Smith takes sixth in world-class field

Southeast's Miles Smith clocked 45.25 seconds in a 400 race teeming with professionals.

CARSON, Calif. -- Southeast Missouri State's Miles Smith concluded a brilliant series of performances at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a sixth-place finish in Saturday's 400-meter finals.

Competing against what track and field experts are calling one of the best and deepest crop of American 400-meter men in the event's history, Smith clocked 45.25 seconds and finished ahead of three other runners during the nine-man finals. Smith fell a bit short of his school-record 45.16 seconds, which he reached twice this year.

"What a tremendous meet Miles had," Southeast coach Joey Haines said.

Haines said Smith's performance puts him in solid shape toward earning a spot on the United States team for the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, Aug. 6 to 14.

The top three finishers at the USA Championships qualify for the open 400 at the world meet, and three more runners will fill out the relay pool. So Smith's sixth-place finish should qualify him, with an announcement of the squad expected in the next several days.

"We originally thought as many as 10 runners might make the U.S. team, so we thought Miles had it locked up after Friday's semifinals," Haines said. "But before the finals I was told that only six runners would make the team, so it was really important to get in the top six.

"Getting sixth should put him on the team, but they're not obligated to take the top six, and there are always politics involved. I don't see any way he won't make it, but you never know."

The 2004 Olympic gold medalist, Jeremy Wariner, finished first Saturday as he ran the fastest time in the world this year, 44.20 seconds.

Darold Williamson, the NCAA outdoor champion this season who recently turned professional and previously had the world's fastest time this year, was second in 44.62 seconds. Williamson anchored the gold medal 1,600 relay team at the 2004 Olympics.

Also finishing ahead of Smith were Andrew Rock (44.70), LaShawn Merritt (44.73) and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Derrick Brew (45.01). Rounding out the field were Tyree Washington (45.61), Leonard Byrd (45.67) and Dirk Homewood (46.15).

Smith, who recently completed his sophomore season at Southeast by finishing fifth in the NCAA outdoor nationals to earn All-American honors, was the only non-professional in Saturday's finals.

"Most of the top runners in the world were in the field, not just the best in the U.S., which makes what Miles did even more impressive," Haines said.

Said Smith: "These are the best runners in the world, so I guess this also puts me in that category. I was hoping to run in the 44s, but I'm pretty happy to finish sixth, and hopefully I'll make the world team."