Charlie Gruber is going to Athens, Greece.

Gruber, a former Kansas University distance standout from Denver who placed second in the 1,500-meter run at the U.S. Olympic team trails, met the Olympic “A” qualifying standard Saturday in a race in Europe, earning the right to compete in the 2004 Summer Games.

Gruber placed 10th in the 1,500 in a time of 3:34.71 at the KBC Night of Athletics meet in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

The A qualifying standard is 3:36.2.

“We are extremely excited for Charlie,” KU coach Stanley Redwine said. “He’s worked extremely hard over the past year to accomplish this goal. His time today was five seconds faster than any race he’s run all year.”

Gruber worked with the KU track and cross-country teams as a volunteer assistant this past season while training for the Athens Games.

On July 18 at the U.S. track and field trials, Gruber placed second in the 1,500 in 3:38.45. Top three athletes qualify for the Games, provided they have the qualifying standerd. Gruber went to Europe to try to hit the standard before the Aug. 9 deadline. He ran 3:38.02 earlier this week at a meet in Sweden.

Gruber also will race in Zurich, Switzerland, (Aug. 6) and Munich, Germany, (Aug. 8) before heading to Athens.

Gruber will become the first KU track and field athlete to compete at the Olympic Games since pole vaulter Scott Huffman and sprinter Pierre Lisk in 1996 in Atlanta.

Gruber is the first track and field athlete under Redwine’s tutelage at Kansas to earn a spot on Team USA.

Gruber’s first 1,500 Olympic race is scheduled for 11:35 a.m. Lawrence time on August 20. The semifinal round will be held at 1:50 p.m. on Aug. 22. The finals will be at 3:40 p.m. on Aug. 24.

Traditionally, 1,500 meter runners from KU have fared well in the Olympic Games. Jim Ryun (1968, Mexico City) and Glenn Cunningham (1936, Berlin) each placed second and received silver medals. Other Jayhawk track and field athletes who have participated in the Olympic games include Al Oerter (discus), Billy Mills (10,000 meters), Bill Nieder (shot put) and Jim Bausch (decathlon).