Berry ready for first taste of NCAA meet

Southeast Missouri State senior Miles Smith is a veteran of NCAA national competition, earning four All-American honors in the 400 meters.

Teammate John Berry, on the other hand, was thirsting to get a crack at a national meet during his final college season.

Mission accomplished.

Berry, a senior long jumper, will join Smith at this week's NCAA outdoor track and field championships.

Competition will take place Wednesday through Saturday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

"I'm very excited," said Berry, who will compete in the first round of the long jump Wednesday, with the finals set for Thursday night.

Berry has come a long way since he joined Southeast as a walk-on from Parkway South High School in suburban St. Louis.

Southeast coach Joey Haines admits that he had no interest in having Berry compete for the Redhawks. But Berry's father knew someone on the Board of Regents, who helped him get a tryout. It's worked out well for both Berry and the Redhawks.

Berry, the Ohio Valley Conference indoor and outdoor long jump champion this year, enters the national meet ranked 20th, with a top jump of 25 feet, 5 1/2 inches.

Berry finished seventh at the Mideast Regional, with the top five finishers automatically qualifying for nationals.

But by placing in the top 12, Berry became eligible for an at-large berth based on his season-best distance.

Now Berry hopes to continue climbing up the ladder as he closes out his college career. His goal is a top-eight finish, which means All-American honors.

"I definitely feel like I can do it," he said.

So does Haines.

"His best jump, if he jumps that, he's got a good chance of making the finals," Haines said. "But there are 20 guys capable of jumping that far.

"But it's a great honor for John to make the NCAA championships. He's very deserving."

Smith will be making his fifth trip to the NCAA championships during his brilliant Southeast career — three outdoor and two indoor — but he acknowledges that he must balance success this week with trying to protect his problem hamstring.

Smith missed all of the 2007 season with a hamstring injury, and he again hurt the hamstring May 3 during the OVC outdoor meet.

He spent the next several weeks receiving treatment, then turned in the fastest qualifying time at the Mideast Regional.

With an at-large national berth locked up because he was assured of finishing in the top 12, all Smith had to do was complete the finals.

Smith, not wanting to chance anything with the hamstring, jogged around the track in the regional finals and placed eighth.

Smith, whose season-best time of 45.67 seconds ranks 11th nationally, said he feels good entering nationals.

"I'm ready to go," he said.

Still, Smith knows he must continue to look at the big picture of trying to qualify for this year's Summer Olympics.

Smith, who earned a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships as a member of the U.S. 1,600 relay team, virtually has assured himself a berth in the Olympic Trials on June 27 through July 6 in Eugene, Ore.

Smith has the 20th-fastest time among American men this year.

"I want to do well in this, but remember I still have two more weeks to go [before the Olympic Trials]," Smith said. "But I think I'll be all right."

The first round of the 400 will be Wednesday night, with the semifinals Friday night and the finals Saturday afternoon.

Smith's best NCAA finish was fifth place as a sophomore in 2005. If healthy, Haines ranks the St. Louis native among the favorites this week.

"The injury has slowed his progress, but Miles is still one of the nation's top 400-meter runners," Haines said. "We just can't have another setback."