Southeast Missouri State jumper Blake Smith concludes career as second-team all-American

Southeast Missouri State senior long jumper Blake Smith was hoping the third time was the charm for him to earn first-team all-American status.

The Jackson, Missouri, native, who already had two second-team all-American finishes at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 60-meter dash and long jump the past two years, came up short of that goal at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday in Eugene, Oregon, but concluded his career as a second-team all-American in the long jump with a 15th-place finish.

Smith's best jump of 24 feet, 9 3/4 inches came on his first attempt at the University of Oregon.

"My first two jumps I just kind of had a hard time getting everything together for the perfect jump," Smith said. "My last jump I had to jump 25-mid to make it to finals and I jumped around 25-mid or a little higher, but I scratched by probably half an inch or less. It kind of stinks that it wasn't legal. ... I was hoping for the top eight and making it to the finals, but I gave it my best shot and whatever happened, happened."

The top eight finishers in each even earn first-team all-American status. Florida senior Marquis Dendy won the long jump with a mark of 27-8. The eighth-place jump was 25-5 1/2.

"It sounds kind of silly because a lot of people would love to have this, but it seems kind of common now because I've had three of them now," Smith said. "I was kind of hoping for something new, hoping for that first team, but it's still exciting, still was an awesome, awesome experience to be here and compete and to have my parents here and my high school coach. It was really fun. It was a good way to go out."

Southeast sophomore and Central graduate Chris Martin will compete in the triple jump at nationals on Friday.