Charlie Gruber, who was 2nd to Alan Webb at the U.S. Trials, finished 10th in the 1500, but was elated with his time of 3:34.71, which was under the Olympic "A" qualifying standard of 3:36.20 and guarantees him a spot on the U.S. team. Winner of the race was Hicham El Guerrouj, who erased any doubts about his fitness by running 3:29.18, the fastest time in the world this year. Running in the "B" race, Jason Lunn was under 3:38(exact time not available), but fell short in his bid to get an "A" qualifier. (He'll try again in Malmo, Sweden, on Monday--the deadline is August 9th)

Ready to follow the "bouncing ball" again? Winner of the women's 1500 was Carriie Tollefson, who got a "B" qualifier with her time of 4:06.30, a personal best. Tollefson's performance temporarily puts her on the U.S. team and bumps Suzy Favor Hamilton, the only American who currently has an "A" qualifier. The only way that Tollefson, who won at the U.S. Trials, can lose her spot (and Suzy regain hers) is if either Jen Toomey or Amy Rudolph meets the "A" standard of 4:05.80 (and Tollefson doesn't--a "B" qualifier no longer helps Toomey or Rudolph.)

You may remember Brianna Shook getting disqualifed for missing the water jump early in the steeplechase, a non-Olympic event, at the U.S. Trials. She missed out on a U.S. title and a certain American Record (low 9:30s), which was credited to actual winner Ann Gaffigan, who ran 9:39.35. Given a rare opportunity to compete at a European Grand Prix meet, Shook got a measure of redemption by not only winning the race, but smashing Gaffigan's AR with her time of 9:29.32. which makes her the 6th-fastest performer in the short history if the event. The women's steeplechase will make its major debut at next year's World Championships.

Sandra Glover, who lost a gut-wrenching battle at the U.S. Trials to Lashinda Demus for the 3rd and final U.S. spot in the women's 400- hurdles, beat Australia's Jana Pittman, one of the favorites for gold in Athens (53.40-53.43)

West Point grad Dan Browne, who will run the marathon in Athens (and the 10k?), ran a personal best of 13:16.02 in the 5000m. In the "B" race, Galen Rupp (Central Catholic-Portland,OR), who is coached by Alberto Salazar, ran 13:37.91 to break Gerry Lindgren's 40-year old U.S. High School record of 13:44.0. (High school records, as recoginzed by Track and Field News, can be set through August 31 of an athlete's senior year)

Other highlights--Nicole Teter ran 1:58.52 to finish 2nd in the women's 800; Melissa Morrison won the women's 100-hurdles over Jenny Adams (12.72-12.81); Michigan's Nick Willis, who will represent New Zealand in the 1500 in Athens, won the "B" 800 in 1:45.54(PR).

See the IAAF Report at www.iaaf.org.