastest time among the 24 regional qualifiers.

Smith clocked 45.85 seconds on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Ark. The finals are set for 6:20 p.m. today.

"Miles did real well," Southeast coach Joey Haines said. "He ran pretty easy, didn't push himself at all. We were real happy."

The top five finishers in each regional event automatically qualify for the NCAA finals June 11 through 14, with the next seven qualifying for possible at-large selections based on seasonal best times or distances.

Smith, a four-time All-American in the 400 meters who was injured May 3 during the Ohio Valley Conference meet, now has locked up at least a top-12 regional finish as the finals will feature eight runners.

That was key since Smith's season-best time of 45.67 seconds ranks 13th nationally, meaning he is a virtual lock to make the national meet as an at-large entry even if he doesn't finish in the top five today.

Entering the regional, Haines said the goal for Smith was to do just enough to make the top 12, but not push himself to the point where he risked a setback with the hamstring.

After the regional, Smith — who earned a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships as a member of the U.S. 1,600 relay team — has nearly two more weeks before the national meet in Des Moines, Iowa.

Looking ahead to today's finals, Haines said: "The big thing is how does he feel? But he doesn't have to worry about what place he gets. What he did [Friday] will get his at-large berth taken care of."

Mississippi State's Jamil Hubbard had Friday's second-fastest time in the 400 at 46.29.

Smith is among seven Southeast athletes competing at the Mideast Regional.

Three participated in events held Friday, but failed to finish in the top five.

Senior long jumper John Berry finished seventh out of 33 competitors with a distance of 25 feet, 1 1/4 inches.

By placing in the top 12, Haines believes Berry has a solid shot at an at-large berth to the national meet based on his season-best 25-5 1/2 that ranks 24th nationally.

"We were real happy with John," Haines said. "This is by far the toughest regional in the country for the long jump."

Senior javelin thrower Ben Stricklin was 26th out of 33 competitors with a distance of 179 feet, which was well off his season-best 214-6. Stricklin has been battling an injury.

Junior shot putter Andy Glass, a Jackson High School graduate, fouled on all of his attempts.

Junior triple jumper Bilal Hameed will compete today, as will women's javelin throwers Lindsey Hearne and Samantha Espiricueta. Hearne is a senior while Espiricueta is a freshman.

Groves wins regional

Scott City High School graduate Loren Groves is headed to the NCAA outdoor nationals for the first time.

Groves, a Kansas State junior, won the hammer throw Friday at the Midwest Regional in Lincoln, Neb., with a distance of 207-4.

Later in the discus, Groves placed ninth with a distance of 160-1. She still should be in good shape for an at-large berth to the national meet.

Groves entered the regional ranked fifth nationally in the hammer and ninth in the discus.

Groves is a two-time indoor All-American in the weight throw, having placed sixth in the past two indoor national meets.