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Colwill On Verge Of Berth In Games

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By BILL WARD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 4, 2008

Updated: 07/04/2008 12:23 am

TAMPA - Don't start texting Chris Colwill just yet to congratulate him on reaching the Beijing Games. But after his performance at Thursday's U.S. Olympic Diving Selection Camp in Knoxville, Tenn., the Brandon native has nearly assured himself of that trip to China.

Colwill, a Tampa Prep and University of Georgia graduate, won both of his lists in 3-meter individual springboard Thursday afternoon, then came back that evening with teammate Jevon Tarantino to finish first in the two dive lists of 3-meter synchronized.

With Thursday's results in hand and leading all other divers in key selection criteria, the 23-year-old Colwill would have to suffer a major collapse in Saturday's final dive lists not to make the Olympic team in both 3-meter individual and synchro.

"I feel pretty good, but I have to stay focused," Colwill said after finishing first in the two individual dive lists. "I just need to dive like this the rest of the camp and, hopefully, things will take care of themselves."

Colwill is one of five divers vying for one Olympic berth in men's 3-meter individual. The event's winner at last month's trials, Troy Dumais, clinched a spot on the team. All of the men's and women's synchro events will be determined at this camp. U.S. Diving officials will officially name the team Monday.
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.

"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 Sr., and a Freedom High graduate. "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 with a powerful kick.

St. Petersburg's Rose Richmond 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," she said.

Was she satisfied making the finals?

"No. I wanted to win. That's all I came out here to do."

Taking the women's 400 title was Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas graduate Sanya Richards (49.88). Mary Wineberg (50.85) of Ohio and former University of Tennessee star Dee Dee Trotter (50.88) took the other berths.

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