Smith Out Of Mix For 4x400

Posted Aug 21, 2008 by Bill Ward

Updated Aug 21, 2008 at 12:17 PM

Former Freedom High track and field standout Calvin Smith II will not get to run in the Olympics, his father and former Olympian Calvin Smith said Thursday.

Smith made the track team as part of the 4x400 relay pool and knew going into the Beijing Games there was a good chance he would not be selected by American coaches for either Friday’s qualifying or Saturday’s final. The reason is likely Smith’s lack of experience. At age 20, Smith, a sophomore at the University of Florida, is the youngest member of the U.S. men’s team and making his Olympic debut.

“He’s obviously disappointed,” Smith’s father said. “But it’s still a good experience for him to be there.”

Smith has already earned multiple all-America honors at UF and, thanks to making the Olympic team, was able to run his first season in Europe this summer. There, he ran his 400 personal best of 45.07 seconds. U.S. coaches will likely select one or more members of the American men who swept the medals in both the 400 hurdles and 400 open for each of the two 4x400 relay rounds.