May 30, 2008

Fayetteville, Ark. - Senior sprinter Miles Smith of Southeast Missouri State University had the fastest qualifying time in the 400-meter preliminaries at the NCAA Mideast Regional at John McDonnell Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Running out of lane eight in the opening heat, Smith timed 45.85 to finish ahead of Terrill McCombs of Western Kentucky (46.26) and Stann Waithe of Michigan (46.56).

By qualifying for Saturday's finals, Smith is assured of finishing in the top eight which should get him into the national finals June 11-14 at Drake University in Des Moines, Ia. A top five finish would guarantee Smith of a spot in the national finals.

Senior long jumper John Berry placed seventh in the long jump with a leap of 25-1 1/4. The top 12 finish keeps Berry's hopes of an at-large berth in the NCAA finals alive.

Throwers Ben Martin and Andy Glass did not advance. Martin, battling arm problems, finished 26th in the javelin with a throw of 179-feet. Glass fouled on all three of his attempts in the shot put.

Smith will run in the regional finals on Saturday while Bilal Hameed will compete in the triple jump and Lindsay Hearne and Samatha Espiricueta will throw in the women's javelin finals.