European Vocations: Smock 5th at London DL; Middle Distance Stars Compete in Belgium

Melrose native Amanda Smock, who will represent the United States at the Olympics next month, tuned-up for London Games by placing 5th in the women's triple jump at the London Diamond League Meet on Saturday.

Smock marked a 45-4¼ on her second jump of the competition, which was won by Columbia's Caterine Ibargüen, the South American record holder and a bronze medalist at the World Championships last year.

Find results of the event HERE.

Former University of Minnesota athlete Barbora Špotáková, the world record holder and reigning Olympic javelin champion, was the runner-up in her event in London.  She marked a toss of 210-7, second only to Great Britain's Goldie Sayers at 217-1.

Team USA in Belgium ... Team USA Minnesota' Gabriele Anderson and Jamie Cheever kicked off their European tours with races in their secondary events in Kortrijk, Belgium on Saturday.

Anderson, racing at 800-meters, clocked a personal best 2:02.83 to finish 3rd in the race won by Maggie Vessey in 2:01.55.

At 1500-meters, Cheever ran 4:25.64 to finish runner-up in the second section of the event, won by Bethany Nickless in 4:24.14.

Cheever plans to compete in the steeplechase, her signature event, in Gent, Belgium on Wednesday and then compete at 1500-meters again in Ninove, Belgium  on Saturday.  Cheever will conclude her European tour on July 24 at a meet in Dublin, Ireland, racing the mile.

Anderson is off to Lignano, Italy, where she will race either the 800 or 1500-meters on tomorrow.  The rest of her European schedule is still being determined and will conclude in late July.

Men's Miling ... Two Minnesota milers were in action in Kortrijk as well.

Will Leer finished 5th in the fast section of the men's 1500-meters in 3:42.10.  Ryan Hill won the race in 3:40.52.

Elliott Heath won the slow section of the event in 3:43.51.

Find complete Kortrijk results HERE.