Tampa’s Calvin Smith didn’t finish in the top three of the men’s 400 to earn an individual place on the U.S. Olympic team but his fifth-place finish in 45.57 seconds has almost certainly landed him a spot in the Beijing Games as a member of the U.S. pool of runners for the 4x400 relay.

Typically, the top six finishers in the 400 at the trials go into that pool, and fifth place is the first alternate for the open 400. Smith, a Freedom High product and University of Florida sophomore, said he is looking forward to his second trip to Beijing. In 2006, Smith competed there in the IAAF World Junior Championships and earned a gold medal in the 4x400.

“It means a lot because I’ll be running in the Olympics,” said Smith, the son of former Olympian and 100-meter world record holder Calvin Smith. “I don’t care what leg. Just give me one, as long as I’m there.”

Smith went from dead last to fifth place in the final 75 meters thanks to a powerful kick. LaShawn Merritt, the 2007 world outdoor 400 silver medalist and 4x400m gold medalist, upset defending Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner to win in 44.00. Wariner clocked 44.20 and third place went to David Neville (44.61).

St. Petersburg’s Rose Richmond, a Lakewood High graduate, finished what she called a “very disappointing” ninth in the women’s long jump finals and will not be making a return appearance in the Olympics.

“I’m really upset. I worked hard this year but I guess this just wasn’t my time.

Was she satisfied making the finals?

“No. I wanted to win. That’s all I came out here to do.”

In the opening round of the women’s pole vault Thursday, Wharton graduate Natalie Moser, now competing for UF, was unable to clear the starting height of 13 feet, 5.25 inches and is out of the competition.