PITTSBURG, Kan. --- Tusculum University sophomore Daryl Smith Jr. finished 16th in the men's triple jump at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championship at the Robert W. Plaster Center on Saturday evening.

Smith had a best mark of 13.97 meters (45 feet, 10 inches), which came on the second of his three attempts during trials. The Rockledge, Florida native had qualified for nationals with a mark of 15.22 meters (49 feet, 11 1/4 inches) which he set at the Vanderbilt Invitational on Jan. 20.

Smith was the first Tusculum field athlete, male or female, to compete at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championship. The Pioneers have had at least one national qualifier in indoor track and field in six of the program's seven years of existence.

Junior Tre Betts of host Pittsburg State won the men's triple jump with a mark of 15.79 meters (51 feet, 9 3/4 inches) which he posted on his second attempt. Senior Lloyd McCurdy of Limestone, the South Atlantic Conference champion in the event, took silver with a top jump of 15.73 meters (51 feet, 7 1/4 inches).