Posted: July 5, 2005

Athletics: Americans Fall Short Of Qualifying Standards

From David Monti

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At tonight's Athletissima meeting in Lausanne, Americans came up short in their quests for the IAAF World Championships "A" standards needed to ensure their places on various starting lines in Helsinki next month.

In the men's 1500m both Rob Myers (3:36.55) and Christopher Lukezic (3:37.69) set career best times, but neither got below the required 3:36.20 to join Alan Webb on the U.S. world team. Webb, who already has the standard, finished third in 3:34.78.

At the U.S. Championships last month, which served as the trials for the U.S. team, Lukezic finished second and Myers third, earning provisional team spots. They need to get under 3:36.20 by July 26 or they will be lose their spots to more qualified athletes who finished below them in the Championships. Fifth place Charlie Gruber is next in line for a spot; he got his qualifying time last year prior to the Olympic Games.

Jen Toomey suffered a similar fate in the women's 1500m. Toomey, second at the U.S. Trials in 4:07.39, ran 4:08.16 today in Lausanne for fourth place. She needs to break 4:05.80 to get to Helsinki. U.S. Trials winner Treniere Clement was scheduled to compete in Lausanne today, but was listed as "did not start" by the organizers. She has most likely secured her team spot as a "B" standard-holder who won the Trials. She can be removed if two "A" qualifiers emerge from the athletes who finished beneath her at the Trials.

The IAAF World Championships in Athletics is scheduled for August 6 - 14.