The people of Pawnee County are beaming as one of their own will represent America in the 2008 Olympics. Pawnee Heights H.S. product Christian Smith qualified by placing third in the 800m at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon. The K-State alum was neck-and-neck with Khadevis Robinson before diving at the finish line to secure the third and final spot by .06 seconds. His last hurdle was reaching the "A-Standard" Qualifying Time which he cleared by .13 seconds. Smith was an eight-time state champion at Pawnee Heights leading the Tigers to team titles in 2000 and 2002. He also won a Big XII Championship in the 800m and a National Indoor Title in the one mile at Kansas St.