Smith gets 'A' standard trip to Beijing

EUGENE, Ore. — The past 10 days of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials at Hayward Field have been full of different athletes’ stories of euphoria and heartbreak.

Because of the necessity of the “A” standard, some athletes who won their event at the Trials will not travel to Beijing. If an athlete does not have the standard, he or she is not awarded a spot on the Olympic team. It is a frustrating, confusing process that has led to athletes feeling excitement over a Trials win and disappointment over no ticket to China.

Sunday, Leigh Smith came out on the right end of one of those situations.

Smith, a former Tennessee Vol, finished fifth in the javelin finals with a toss of 243 feet, 7 inches. Because he has thrown the “A” standard, though, Smith will compete in the Olympic Games. Smith’s season-best throw of 274-9 surpasses the Olympic “A” standard of 268-4.

Mike Hazel finished second at 248-7 and also will travel to China. First-place Bobby Smith does not have the A standard and will not earn a spot on Team USA.

Leigh Smith did not come to the press conference following his event and was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, another former Vol experienced some misfortune.

Aries Merritt, who made the finals of the 110 hurdles early Sunday afternoon, finished fourth in the finals, missing out on an Olympic roster spot by 2/100ths of a second at 13.27 seconds.

“I had to wait (to see times), I thought I got third,” Merritt said. “I mean, if someone gets hurt … I can step up for the team, but it’s heartbreaking. It’s my dreams and goals. But I’m only 22 years old; I have many more to come.”

David Oliver won the event at 12.95. He will be joined in Beijing by Terrence Trammell (13.00) and David Payne (13.25).

Tennessee senior-to-be Sarah Bowman finished eighth in the women’s 1,500, clocking in at 4:16.54. Shannon Rowbury won in 4:05.48. Erin Donohue (4:08.20) and Christin Wurth (4:08.48) will join Rowbury on the Olympic team.

“It wasn’t what I wanted but I made it (the finals), so that’s good,” said Bowman, who finished third in the 1,500 at this year’s NCAAs. “It’s great just being here. The crowd, it makes me want to work harder.”

Treniere Clement, a Georgetown grad who trains in Knoxville, finished last in the 1,500 with a time of 4:24.62.

Clement shot out to the front at the beginning of the race, running a 50.62 first split. At the 700-meter mark, she faded rapidly as Rowbury made her move. Clement found herself in the back quickly, a disappointing finish considering she was one of four finalists who had run the “A” standard this year.

Other Vols competing in finals Sunday included Rubin Williams, the most decorated All-American in Tennessee track and field history. Williams finished sixth out of seven competitors in the 200 final. He ran a 20.61.

Williams ran next to an empty lane — Xavier Carter scratched out of the final — but said it didn’t affect his race.

“It didn’t throw me off,” Williams said, “I just didn’t have it today. It didn’t feel much different. Even with the crowd and all, it was just another race.”

All in all it was a good showing for the Tennessee track program.

Twenty former, current or soon-to-be athletes competed in Eugene, with 11 advancing to the finals of their events. Four of them will represent the United States in Beijing: Anthony Famiglietti (steeplechase), Tom Pappas (decathlon), Dee Dee Trotter (400) and Smith. Hazel Clark, sister of UT women’s coach J.J. Clark, also will compete in the 800.

“They’re a lot of us out here from that program that have run really well,” Merritt said. “No matter what you do, we still bleed orange when you cut us open. It’s the Volunteer spirit.”