Southeast Missouri State's Smith qualifies for NCAA track & field championships

Southeast track & field

Jackson native and Southeast Missouri State senior track and field athlete Blake Smith received quite the gift for his birthday on Thursday while competing at the NCAA West Region prelims in Austin, Texas.

Smith's jump of 25 feet, 7 inches in the long jump was good for eighth place and a spot in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will be held June 10 to 13 in Eugene, Oregon.

Smith also broke the school record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.11 seconds to advance to the quarterfinals in the event, which will take place at 6:45 p.m. today. He was fourth in his heat and ninth overall and his time topped Dana Gardner's 10.24 from 1986.

Shon Kyle finished 16th in the discus with a throw of 178-9 and will compete in the shot put at 6 p.m. today.

Blake Carter was 27th in the long jump at 23-8.

Sarah Hall's throw of 189-6 was good for 26th in the hammer throw while Jessica Brown was 47th in the long jump at 17-8.

Miller and Martin will compete in the triple jump at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The top 12 individuals in each event qualify for the national meet.

-- From staff report